Paducah Tilghman High School juniors Alex Baeza, Kate Bidwell, Alicia Durfee, Addie Franklin, Meghan Gruber, Keaton Housman, Brooke Larimer, Gus Page, Maya Romanak, and Nathaniel Skinner have been accepted to the Kentucky Governor’s Scholar Program. A total of 1,754 applications from high school juniors across the state were submitted this year, out of which sixty percent were accepted. Paducah Tilghman High School was permitted to submit ten applications this year and all ten were accepted into the program.
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 Bellarmine University in Louisville, 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.
Congratulations, PTHS scholars, on your acceptance to this prestigious program!
Pictured: (back row) Alicia Durfee, Gus Page, Nathaniel Skinner, Keaton Housman, and Kate Bidwell; (front row) Brooke Larimer, Alex Baeza, Meghan Gruber, Maya Romanak, and Addie Franklin