Governor's School For The Arts - GSA

 

GSA 2027: APPLY NOW!

DEADLINE: Sunday, January 17, 2027 @ 10:59 PM CT

Visit the GSA website at www.kentuckygsa.org to learn more and apply!

 

Every summer, the faculty of professional artists and educators guide more than 270 of Kentucky’s finest young artists through three weeks of incredibly intense (and incredibly fun) arts instruction. It’s a thrilling, often life-changing experience, as they meet new friends, explore their creativity, and discover how they can make their own unique impact on the Commonwealth and beyond.

GSA is looking for current KY high school sophomores and juniors with skill in their artform, passion for creativity, an open mind, collaborative spirit, and an eagerness for learning! GSA auditions & reviews the Commonwealth’s most promising high school sophomores and juniors in nine different arts disciplines: Creative Writing, Dance, Drama, Film + Photography, Graphic Design, Instrumental Music, Musical Theatre, Visual Art and Vocal Music.

The GSA website has all the tools you need to learn about GSA and to apply!

·         Register for a GSA 101 Webinar

·         Register for a GSA Artform Specific Webinar

·         Read your artform’s applicant guide

·         Start your application via the application platform, Accepted

Opportunity to learn more in our community:

The Governor’s School for the Arts (GSA) is coming to the Marshall County Arts Center for a FREE community

information workshop on Wednesday, October 28, at 5 PM!

At the Marshall County Arts Center, we believe in creating opportunities, inspiring creativity, and helping our 

young people discover their potential through the arts. We’re excited to bring this opportunity to our community 

and help students take the next step in their creative journey!

Parents and students, this is your chance to learn more! Click the link below to register for this FREE workshop 

and discover how the Governor’s School for the Arts could open doors to new experiences and exciting 

possibilities!  https://marshallcountyarts.ludus.com/200550165

College Preview Opportunity: Click here to see the list and the sign up links!

 

Juniors in AP, dual credit, or pre-calculus in their junior year schedule are invited to attend select senior events. All seniors are invited.

College Previews are an opportunity for our students to meet in a small group setting with admission counselors and learn about the opportunities their college provides. Below are the schools visiting with us - use the link(s) below to sign up (students may sign up for more than one if they are interested in more than one school).  Students must use their MCHS email to complete the form.

List will be updated as the colleges begin to book their dates with us!

Centre College     Thursday 9/3    8:45AM    Room 1208    SIGN UP HERE

Western Kentucky University   Wednesday 9/9    10:00AM    SIGN UP HERE

Murray State University   Thursday 9/10    10:15AM    PAC  SIGN UP HERE

Campbellsville University     Thursday 9/24    10:15AM    Room 1208  SIGN UP HERE

University of Kentucky Engineering @ Paducah  Monday 9/28 10:30AM  1208  SIGN UP HERE

Southern Illinois University   Thursday 10/15    10:30AM    Room 1208  SIU - SIGN UP HERE

University of Kentucky  Friday 10/20 10:00AM  PAC  UK - SIGN UP HEREUK

Lipscomb College  Tuesday 10/27    10:30AM    Room 1208

Scary-Good Self-Care

 

MCHS Mental Health Corner

The Coolidge Scholarship

The 2026-27 Coolidge Scholarship application is now live. 

The Coolidge Scholarship is a full-ride, four-year, merit scholarship that recipients may use for undergraduate study at any accredited college or university in the United States. Any high school junior who plans to enroll in college in the fall of 2028 and is an American citizen or legal permanent resident is eligible to apply (current high school seniors are not eligible to apply). Winners may use the scholarship to pursue any academic major.

Academic excellence is the primary criterion considered by the Coolidge Scholarship. Secondary criteria include an interest in public policy and an appreciation of the values President Coolidge championed. Successful candidates will also demonstrate humility and have a record of genuine service to their communities. A complete description of the scholarship’s criteria is available here.

The competition for the Coolidge Scholarship is significant -- only a few new Coolidge Scholarships are awarded each year from a pool of candidates that spans the entire country. Even so, students have reported to us in past years that they were glad to have applied even if they didn’t win, because the experience helped prepare them for college applications later on. Furthermore, the Coolidge Foundation invites one hundred of the top Coolidge Scholarship applicants to participate in the Coolidge Senators Program, which includes an all-expenses-paid summit gathering and a $1,000 scholarship. Scholarship applicants are automatically considered for the Senators Program.

