Richmond Early College High School student accepted into the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics

Giovani Gomez-Orozco, a a rising junior, has been accepted into the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (NCSSM) for the 2021-22 school year. He will complete his junior and senior year at NCSSM.

Gomez-Orozco’s acceptance was recognized during the board meeting Tuesday.

“This is a dream come true,” he said to board members.

NCSSM is a world-class public high school with statewide reach, empowering students with the skills and knowledge to design their own future, according their website. NCSSM challenges students from across the state with an advanced curriculum in STEM fields and the humanities.

“I’ve always wanted to go to a place where I could just be with other people like me with the mindset to succeed both in math and science,” said Gomez-Orozco “Through REaCH and the teachers and staff there who were very helpful, I was able to accomplish this goal.

“I’m excited and enthusiastic to represent you all at NCSSM and I think it’s going to be a major step in my other dreams and goals - like attending MIT, which I’m hopeful I’ll get into when I apply.”

Several REaCH staff were excited to hear of his acceptance.

“Giovani has made straight A’s throughout his entire educational career,” said Sandra McDonald, school counselor at REaCH. “He is ranked number one in his class. He is extremely driven and will be very successful at NCSSM!”

“Giovani is an outstanding student who always gives his very best,” said Julie Howard, a Math III Teacher at REaCH. “Giovanni stood out to me as an amazing Math student from the very beginning. He is inquisitive, hardworking, polite and kind. I am thrilled to hear he has been accepted in NCSSM. I know he will be so successful and will have a very bright future.”

“I had the pleasure of teaching Giovani biology during the 2020-2021 school year,” said Biology Teacher Anna Sanford. “Our students were virtual in the beginning which was a difficult situation for many. Giovani was willing and able to adapt and move forward. He kept up with his assignments, always attended Zoom sessions, and was responsible for many lively discussions pertaining to biology. He frequently asked higher level questions that required higher level answers. He is a very driven person that will fit in well as NCSSM.”