Mountain Vista Governor’s School Honors Alumni at Annual Hall of Fame and Donor Dinner

The annual Mountain Vista Governor’s School Foundation Hall of Fame/Donor Dinner was held at Warren County High School on March 22, 2025. Donors were treated to a delightful meal catered by Devon Smith, the Culinary Instructor at Blue Ridge Tech.  Several MVGS students eloquently explained their science fair projects, all of which had placed in competitions the week before. There was a silent auction and a live auction of student artwork to help raise money to assist the Foundation with its continued support of MVGS students and programs.

Inducted into the MVGS Foundation Hall of Fame, Synteche Ribeiro.

The highlight of the evening was the recognition of two outstanding MVGS graduates who were inducted into the MVGS Foundation Hall of Fame. Synteche Ribeiro graduated in 2008 from Fauquier County High School and Mountain Vista Governor’s School. Synteche holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from The Johns Hopkins University (2012), where she also served as an Alumni Student Ambassador, Engineering Ambassador, and worked in the Alumni and Admissions Offices. She is a Senior Principal Systems Engineer at Northrop Grumman Corporation.

Jack Dueck, Senior, Breaking Down Sugar – Testing the Strength of Different Sugar Compounds, 3rd place, Chemistry.

Mia Heller, Junior, Micro-Magnetism: Using an Oil-Based Ferrofluid to Remove Microplastics from Drinking Water, Grand Prize, All Expenses-Paid Week at International Science & Engineering Fair (May 12-16). North Forks Innovator Award, 1st place, Chemistry. Invited to Virginia State Science and Engineering Fair (April 5)

Rebecca Fowler, Junior, Optimizing Biochar in Cement for Durability, Runner-up for Grand Prize, Alternate to International Science & Engineering Fair, 1st place, Engineering: Materials & Bioengineering. Invited to Virginia State Science and Engineering Fair (April 5).

Paige Curtis is a 2009 graduate of Handley High School and Mountain Vista Governor’s School. Ms. Curtis graduated from the University of Virginia in 2013 with a Bachelor of Arts with Distinction in Media Studies and recently earned a Master of Business Administration from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business (2024), where she was recognized as a Forté Fellow and Scholarship Recipient. She holds a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification and a Nonprofit Executive Leadership Certificate from Bryn Mawr College.  She currently serves as the Director of Strategic Initiatives and Events at Destination Imagination, Inc.

Inducted into the MVGS Foundation Hall of Fame, Paige Curtis.

The inductees received a plaque and will have their names engraved on plaques that will hang in the offices of MVGS on the Middletown and Warrenton campuses of Laurel Ridge Community College.

The evening reflected the strong community that supports the Mountain Vista Governor’s School—a place where academic excellence, leadership, and innovation are not just encouraged but celebrated. With alumni making a difference in fields ranging from engineering to nonprofit leadership and current students earning top honors in competitive science events, the future of MVGS looks as bright as ever.