By Esteban Fernandez
For Times West Virginian
Fairmont — For her audition to the Governor’s School for the Arts, Halle Cercone picked the one in a foreign language.
The art school program is a little different from the other four Governor’s Schools. For the performing arts, auditions are part of the application process. Greg DeVito, director of choral music at Fairmont Senior High, helped Cercone put her audition reel together. However, while the process was involved, it was nothing Cercone was unfamiliar with.
“This is a kid who, once you’ve gone to a couple of these, and you know what to expect,” DeVito said. “If you’ve been to a couple and you’re still applying, that means you’ve enjoyed them and they want you there. And I think it speaks a lot about the kind of kid she is.”
A rising senior at Fairmont Senior High, Cercone, this summer, will cap off her run through all five of the Governor’s Schools by attending the Honors Academy. Christy Day, director of the West Virginia Department of Education, said off the top of her head it’s rare for a child to attend the Governor’s School five years in a row.
It also came as a surprise to Cercone’s 7th grade science teacher, Stephanie Tomana.
“I had no idea she’s gone five times,” Tomana said. “That is so amazing. The application process is very competitive. That is outstanding she’s gone five times. I’ve had a lot of students over the years get to go, but never any that go that much.”
The Governor’s Schools provide free summer programming in the arts, math, technology, business and tourism to selected students. Each school has its own requirements, but generally students must maintain a good grade point average and excel in class. Each school runs for about 10 days in the summer. At the Honors Academy, Cercone will have the opportunity to explore contemporary issues and their historical roots to foster a forward-thinking approach to the world’s future, according the program’s website.
The process is challenging but rewarding, Cercone said.
“The application process usually has an essay,” she said. “You have to list everything you’ve done, like leadership and accolades. You have to have a teacher recommendation letter and a high GPA.”
So far, Cercone’s favorite school has been the art school.
“I love singing,” Cercone said. “I’m in Madrigals, I’ve been in choir, I’ve been taking singing lessons forever and I used to sing the national anthem for West Virginia games. I just met so many nice people who love singing and I got to learn how to read music.”
Cercone will be ineligible for the program after this year, since the program ends at the 11th grade. It’s bittersweet for Cercone, who said she’s a little sad her time with the program is ending. It’s something she’s looked forward to for five years. She’s formed connections and friendships with other students from around the state through the program.
“I’ve learned it’s a lot easier to be energetic and outgoing whenever you’re in a group of people that you don’t know very well, and it’s easy to make friendships,” Cercone said. “We usually have a week for these camps, but you’re all close knit. It’s so easy to make friendships.”
Cercone’s mother, Jenni, is proud her daughter qualified for all five schools. But the final Governor’s School is a bittersweet milestone for Jenni as well. This will be the last summer Cercone has as a child before she leaves for college and becomes and adult. However, Jenni Cercone is glad Halle got to experience living away from home for short stretches at a time before doing it for real next year.
Jenni Cercone wishes academic achievement received more recognition.
“You see all the sport pages, anybody who does something in sports, they get the recognition,” Jenni said. “I just wish doing academic things got more recognition.”
Emilie Lewis, a school counselor at Fairmont Senior High, has worked in a public school setting for several years. She has seen other students go to the Governor’s Schools, but never one do all five. Lewis said that’s a mark of how well rounded Halle is as a student. Usually students hyperfocus in one of the subcategories of the program.
Lewis said the Governor’s Schools push kids out of their comfort zones. What makes the schools valuable is also the fact students attend for free. Youth from small towns and economically disadvantaged backgrounds get to have experiences they might not have access to otherwise.
Jenni Cercone said her daughter is interested in majoring in biology at West Virginia University. She now has an entire year to prepare for her daughter’s departure. She’s glad it’s only going to be a 30-minute drive to WVU, any more than that and it’s more than likely she’d pick up and move to be close to Halle. The Governor’s Schools have made Halle independent, which also causes some parental anxiety.
“These camps have made her so independent,” Jenni Cercone said. “She’s never afraid to do anything on her own. I’m always so proud of her for that.”
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