RELEASED: July 11, 2001

DANVILLE, KY—A pair of legislators from Kentucky visited Centre Tuesday, July 10, and applauded the efforts of the students of the Governors Scholars Program.

State Representative and House Majority Leader Greg Stumbo of Prestonsburg and Senator Lindy Casebier of Bullitt County attended the inaugural "Legislators-in-Residence" program.

They joined students in class before having a question-and-answer session at Old Carnegie. A big part of the discussion centered on the Kentucky Education Reform Act of 1990.

Stumbo and Casebier said it wasn't a perfect bill, but they have seen positive results.

"KERA is about opportunity," Stumbo said. "I come from a troubled district, a poor district. There are 17 students participating (at Governors Scholars) from my district. Before KERA, many of them wouldn't have had that chance. They are seeing a difference."

Casebier, stressing one of KERA's main goals, told the students that improving their writing and communication skills is important, and that their future employers would be looking for these skills. Both legislators suggested that students learn to be effective leaders when they return home from the program.

Casebier, who has visited Governors Scholars campuses three times, was happy with the program's direction.

"People on both sides in Frankfort can rally behind this program," he said. "It's very rewarding to be around students of this caliber."

Stumbo said he wouldn't be surprised if he was someday working in Frankfort with some of the students.

"I'm convinced that someday in the not so distant future that we'll see a governor, a U.S. senator or a state senator, or a number of these people, who have come from a program such as the Governors Scholars."

The legislators were given a standing ovation after the session and were presented gifts from the school.

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