Please know that the application requires that candidates read President Coolidge’s Autobiography and other reading assignments, and then write three essays. We therefore encourage students to begin the application early. Candidates who begin the application at the last minute are unlikely to be successful. The submission deadline is 5:00 PM Pacific time, Tuesday, December 1, 2026. 

The scholarship application, along with additional information, can be accessed on our scholarship site: www.coolidgescholars.org. Questions? We can be best reached by email at coolidgescholars@coolidgefund.org or by phone at (202) 827-4291.

Fall and Full Year AP Exam registration - deadline 11/6

9/29/26 Mrs. Burnham has been visiting fall and full year AP classes this week to discuss AP Exam Registration for fall and full year AP classes.  Students received a classroom presentation and a handout (on purple paper). 

AP Exam scores could earn you college credit or advanced placement (meaning you could skip certain courses in college).  Use this link to find colleges that interest you to see how they transfer your AP exam score for credit or placement: AP Credit Policy Search

Students do not have to take the AP Exam. MCHS partners with the CollegeBoard to give students the opportunity to test to earn college credit. Please contact Jennifer Burnham with any questions. 

Snip of the purple handout for reference (below). This document will be emailed to families of students in a fall or full year AP class by end of week.

Registration/Payment Link

ACT Prep Opportunity - Kelly Walden/Shawn Baldwin

 

UK College of Engineering Paducah Campus - Evening with Engineering Session

 

ASVAB - multi-aptitude test - a free career exploration tool

ASVAB Sign ups will be from Monday, September 28 to Friday, October 16.  

MCHS students can sign up to take the ASVAB on Wednesday, October 21. The ASVAB helps students explore career and educational opportunities in both civilian and military fields. 

Sign-up flyers with QR codes are posted throughout the building. Please scan the QR code to register by Friday, October 16.

For questions, please see Mrs. Stom, Freshman Counselor.

Voice of Democracy - VFW Patriotic Audio Essay Competition Due 10/31

 

More Info and Entry Form Click Here

Additional Road Trip opportunity IF you can't attend the spring junior trip DUE TO A SCHOOL CONFLICT

If you are taking AP, and/or Dual Credit courses or pre-calculus then you are eligible for our Junior College Road trip in the spring. This is an additional Road Trip Opportunity IF you can't attend the spring junior trip due to a school conflict (play, spring sport, etc).

We have historically gone (2 nights/3 days) somewhere within the last week of March to mid-April.  We will visit MSU, WKU, UK and U of L.  

However, we realize there could be conflicts for some of you with your extracurricular activities in the spring that would prevent you from being able to go. Therefore, we would like to open some spots for juniors to join the seniors this fall.  The senior trip will visit 3 college campuses:  WKU, UK and U of L.  We have only a limited number of spots for juniors and they will be reserved for juniors that will have a spring conflict. Dates will be November 6th and 7th.  Please see Mrs. Boone or Mrs. Burnham for an interest form which will be due by Thursday, September 25th (payment will be due 10/2). 

College Preview Opportunity: See original post - Campbellsville and UK Engineering at Paducah links just added!

GSP Lunch & Learns

         

Registered students will bring their lunch or get lunch 'to go' from the cafeteria and eat while learning about a section of the application and hearing from other GSP alums. Students must email Mrs. Burnham to attend and include which lunch the student has.

GSP Lunch & Learn - Session 1: Extracurriculars and Recommendations

Thursday, September 24 in Dr. Wilson's OLD office at the top of the stairwell

GSP Lunch & Learn - Session 2: Service and Essay

Monday, September 28 in Room 1303

GSP Lunch & Learn - Session 3: Honors

Thursday, October 1 in Room 1303

GSP Lunch & Learn - Session 4: Q&A

Thursday, November 5 in Room 1208

GSP has informed me the date for their regional info meeting will be 10/12 at Murray State University. Invitations to that event come to your home from GSP.

Governor's Scholars Program -GSP- Informational Session Th 9/17 during MDM - UPDATE

There will be a GSP informational session Thursday, September 17 during MDM in the cafeteria.

Come hear about the program, it's application and from our alums! There will be an announcement at

10:50 to report to the cafeteria.

UPDATE: Students learned about the program, overview of the application and received a handout. Any student not in attendance can see me and/or get the handout in the front part of my office. 

ACT ONLINE Prep Opportunity - Ben Phillips (a Marshall County graduate!)

