Kentucky Governor's Scholars Program

The Kentucky Governor's Scholars Program (GSP) was established in 1983. It is a five-week summer program for rising high school seniors. Over 1,000 Kentucky students are selected yearly based on a thorough application process detailing their academic achievement, extracurricular involvement, volunteerism, and personal integrity.

Residence

The scholars selected stay for the duration of the program in the residential halls of three Kentucky college campuses. The three campuses currently hosting the program are Centre College, Morehead State University, and Bellarmine University. Past hosts have included Northern Kentucky University, Eastern Kentucky University, and the University of Kentucky. Excluding group trips, GSP requires that all scholars remain on campus at all times. This encourages the development of rich community within the group.

Program

Scholars attend a selection of three classes during the week: Focus Area, General Studies, and Seminar. Focus Area is a topic within the arts and sciences, assigned based on the scholar's preference. General Studies classes are assigned randomly and could be any topic of the teacher's choice. Seminar is a discussion class in which scholars are encouraged to share their opinions on heavy issues in a diplomatic and unbiased setting.While most teachers refrain from assigning outside work, classes challenge the scholars' modes of thinking in a variety of arenas. GSP teachers take a creative approach to most subjects, allowing the scholars to contribute with their own interactive and experimental projects. Regular field trips, ranging from the Little Sandy Correctional Complex to the Cincinnati Opera, enhance the GSP experience.

Special activities

GSP provides the opportunity to participate in countless activities, such as: world-renowned guest speeches, Showcase, GSP Olympics, Community Arts Day, International Fair, Fourth of July Parade, and Community Service Day. Additionally, the program encourages scholars to form and publicize their own student-lead events and clubs, which can meet during the free time throughout the day.

College preparation

The program attracts gifted students statewide, many of whom may be the first in their families who plan to attend college. The integrated on-campus experience prepares scholars for residential life. Numerous colleges and universities across the state of Kentucky offer special scholarship packages for students who have participated in the program. This provides an important incentive for the state's most talented students to apply for this experience. There is also a college fair during the program, allowing the scholars to survey Kentucky's colleges and universities.

Diversity

The Governor's Scholars Program emphasizes wide-ranging representation of all Kentucky regions, ethnicities, and cultural backgrounds. Participating scholars are granted the opportunity to expand their horizons by forming close relationships with their peers representing all 120 counties in the commonwealth.

External links

* [http://www.kygsp.org/default.aspx Official website]