Kentucky governor visits with Governor's Scholars

RELEASED: July 24, 2008



DANVILLE, KY—Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear addressed the Governor's Scholars at Centre College on Monday, giving them the opportunity to interact with him in a personal way as he encouraged them to "come together and help this state become the success" he and fellow Kentuckians know it can be.

After meeting with scholars for conversation and photos, the Governor gave a brief speech encouraging the rising high school seniors to pursue excellence in all their endeavors.

"I can tell I'm surrounded by a lot of intellect right now," Beshear said. "I'm thinking of the age (of the students), and probably one of you will succeed me as governor.

But I think you have to be at least 30, so I think I'll be gone and you won't have to run against me," he added.

Beshear focused his remarks on removing undesirable stereotypes Kentuckians have been burdened with and returning to the days when "Kentucky was known as a land of opportunity, where adventuresome spirits carved out new lives."

He noted such cutting-edge moments in Kentucky's recent history as the first hand transplant and the first artificial heart transplant. Beshear asked scholars to contribute to this legacy in any way they could.

"I'm going to call upon you guys and gals. You're the future of this state," Beshear said. "You, the members of GSP, we need you to stay here. Get into business here...do whatever you want to do here. We need your brainpower. The future of Kentucky is built on your brainpower."

The governor concluded by fielding questions from the audience, which ranged from topics including budget cuts to who would win the University of Kentucky/University of Louisville football game this September.  

Beshear responded to the latter, "I'm definite on this. One of them will win."

- end -

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.