 

https://janerosstutoring.com/students-parents/

Scholarship Info

 

College 101 - Come join us for this info session!

 

College Fair Expo - field trip opportunity

Juniors in AP, dual credit, or pre-calculus in their junior year schedule are invited to attend select senior events. All seniors are invited.

The College Fair Expo will be held in Murray on Sept 15 - you will have the opportunity to meet admission counselors from different colleges and universities.  After the fair we will grab breakfast in Winslow (MSU's Dining Hall) before heading back. The cost of the trip is $10 (includes breakfast and transportation).  Permission forms are available in my office and are due Friday, Sept 4.

College Preview Opportunity: Click here to see the list and the sign up links!

 

Juniors in AP, dual credit, or pre-calculus in their junior year schedule are invited to attend select senior events. All seniors are invited.

College Previews are an opportunity for our students to meet in a small group setting with admission counselors and learn about the opportunities their college provides. Below are the schools visiting with us - use the link(s) below to sign up (students may sign up for more than one if they are interested in more than one school).  Students must use their MCHS email to complete the form.

List will be updated as the colleges begin to book their dates with us!

Centre College     Thursday 9/3    8:45AM    Room 1208    SIGN UP HERE

Western Kentucky University   Wednesday 9/9    10:00AM    SIGN UP HERE

Murray State University   Thursday 9/10    10:15AM    PAC  SIGN UP HERE

Campbellsville University     Thursday 9/24    10:15AM    Room 1208  SIGN UP HERE

University of Kentucky Engineering @ Paducah  Monday 9/28 10:30AM  1208  SIGN UP HERE

Southern Illinois University   Thursday 10/15    10:30AM    Room 1208

University of Kentucky  Friday 10/20 10:00AM  PAC  

Lipscomb College  Tuesday 10/27    10:30AM    Room 1208

PSAT registration + parent info session

 

The PSAT/NMSQT will be administered during the school day at MCHS on Monday, October 26.

Sophomores and Juniors may test by signing up with the QR code on flyers around the building and paying in the front office by Friday, September 4, at 3:00 pm. 

$13

Questions? See Mrs. Stom, Freshman Counselor, in Room 2201.

From the CollegeBoard:

The CollegeBoard invites you to join them for a webinar to learn about the PSAT 8/9, PSAT/NMSQT, and SAT School Day exams offered this fall at many schools across Kentucky. If you're not sure whether your school offers these exams, reach out to them directly to ask and express your interest (MCHS is offering PSAT/NMSQT). These assessments give students valuable practice with the skills and format used on the SAT, helping build confidence and reduce test day stress later on. Students also receive personalized feedback through tools like Khan Academy, which connects their results to a free, customized study plan. Strong performance on the PSAT/NMSQT can also qualify juniors for National Merit Scholarship recognition and access to over $350 million in scholarships. All three exams help students and families track academic growth over time and plan ahead for college readiness. Students and schools also receive AP Potential data, which shows how ready students are for Advanced Placement (AP) courses. You'll be able to submit questions throughout the session.

 

We'll also discuss how to use your scores to pursue the college and career opportunities you're aiming for after graduation, including how to connect to scholarship opportunities through College Board's free planning tool, BigFuture. You can learn more about BigFuture here.

Please join us on Thursday, September 3 at 6:00 pm EST via this link to learn more about how these exams work, what to expect on test day, and how to make the most of the results.

 

We look forward to seeing you there and helping your student take a confident step toward their future.  In the meantime, feel free to check out these flyers to learn more about these opportunities:

 

PSAT 8/9 (for 8th and 9th graders)
PSAT/NMSQT (for 10th and 11th graders)
SAT School Day (for any grade level)

BigFuture flyer

Clubs start tomorrow!

 

Tomorrow we start club meetings!  Clubs meet each Friday. Tomorrow is a gray club day (next Friday will be white, then blue then orange).  I hope you consider becoming involoved or attending something you are interested in! High school clubs can build social connections, teach vital life skills, and strengthen future college or job applications!  You are permitted to stay in your MDM if you are not attending a club.

Juniors will get to take the ACT and SAT for free at school in October!

The ACT will be administered during the school day at MCHS on Thursday, October 22.

The SAT will be administered during the school day at MCHS on Thursday, October 29.

Juniors: All juniors will test—no sign-up required

This is a great opportunity to work on reaching benchmark for work based learning, dual credit and scholarship opportunities!

