Released: July 1, 1999

Centre and GSP to host poet laureate, astronaut

DANVILLE, KY- The Kentucky Governor's Scholars Program underway at Centre College has planned several convocations open to the public at no cost. Kentucky Poet Laureate Richard Taylor will give a public reading and lecture Tuesday, July 6, at 7:45 p.m. in Weisiger Theatre in the Norton Center for the Arts.

The following week, on Monday, July 12, Neil Lerner, a pianist and former member of the Centre music faculty, will give a concert and lecture on "The Sounds of Silent Movies." His program will begin at 7:30 p.m. in Newlin Hall in the Norton Center.

Gordon Davies, executive director of the Kentucky Council on Higher Education, will speak Wednesday, July 21, on "Choice: The Last Resort." His remarks will begin at 1:30 p.m. in Weisiger Theatre in the Norton Center.

In a highlight of the GSP program, Kentucky resident and former astronaut Storey Musgrave will visit the campus Thursday, July 22, for a video and lecture presentation entitled "The Aesthetics of Space." His program will begin at 8 p.m. in Newlin Hall, and immediately afterwards, GSP participants will host a "Star Party" on the lawn of the Norton Center. The students will point out stars and constellations of interest in the Kentucky night sky.

Musgrave is a dynamic speaker who is returning for his second consecutive year as a guest speaker at GSP. He made history in 1993 when, at age 56, he became the oldest person ever to travel in space, a record that was eclipsed only when John Glenn returned to space this year. Musgrave was payload commander aboard the space shuttle Endeavour and performed three of the record-setting five space walks. He also flew aboard the Challenger, Discovery and Atlantis.

Born in Massachusetts, Musgrave now resides in Lexington and considers Kentucky to be his home. He remains active with NASA, assigned as the lead spacecraft communicator and a candidate for assignment to future space missions. Musgrave also has a deep affection for literature and the humanities. He holds two bachelor's degrees and three master's degrees, as well as a doctorate in medicine from Columbia University. Most recently, he began pursuing advanced study in literature, earning a master's degree in American literature from the University of Houston. He is a candidate for a Ph.D. in literature.

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Communications Office
Centre College
600 W. Walnut Street
Danville, KY 40422

Coordinator of Public Information: Patsi Barnes Trollinger
Telephone 606-238-5719 · trllngrp@centre.edu