McCracken County High School juniors Eden Bridges-Hayes, Alexa Brower, Ella Chuppe, Audrey Haley, Sophie Hollowell, Savannah McDowell, Pratha Patel, Daniel Crouse, Preston Harper, and Matthew King have been selected to participate in this year's Kentucky Governor's Scholars Program. Mossy Manea was selected as an alternate.
The Governor’s Scholars Program Statewide Selection Committee reported that the 2024 Scholars were selected from a highly competitive field of 1,813 outstanding young Kentuckians. The 1,050 students accepted represent 58% of the total pool of candidates. 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 statewide 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.
Back row (left to right) Alexa Brower, Pratha Patel, Daniel Crouse, Matthew King, Preston Harper, and Eden Bridge-Hayes.
Front Row (left to right) Sophie Hollowell, Ella Chuppe, Mossy Manea, Audrey Haley, and Savannah McDowell.