Governor's scholars answer "if-you-could" questions

RELEASED: July 3, 2008

DANVILLE, KY—The Governor's Scholar's Program encourages high school students to discuss questions regarding issues around the globe. To take a break from these challenging questions, some scholars on Centre's campus were asked to answer more personal questions to gain insight to their thoughts regarding everything from historical figures they'd like to meet to what they'd desire on a deserted isle.

If you sit down with any historical figure throughout time, who would it be and why?
"Harry Truman because firstly he was an American who lived not so long ago and could comment on the world today, but also because of his position of leadership and his perspective on foreign diplomacy. Specifically, I would ask him about his decision to drop the atomic bomb and how he might approach our foreign affairs."

-Ian van Lierop
Scott High School
Kenton County

"Jesus. Whether you believe or not, all of his lessons are still being taught today; he's the founder of the world's largest religion; and he could answer any question regarding what's right and what's wrong."

-Jonathan Hurt
Pike County Central
Pike County

Which current musical act would you say has the greatest influence on the music scene today?

"My Morning Jacket. They do jazzy stuff but then turn around and record something with a southern rock sound. And then they also have some amazing songs that have an acoustic folk quality. They're influential because every album has been so different, yet they maintain a consistent sound…like the subtle reverberation you hear on a lot of their tracks.

-Robbie Fenton
DuPont Manual
Lousiville

"Kanye West. He's not creating anything new, but he's taking sounds that you'd usually only hear on "mash-ups" and popularizing them. It's really his ability to merge musical styles that makes him influential. I don't always agree with his social messages, but musically, he's pretty cutting edge."

-Mark Vitale
DuPont Manual
Louisville

If you could travel to any place and time for only hour, where would you go, when would you go, and why?

" I'm going to be esoteric here and say one hour in the court of Akbar the Great in the 16th century. He was at least a 1,000 years ahead of his time in terms of social reform. He had welfare programs for the poor, attempted to reduce cases of alcoholism…so many things. But he was also illiterate, so he would memorize text that was read to him."

-Kevin Sar
DuPont Manual
Louisville

"9/11, New York City. It was an event so significant to this country, but I was only in 5th grade when it happened. I don't think I really understood then, or do now, the implications of that day. For me it's kind of only history, so I'd like to better understand the emotional impact."

-Allie Curlin
Fulton County High School
Fulton County

If you could travel anywhere in the world for one year completely free of charge where would you go and why?

"Mexico. I'd love to see how fluent I am in Spanish after three years of study including an AP course. And my teacher, Kathleen Favella, was incredibly inspiring. I'd like to experience the culture, first-hand that she's taught me so much about."

-Brooklyn Jones
McCorary Central High School
McCorary County

"China. That's where my whole family lives. Plus, I'm a homebody; I like to be around people I know. So I don't think I'd like to be by myself for a whole year…the thought of that is kind of scary to me. My mother and father live in the States, but the rest of my family is all back in China. They came to America as a part of their graduate studies, so that's why I'm here now."

-Ellida Guan
Paul Lawrence Dunbar
Lexington

If you were stuck on a deserted island for one month, what's the one luxury item you'd want with you?

"Chocolate…an unlimited supply if possible. It's really good, maybe the best candy there is. And chocolate can be your friend you're alone. Maybe that's just me."

-Jacob Bessler
St. Henry High School
Hebron Country

"A water filter. It's kind of practical, but definitely a water filter."

-Grace McLain
Trinity Christian Academy
Lexington

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Founded in 1819, Centre College is ranked among the U.S. News top 50 national liberal arts colleges. Consumers Digest ranks Centre No. 1 in educational value among all U.S. 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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