Pictured left to right: Samantha Gray, Harlee Havens, Bethany Lawrence, Macy Wright, Conrad Jaconette, Ben Willoughby
Grant County High School is proud to announce that six of its students have been selected to participate in the prestigious Governor’s Scholars Program (GSP) this summer.
Samantha Gray, Harlee Havens, Conrad Jaconette, Bethany Lawrence, Ben Willoughby, and Macy Wright will represent Grant County High School in the five-week residential GSP program held on three college campuses throughout Kentucky. Additionally, Jordan Saylor was named as an alternate.
The Governor’s Scholars Program was established in 1983, with the mission to “enhance Kentucky’s next generation of civic and economic leaders and to create models of education excellence for teachers and students.” The program provides academic and personal growth through a strong liberal arts program, together with a full co-curricular and residential life experience.
The selection process is highly competitive – with the state GSP selection committee evaluating the ACT scores, grade point averages, community service, extra-curricular involvement, awards, leadership experiences, letters of recommendation, and writing samples of hundreds of applicants. Once selected, the students have the opportunity to participate in the program free-of-charge, and upon completion become eligible for a number of scholarship opportunities.
It is this promise for unique experiences, opportunities, and growth that motivates students to embrace the arduous application process. It is not unusual for a student to invest 40 hours or more in their application. Even before going, Bethany Lawrence is certain the experience will be worth the effort. “Saying I am excited for GSP is an understatement,” she writes. “I can’t wait to see the opportunities that will come from it. I am very open-minded and hope to come back a changed person. I’ve worked very hard to get to this point, and I hope this sets the standard for all my future short and long-term goals.”
Macy Wright adds, “I am beyond excited to begin this journey, as it marks the start of my education after high school. GSP represents all of the hard work I have put into my education and it proves to myself that I can accomplish anything with dedication.”
While GSP offers many experiences within the 5-week program, it was the opportunities afterward that appealed most to Harlee Havens. Almost every college in the state of Kentucky recognizes GSP scholars by awarding some sort scholarship. “I applied because I knew of the opportunities that would be presented to me if I were to be accepted. Now I’ve significantly reduced any tuition I may pay, making getting to college that much easier for me.”
We trust the experience will be everything expected and more! Congratulations and best wishes to our 2014 Governors Scholars!