Governor's scholars return to Centre's campus

RELEASED: June 22, 2006

DANVILLE, KY—It's a Centre College tradition and a sure sign of summer. Like the swallows returning to Capistrano, the Governor's Scholars will descend on the Centre campus this week.

Beginning Sunday, June 25, 388 of Kentucky's outstanding rising high school seniors will come to Danville for five weeks of intellectual and social exploration.

Now in its 24th year (its 23rd year on Centre's campus), the Governor's Scholars Program mixes a busy academic schedule in the sciences, mathematics and humanities with a full enrichment and residential-life experience. The subject matter ranges from cultural anthropology to physical science to non-traditional subjects. They have included urban myths ("alligators in the sewers"), Ukrainian dance, puppet-making and Japanese children's games have been among the creative offerings taught at the GSP.

International studies will be the focus of this year's program. Many of the GSP faculty, staff and resident assistants have had experience teaching, studying and living overseas in countries such as Russia, Nigeria and Vietnam.

"Entering my eighth year of involvement with the Program, I'm still filled with excitement as we welcome new scholars," says Patrick Noltemeyer, director of volunteer service Bonner Program coordinator, and director of scholars for the GSP program. "Today's GSP scholars will be our next generation of community leaders, and it's always a pleasure to be a part of their development." Noltemeyer works closely with Clarence Wyatt, Pottinger Associate Professor of History and special assistant to the president at Centre, who is the campus director of GSP.

Among the special features for this year's program are the opening convocation lecture by cross-Atlantic rower and Kentucky native Tori Murden-McClure; International Day; and Explore Kentucky day, during which scholars visit regions in the Commonwealth that may be distinctly different from their hometowns.

"Centre has been involved with the Governor's Scholars Program since its inception," says Centre President John Roush. "The program reflects the College's engaging approach to the liberal arts and sciences—small classes and one-to-one interaction with outstanding teachers/scholars. It's what we do best."

The program, which began in 1983 on Centre's campus, has grown to more than 1,100 students each summer on the three GSP campuses including Centre, Morehead State University and Bellarmine University.

This year's program on Centre's campus includes 21 faculty members, who are drawn competitively from colleges, universities and high schools in Kentucky and across the nation. The eight office staff members and 21 resident assistants, many of them former Governor's Scholars, are students at a variety of colleges and universities, including Centre, the University of Chicago, Davidson and Vanderbilt, among others.

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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/

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