Hunter Lutz’s academic and career aspirations were sparked while he was still in junior high.
As a seventh-grader at Floyd T. Binns Middle School, the Culpeper resident began learning about astronomy.
“I realized that was something I was genuinely interested in,” he said.
That led to Hunter wanting to take a physics class, which in turn led him to applying to Mountain Vista Governor’s School for Math, Science and Technology. The Eastern View High School junior is in his second year of attending the governor’s school located at Laurel Ridge’s Fauquier Campus. MVGS is also on the Middletown Campus. At the school, students take classes that are dual enrolled at Laurel Ridge.
“The teachers are really engaging,” Hunter said of MVGS. “I’m learning so much.”
While his favorite teachers include economics and government teacher Chad Patterson and former physics teacher Dr. Allen Atkins, “I do love all my teachers, though,” he said.
Hunter said the idea of earning his associate degree before graduating from high school since the governor’s school classes are dual enrolled through Laurel Ridge is “really cool.”
Right now, Hunter’s top college choice is Brown University, and he is considering studying neuroscience and psychology. He thinks his time at MVGS will give him an edge.
“I want to apply to some really hard schools to get into, so I think it’s very beneficial to go to governor’s school,” Hunter said.
Ultimately, he would like to be a criminal defense attorney. Again, Hunter drew inspiration from a teacher when it came to this line of work. His eighth-grade English class had a philosophy class feel, with a lot of student debate and discussion, Hunter said. Politics, government systems and sociology were all covered.
“I had a really inspiring teacher,” Hunter said. “It really just opened my eyes to the idea of being a criminal defense attorney.”
He encourages all students, even those who aren’t necessarily interested in a STEM career, to consider applying to MVGS.
“It’s definitely worth it 99 percent of the time,” Hunter said.
Learn more about the governor’s school at https://www.mvgshome.org/mvgs/.
Laurel Ridge Community College was known as Lord Fairfax Community College until June 2022. For consistency purposes, the college will be referenced as Laurel Ridge going forward.