This summer, when nearly 700 students converge on college campuses across the state, three students from Clinton High School will be part of the elite group who will be exploring cutting-edge ideas and concepts in both academics and the arts.
Rising seniors Olivia Sessoms, Lindy Bustabad and Sarah Day are part of the 2016 session of the North Carolina Governor’s School that will run from June 19-July 27. The opportunity to be a part of this endeavor is a great opportunity for all three girls, who all say they are looking forward to the chance they are being given.
“This is a great opportunity for our students,” Faith Jackson, community liaison, said. “It’s wonderful that our guidance department showed and encouraged these students to take part in it. Our students are asked to make a big commitment, but I know they are all up for the challenge.”
Sessoms, Bustabad and Day were nominated by their schools before being selected for Governor’s School. The program is open to rising seniors only, with exceptions made to include rising juniors in selected performing arts areas. There are 10 specialization areas for nomination, including English, Foreign Language, Mathematics, Natural Science, Social Science, Art, Choral Music, Instrumental Music, Theater and Dance.
Sessoms was will be attending for math, Bustabad for natural science and Day for theater. Both Bustabad and Day will be attending Governor’s School East at Meredith College in Raleigh and Sessoms will be at Governor’s School West at Salem College in Winston Salem.
Having a love for both math and science, Bustabad said following the path for science was a natural fit.
“I chose this because that is where I want to go in my career,” Bustabad said.
After high school, she said she plans to attend a four-year college, preferably Duke, and major in chemistry or biology. Eventually, she would like to turn her focus to forensic science and become a forensic pathologist.
Both Sessoms and Day have plans to attend college after finishing high school. Sessoms, who says math is her favorite subject, wants to pursue a career in the engineering field, after attending school at Duke or N.C. State.
“This is such a great honor,” Sessoms said. “Knowing that there are so many others who would like to have this opportunity and knowing that I was chosen, it’s a real competitive, and an honor that I was selected.”
Day, who has been involved in the theater since she was just five years old, has plans to continue in the theater field after college. Having been involved in more than 30 productions, the high school junior says that the theater is big part of her life. She would like to attend the University of North Carolina at Wilmington or Hollins University in Virginia.
“I don’t really like anything else,” Day said.
According to Jackson, this is the first time that Clinton High School has had three students selected to attend Governor’s School at the same time.
“A lot of my friends were interested in going,” Bustabad said. “I am thankful to be chosen by the Governor’s School people.”
While attending Governor’s School, the faculty and staff that will be working with the girls includes distinguished teachers and professionals from the public and private schools, colleges and universities across the country.
“These students will truly benefit from the Governor’s School unique learning environment that encourages inquiry and creativity,” State Superintendent June Atkinson stated in a press release. “The program’s curriculum challenges students to discover and explore links between ideas and actions, theory and practice. The experiences students’ gain will serve them well in life.”