GSP has released their program materials for the 2026 GSP program. I will have a short informational session for interested juniors on Tuesday, September 9 at 2:30 in the cafeteria. There will be an announcement.
The Governor’s Scholars Program is a summer residential program for outstanding high school students in Kentucky who are rising seniors. The Program originated in 1983 as a result of Kentucky leaders’ concern that the state’s “best and brightest” were leaving the Commonwealth to pursue educational and career opportunities elsewhere without fully understanding the potential of their talents at home. Students who are selected attend the Program without charge. In the spirit of partnership, the Office of the Governor, the Kentucky State Legislature, and private enterprise come together to provide the financial support for the Program.
The Program’s mission is to enhance Kentucky’s next generation of civic and economic leaders. The first class numbered 230 and was housed on one college campus. Since then, the Program has enjoyed excellent support and grown to over 1,000 students on three campuses.
Host campuses are determined competitively every three years. The 2026-2028 session cycle will be hosted by Centre College in Danville, Morehead State University in Morehead, and Murray State University in Murray. The core curriculum for these summer sessions is threefold:
- Focus Area: Courses that allow a student to pursue a topic in-depth as a member of a small group stressing the development of ideas in the chosen discipline, with the option of additional independent study.
- General Studies: Classes the emphasize inquiry, service-learning, community leadership, and resolution development.
- Leadership Seminar: Personal development seminars that stress concerns and problems faced by students, including such subjects as values clarification, career choice, and interpersonal relationships.
Faculty and staff also invite a variety of speakers and performers from a range of disciplines and pursuits to visit campus. Carefully organized field trips, special events, and a film series also contribute to the comprehensive educational atmosphere in which scholars are challenged not only to examine, but, more importantly, to nurture their sense of learning and leadership.
In order to participate in the Program, students must be nominated by their high schools and then compete on a state-wide level. Selection for the program is highly competitive, with an application process similar to that of prestigious colleges and universities. In addition to an academic profile that includes difficulty of course load, GPA, and at least one standardized test score, the application requires an outline of all extracurricular activities, a history of volunteer service, and a list of job positions held. A Teacher recommendation which includes both a quantitative evaluation and qualitative descriptions of the student’s performance and potential; as well as a Community Recommendation which shows how a student performs in a community setting beyond the high school are also required. The final component of the application is an original writing entry.
General Criteria
1. Each applicant should have:
• Demonstrated academic achievement, leadership, and intellectual and emotional
maturity and have the personal commitment and responsibility to meet the daily
expectations of the program.
• The ability to cope successfully with a curriculum focusing on theory, abstraction, and
self-expression.
2. Each applicant should exhibit many of the following characteristics:
• Be flexible enough to explore new ideas and approaches, adapt to new situations, and
view problems from more than one perspective.
• Be willing to participate energetically in the academic, social, and residential life
aspects of the program.
• Be inquisitive, intellectually curious, and eager and willing to get involved.
• Be willing to think in conceptual terms.
• Demonstrate ability to think analytically and to generate many alternatives.
• Have genuine intellectual potential and a broad range of interests – not to be confused
with a range of activities.
• Be a responsible self-starter and enjoy developing and creating projects. Be
independent and willing to take risks.
• Be emotionally stable and socially mature; use common sense. Be honest,
considerate of others and be ready to shoulder responsibility for personal behavior
and for full, daily participation in classes and activities.
• Be able to express themselves in writing, orally, and/or in the arts.
3. Commitment is a major requirement.
Each applicant should be committed to participate enthusiastically in the program
and to remain for the entire five weeks without interruption, except for illness or
emergencies. Undivided time and continuity in the Scholar community is essential to
maintain the momentum to grow intellectually and personally, to gain self-confidence, and
to stimulate curiosity and creativity. Students unlikely to uphold this commitment
should not apply.
Students must be able to handle their freedom responsibly for the sake of their own health
and to meet their commitments.
Each accepted student must sign a learning contract agreeing:
(1) To stay for the entire five weeks of the program without interruption;
and,
(2) To attend classes daily and to participate fully in classes and the life of
the community, including weekends on campus.
Students who fail to meet this commitment will be in violation of their contract with the
Governor's Scholars Program. They may, therefore, be dropped from the program
and their school so notified. Individual exceptions may be allowed for emergencies,
illness, or overriding personal reasons or events.
Most students understand and respect these requirements. A few with major conflicts
that would take time from the five-week session choose not to attend the Program
which is a difficult choice. It is unethical and unfair to these honest students for an
applicant to accept designation as a Governor's Scholar knowing beforehand
that during the session they will seek permission to be absent because of a
scheduling conflict. Students who know of scheduling conflicts in advance should
contact the Governor's Scholars Program to discuss the conflict before accepting
designation and may have to choose not to attend if selected.
