Fitch student named Governor’s scholar

Groton — Erika Mayer, the top-ranking student in Fitch High School’s junior class, was recently awarded the Connecticut Association of Secondary Schools’ Governor’s Scholar award.

Principal Joe Arcarese presented Mayer to the Board of Education Monday night. The award is based on a student’s CAPT tests, SAT scores and grade point average.

“That was the easy part for Erika,” Arcarese said. “She also had to write an essay. That doesn’t sound too hard either, except she wasn’t allowed to know what the topic was until just before she wrote it. And she only had an hour to do it.”

Mayer, 16, was one of 150 students who tried for the award and one of 30 chosen.

“What she did in an hour, would have taken me a year,” Arcarese joked. “It will look very good on her college resume and scholarship applications.”

Mayer’s essay was on social networking web sites and some of the negative effects they have on society. She will receive her award May 17, during a reception at the Aqua Turf Club in Meridan.