During the fall and winter of this past school year, many of Trinity High School’s top students applied for the Governor’s Scholars Program, with ten being admitted. The Governor’s Scholars Program (GSP) is a five-week summer experience for Kentucky’s most accomplished students. Those admitted attend one of three sessions hosted at different Kentucky colleges. There, students choose a focus area of study and are also assigned a second area of study that contrasts with their chosen field.
But before they can enjoy this college-like experience, juniors must complete a competitive application process. According to Nolan Williams, one of the students admitted into the program, the first step is to “talk with Mr. Diehl and express interest, and then he’ll tell you where to go on the GSP website to find the necessary paperwork.” Thomas Meyer, another admitted student, described the process as relatively simple: “I put together everything that I’ve done since the end of eighth grade into a document.” While the process may seem straightforward, it’s far from easy. Applicants must compile their awards, service work, and extracurricular activities and explain what each means to them. Eamon Lewantowicz, another accepted junior, shared that he wrote “about five thousand words for just my activities section alone.”
In addition to this extensive documentation, applicants must also write a personal essay. They choose from six prompts designed to reveal more about who they are. Jude Turner explained that prompts included questions like, “Name a specific moment that transformed you from a child to an adult,” and “What is a quote from a cartoon that resonates with you?” Once their essays and applications were completed, they were reviewed by Trinity’s college counselors. After receiving feedback and making revisions, students submitted their final applications online.
Those who were accepted into GSP say the process gave them a newfound confidence in their ability to apply to college. Gavin Scott said, “I feel a lot more comfortable with compiling my activities and writing essays because of GSP’s application.” This preparation is invaluable, as compiling activities and writing thoughtful essays are essential parts of college applications. Thanks to their GSP applications, these juniors are now ahead of the game.
They’ll also get a real taste of college life this summer. Students will stay on actual college campuses, attend classes, and meet others who share their interests. It’s an opportunity to explore what they like—and don’t like—about the college experience before making final decisions. Eamon Lewantowicz summed it up well: It’s “a trial run of college so that way I can get used to what it’s like before I actually go to college for real.”
Many of the students are especially excited about meeting new people. Gavin Scott shared that he’s “especially excited to be grouped with people with similar interests within my chosen field of study for the summer.” Gavin, along with the rest of Trinity’s admitted students, will have the chance to socialize and connect with some of the brightest students in the Commonwealth.
In conclusion, the ten students admitted to the Governor’s Scholars Program achieved something truly impressive. However, many other students applied and were not accepted—and that’s okay. Maxwell Corbett, a Governor’s Scholar and the future class president, emphasized that GSP is just one of many valuable opportunities. “Even if it’s not something like GSP, there’s other ways to get involved. It doesn’t have to be something like GSP where you go and spend time over the summer… So as long as you get involved. It doesn’t have to be Governor’s Scholars; it can be anything else. Just make sure that you’re spending your time wisely.”
Congratulations to all the students who were accepted into GSP. Any sophomores interested in applying next year should contact Mr. Paul Diehl in the fall.
