Paducah Tilghman High School juniors Landon Hinz, Lucy LeBuhn, and Jude Williams have been accepted to the 2025 Kentucky Governor’s Scholars Program and Christian
Anderson, Malana Bobbitt, Jackson Ramer, Ava Russell, and Aidan Smith have been named alternates.
The Governor’s Scholars Program Statewide Selection Committee reports that over 2,000 applications are received at the state level each year, with approximately 1,000 students selected to attend. The number of candidates each district may submit to the statewide process is based on the district-wide junior class enrollment.
The Governor’s Scholars Program is a summer residential program for outstanding rising high school seniors in Kentucky. This year’s sessions will be hosted by Murray State University in Murray, Centre College in Danville, and Morehead State University in Morehead.
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. Also required is 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. The final component of the application is an original writing entry.
The core curriculum for the program consists of a focus area of the student’s choosing, general studies classes, and seminars. Faculty and staff also invite a variety of speakers and performers from a range of disciplines and pursuits to visit campus. The scholars are challenged to examine and nurture their sense of learning and leadership. The program’s mission is to enhance Kentucky’s next generation of civic and economic leaders.
Pictured L to R: Christian Anderson, Landon Hinz, Lucy LeBuhn, Jude Williams, Jackson Ramer, and Ava Russell (not pictured: Malana Bobbitt and Aidan Smith)