RELEASED: Aug. 4, 2005

DANVILLE, KY—Already the hallways of high school are replacing the dorms and facilities of the Centre College campus for many Governor's Scholars. The program concluded last Friday, and most scholars are facing—with varying degrees of anticipation and dread—the prospect of returning for their senior year.

Students report that between unpacking from GSP and re-stuffing their backpacks with new notebooks and folders, they'll hardly have time to catch a movie with old friends or to visit grandma and enjoy some home cooking before entering their senior year.

Billy Owsley of Floyd County says he'll have just one week between GSP and the new school year, and he plans to spend that week in band camp. "I don't really want to leave the people I've met here, but I've missed the familiarity of home," Owsley says, reflecting the mixed emotions of many departing scholars.

Amelia Conway of Sandy Hook is looking forward to a few days of family time. And only the weekend stands between Madison Deskins and Johnson Central's next academic year. Deskins, who plans to spend that weekend back-to-school shopping with her mother, says GSP gave her greater self-confidence. "I'd never been away from home for more than a week before, and I got a sense of independence from being on my own," says Deskins, adding that she's looking forward to her senior year.

Maggie Roe of London and Matt Wade of Elizabethtown also have only a few days between GSP and high school. Though they have no special plans, they both report that they expect to be more outgoing during the upcoming year. "Being here has made me a lot more open to new people," Wade explains.
Summer will last longer for some scholars and their resident assistants however. Binh Tran of Louisville doesn't begin his senior year until mid-August. He will spend the rest of the summer interning with a doctor.

Centre students can enjoy even more free time before their academic year begins on September 5. Senior Meg Ivey of Cookesville, Tenn., and junior Eric Hack of Louisville, both of whom were GSP resident assistants, will keep busy for the last few weeks of the summer. "I'm going to study for the GRE, but I'll lie by the pool and work on my tan while I do it," says Ivey, whose double major in English and religion has apparently taught her a lesson in multi-tasking.

A dedicated cross-country runner, Hack plans to fill the last few weeks of his summer with running. He plans to train with a teammate in western Kentucky before returning to his hometown to make some extra money working in a fitness store. Hack had already incorporated his passion for running into his position with GSP by forming a running club and organizing a track meet for scholars. A former scholar himself, he expressed nostalgia at the close of the program, saying, "It's been very fulfilling to give back to a program that gave so much to me."

—Senior Kristie Kachler wrote this story.

For more Governor's Scholars news:

Jamming, canning, and churning with GSP July 14, 2005 Full story.
Congressman Chandler announces internships for Centre students Full story.

Ed McClanahan holds court with Governor’s Scholars July 14, 2005 Full story.

GSP scholars dig Shaker history July 7, 2005 Full story.
From Frisbees to fish, Governor’s Scholars are catching it all June 30, 2005 Full story.
Governor’s Scholars flock back to Centre campus June 23, 2005 Full story.

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Founded in 1819, Centre College is ranked among the U.S. News top 50 national liberal arts colleges. Centre alumni, known for their nation-leading loyalty in annual financial support, include two U.S. vice presidents and two Supreme Court justices. For more, visit http://www.centre.edu/web/elevatorspeech/

For news archives go to http://www.centre.edu/web/news/newsarchive.html.

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