Centre and GSP share more than a campus

RELEASED: July 17, 2008

DANVILLE, KY—This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Kentucky Governor's Scholars Program, a program that began at Centre College—the only campus to host GSP in 1983. In fact, Centre has hosted GSP more than any other college in the program's history: a record 24 years. But Centre and GSP have more than a campus in common. The faculty/student relationships, the thirst for knowledge and the close-knit community characterize the experiences of both the College and the Governor's Scholars Program.

"I think GSP and Centre have the same desire to foster knowledge rather than promote instruction," says Eric Abele (GSP '98 and Centre '03). "Although GSP may not necessarily be considered a liberal arts experience, I can't help but see how our interdisciplinary approach explores learning with the same curiosity as does Centre."

Abele now works as a faculty member for GSP, teaching dramatic arts and hat-making.

"As a teacher at GSP, I try to challenge my students as I was challenged at Centre while maintaining a cooperative and constructive learning environment," he says. "I always think of some of my favorite Centre professors and how they used humor to engage the classroom while still maintaining a rigorous academic experience. I'll never forget how Ken Keffer's playfulness, Jane Joyce's dry wit or Tony Haigh's utter Englishness made me look forward to each and every class."

Maria Kennedy '11, who currently serves as a Resident Advisor for GSP on the Centre campus, was a scholar in 2006. She says, "Both GSP and Centre are blessed with faculty who are extraordinarily knowledgeable in their field but are approachable, down-to-earth and a joy to listen to and learn from."

Scholars find that Centre offers a community of faculty and like-minded peers similar to what they've experienced at GSP. This is no doubt due in part to Centre's high percentage of students who were also Governor's Scholars—15 percent—which is the highest percentage in the state.

"I attended GSP at Centre in the summer of 2003," says Roy Lee Wigginton '08, who staffs the campus GSP office. "When I visited the College my senior year, I felt that same sense of community, of personal responsibility combined with intellectual, social, and civic engagement."

Governor's Scholars from any of the three campuses are encouraged to visit Centre on their own or to attend any of the open houses Centre hosts throughout the year. In addition, Centre guarantees that any GSP/GSA alumna who is admitted to the College, is in the top 10 percent of his/her high school class and has at least a 28 ACT (or SAT equivalent) will be recognized with, at minimum, $10,000 in scholarship.

To learn more about GSP at Centre 2008, click here.

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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/

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