Eleven Ravens have been selected to attend the North Carolina Governor’s School this summer — the largest group of students Ravenscroft has had selected in one year.

Selected students will explore a range of disciplines as their primary focus, including visual art, instrumental music, theater and English. The four-week summer residential program for gifted and talented high school students integrates academic disciplines, the arts and unique courses on each of the two college campuses that host it. 

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction received more than 1,850 nominees for the program this year. Students are selected through a competitive process after being nominated by their school or district. Applicants must be rising seniors, with rising juniors in the fine arts also permitted to apply. The curriculum focuses on the exploration of the most recent ideas and concepts in each discipline, and it does not involve credit, tests or grades. 

Congratulations to these students, who will have the opportunity to enjoy intensive work in a primary area, as noted, while also enjoying additional opportunities for learning and growth:

• Samantha Brock ’26, Visual Art
• Isabelle Chua ’26, Visual Art
• Karolyna Huntanar ’27, Instrumental Music (Violin)
• Naveen Kumar ’27, Instrumental Music (Clarinet)
• Yoning Liu ’26, Instrumental Music (Bassoon)
• Sawyer Maynard Parker ’26, Theater
• Yara Othman ’27, Choral Music
• Joshua Ward ’26, Instrumental Music (Trombone)
• Amelia Ward ’26, Instrumental Music (Tuba)
• Ellene Warner ’26, English
• Rainy Ye ’27, Instrumental Music (Violin)

Co-Director of College Counseling Sean Kennedy, who serves as Ravenscroft’s Governor’s School coordinator, said the selected students can look forward to an engaging experience. 

“Year in and year out, the North Carolina Governor’s School program offers a transformative intellectual experience for a select group of very accomplished and talented students,” he said. “I am delighted to see so many Ravens selected for this summer’s program!”

Accepted Ravens said they are excited about what the program has to offer. 

“This opportunity represents a one-of-a-kind chance to interact with an incredible community of young scholars and artists, who represent some of the most dedicated and passionate students in the state,” Ellene Warner ’26 said. “As I look toward entering the next phase of my life, this is a chance to meet like-minded peers who will likely travel with me across college and higher education.”

“For me, this is an opportunity to hone my skills and broaden my worldview,” Isabelle Chua ’26 said. “I’m so excited for this experience because I get to meet new people with different perspectives of art, literature, math, science and other subjects. I’m really interested in connecting with people across disciplines and life experiences.”

Congratulations to these students on this significant accomplishment!