Think of life after high school like this:

 

Western KY Regional College and Career Expo

 A wonderful opportunity for your student to start looking at, meeting, and gathering information on colleges and careers they are interested in!

ACT Prep Opportunity - Kelly Walden (In Person)

Our next ACT Prep Workshop will start in September to prep for the October test.  We are skipping one weekend of Fall Break and will end the weekend before the October test.  We are encouraging kids to take this test because My Answer Key (Test Release Information) will be available.  However, I am hearing that many test sites around here are already full.  So I’m encouraging students to go ahead and sign up for the test.

The first two days of the workshop, Sept 12 and 19, will be Math.  The last two days, Sept 26 and Oct 10, will be English and Reading. 

Registration: Contact Shawn Baldwin at logostestprepky@gmail.com

Job Opportunity

 

BBB Trust Scholarship - Due 10/30

BBB Trust Scholarship: The 2026 BBB Trust Scholarship Contest is open to high school juniors and seniors in our service area in Kentucky and Indiana. There are four entry categories: video, graphic design, visual art and essay. Scholarship money is awarded to first ($1000), second ($750) and third ($500) place winners in each category, and the first place winners’ schools also receive $500!

https://www.bbb.org/local/0402/bbb_scholarships

Ann Gilly (she/her)

Digital & Creative Coordinator

BBB, Greater Kentucky Region

502-588-0032 | bbb.com

Parking Permit Info

 

Upcoming Club Fair

 

tutoring/make-up testing schedule

We begin offering tutoring/make-up testing before and after school this week!

Civic Leadership Institute - Apply by 8/28

In partnership with the WKU Center for Gifted Studies, the McConnell Center is excited to announce a new opportunity for Kentucky high school students: the Civic Leadership Institute! This opportunity is for rising sophomores or rising juniors interested in leadership, law, government, history, economics, public policy, international relations, education, journalism, business, or public service.

The Civic Leadership Institute is a selective, yearlong experience for high school students who aspire to make a difference in their communities and beyond. Through immersive Saturday sessions and an exciting summer capstone experience, the Civic Leadership Institute is a premier leadership experience where students build lifelong friendships, develop a portfolio of meaningful work, and gain exposure to a wide variety of career pathways connected to the social sciences and public life.

Designed as a multi-year pathway, the Institute gives students the opportunity to return through their senior year, building increasingly advanced knowledge, experiences, and leadership skills along the way.

Through immersive Saturday sessions, a Summer Leadership Experience, and a Senior Capstone Experience, students step into the roles of attorneys, legislators, diplomats, historians, policy analysts, and community leaders.

Institute highlights include:

• A selective cohort of high-achieving students
• Six immersive Saturday experiences throughout the year
• A Summer Leadership Experience
• A weeklong Senior Capstone Experience in Washington, D.C.
• Mock trials and courtroom simulations
• Legislative debates and policymaking experiences
• Crisis response and diplomatic simulations
• Leadership and communication development
• Advocacy projects addressing real-world issues
• Networking with professionals and mentors
• Exploration of careers across the social sciences and public service

More than a class, the Civic Leadership Institute is an opportunity for students to develop meaningful skills, build lasting friendships, create a portfolio of work, and explore pathways to future careers in civic life.

Please encourage interested sophomore and junior students to apply by Friday, August 28!

You can visit our website for additional information: https://centers.louisville.edu/mcconnell-center/civic-education/kentucky-students/civic-leadership-institute

If you or interested students have questions, please direct them to me.

Thank you!

Meghan A. Waters

Director of External Education

McConnell Center

University of Louisville

(502) 852-3158

 

www.mcconnellcenter.org

Kentucky High School Students Invited to Attend Fall Service Academy Information Fair RSVP by 8/19

Sen. Rand Paul is hosting the annual Service Academy Information Fair on Aug. 20 at the Knicely Conference Center at Western Kentucky University. Registration begins at 5:30 p.m. CT, with the event being held from 6 to 8 p.m. CT.

The event provides interested students and parents with an opportunity to learn more about the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marine Academies. Representatives from each will be on hand to answer questions.

Interested students may RSVP to the Office of Sen. Paul: (270) 782-8303.

United States Senate Youth Program - Scholarship Opportunity Applications due by 9/12

 

Applications for 2026 U.S. Senate Youth Program now open (FRANKFORT, KY) – Applications are now open for the 2026-2027 United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP), a merit-based program that takes the most outstanding high school students from around the country to Washington, D.C., for a week-long study of the federal government and the people who lead it. Two Kentucky high school students will be selected this fall as delegates and will each receive a $12,500 college scholarship in the name of the U.S. Senate, with encouragement to continue coursework in history, government and public affairs. The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) oversees the selection process of two students to be part of the national 104-student USSYP delegation. Students will attend Washington Week, scheduled for March 6-13, and participate in meetings and briefings with high-level officials from each branch of the federal government. Speakers typically include senators, a justice of the Supreme Court, leaders of cabinet agencies, other key policymakers and senior members of the media. Applications are available online and are due Sept. 12. Applicants should be interested in and participating in leadership, public service and government-related activities. Students will need to submit a transcript, two letters of recommendation, three essay responses, a resume and a signature form as part of the application process. The semifinalists will interview at the Sower Building in Frankfort on a date to be determined. KDE will announce the names of the two USSYP delegates and two alternates representing Kentucky in December. Ethan Morgan, a senior at Marshall County High School, and Patrick Gorbaviy, a senior at Oldham County High School, were selected for the 2025-2026 program. The U.S. Senate Youth Program was created by Senate Resolution 324 in 1962 and has been sponsored by the Senate and funded by The Hearst Foundations. The 2026-2027 program details are available on the U.S. Senate Youth Program website. For more information, email awards@education.ky.gov or call KDE Academic Program Manager Rosalind Turner at (502) 564-2000, ext. 4626. Additional information can also be found on the KDE U.S. Senate Youth Program website.

ACT Prep Opportunity - Kelly Walden (In Person)

 

They have three workshops scheduled for the fall semester. The October workshop will be September 12,19,26, and October 10. We will post that info when we get it. 

WELCOME TO JUNIOR YEAR - CLASS OF 2028

 

Hi! I'm Jennifer Burnham, the Junior School Counselor, at Marshall Co. High School. I look forward to introducing myself to the junior class on the first day of school!  This is where you will look for junior year specific information. This blog is where I will post all junior specific opportunities and announcements. 

You'll note that there are tabs across the top to keep information sorted: Home, ACT, SAT, Scholarship Info, College & Career. I encourage you to check the blog and communicate with me often to stay on top of all information and deadlines. 

Precollege planning is important and this is the year that many juniors take that very seriously. For those of you looking at college as your next step you should make a list of colleges you're interested in, start visiting their websites, and schedule visits - senior year will be so hectic and the deadlines come fast. Along with freshman and sophomore year this is the year that colleges will see the most updated record of your academic standing - GPA.
Colleges and scholarship agencies put a lot of stock into a student's GPA, ACT/SAT score, and their service (community service). Start working on your service component now if you haven't already.

It's important to note that I don't work with just college bound students.  I work with military and career going students as well so please don't hesitate to come see me.

Three popular exams you will hear a lot about this year are the PSAT, SAT and the ACT. The PSAT exam is quickly approaching and will be given on Wednesday, October 22 at Marshall County High School.  The PSAT is the entry exam to the National Merit Scholarship Program and it is given only one time a year.  It is offered to juniors as a practice test for the SAT and for National Merit Scholarship purposes.  Registration and Payment information will go out in Huddle and to student and parent emails later this month.

National ACT test dates are Saturdays in Sep, Oct, Dec, Feb, April, June and July. Students go online and register for national test dates at act.org.  I can help you with that in my office if needed.  Historically the state of Kentucky has contracted with ACT to give juniors a free ACT during the school day for student benefit and as part of our accountability model. This year the state has contracted with SAT and we will be giving a free SAT in March of your junior year. The state could also change this as late as October of this year.  

There are several summer programs that are tied to scholarship money that I would love to talk to you about. Some are educational, some focus on government, the arts and some focus on business. CHA, GSP, GSA, GSE, Boys and Girls state are very popular and the application deadlines begin in November.  Some of them require an ACT/SAT or PSAT score prior to admission.  See me ASAP to check those dates!

You should have heard about the KEES Program the last 2 years. This is a reminder to check your KEES account online. 

If you need CR (previously failed a class, are a transfer student or are finishing a course from summer school) - you must see me to discuss scheduling options.

Throughout the year, there will be events specific to juniors enrolled in dual credit courses, AP courses, and pre-calculus. I will advertise registration for those events here. 
Please don't hesitate to contact me throughout the year with any questions you may have.  I look forward to working with YOU!

SCHOLARSHIPS EXPLAINED