The Governor's Scholars Program (GSP) is a stimulating, five-week, residential summer program for outstanding Kentucky students completing their junior year in high school. Established in 1983, the popular program provides academic and personal growth in a challenging, non-traditional environment that balances a strong liberal arts and sciences program with a full co-curricular and residential life experience.
To be eligible to apply and be selected as a Governor’s Scholar, a student must:
• Be in the 11th grade at the time of selection and intend to return to a Kentucky school district for the next school term (Students skipping their senior year to enter college are not eligible.);
• Be a current resident of Kentucky;
• Have taken the ACT, PSAT, or SAT in the 9th, 10th, or 11th grades.
After completion of their own Governor’s Scholars application, students must be selected and sent by their school and school districts to be considered for the statewide selection process. If selected, scholars attend the program free of charge, needing only “pocket” money for personal and incidental expenses.
The 2026 program will be held on three campus sites: Centre College, Morehead State University and Murray State University. Governor’s Scholars are drawn from across Kentucky and represent the diversity of the Commonwealth.
There are no grades or credits. The program is singularly free from competition, creating an environment that is conducive to building an intellectual community of scholars. The program offers Scholars a chance to know and network with other enthusiastic, energetic students with high intellectual capacities. The program offers Scholars a chance to know and network with other enthusiastic, energetic students with high intellectual capacities. The give-and-take among Scholars from different backgrounds is one of the most treasured aspects of the program.
If you are interested in finding out more information about the program in depth you can open the attached pdf or you can also visit the GSP website at: https://gsp.ky.gov
An information session on GSP has been scheduled for September 26, 2025 at 1:00 pm at BCHS. Students that are interested in this program need to email David Schneider, School Counselor, at david.schneider3@boone.kyschools.us by 3:00 pm on September 23.
The Governors School for the Arts (GSA) will open their application for the 2026 Program this Fall. GSA provides hands-on arts opportunities for the state's talented high school students who are dancers, actors, instrumental and vocal musicians, creative writers, future architects or visual artists. This program is open to current 10th & 11th Graders.
To find out more information on the program you can visit their website at: https://www.kentuckyperformingarts.org/education/governors-school-for-the-arts
Students, If you are interested in this opportunity please talk with a Fine Art Teacher after doing some research on the program.
The Governor's School for Entrepreneurs (GSE) will open their application for the 2026 Summer Startup Program this Fall. GSE is a FREE three-week residential summer program for 9th, 10th and 11th graders. It offers a creative, free-thinking environment for teens to share and develop their ideas for innovative products and services.
You can find out more information on this program by visiting their web page at: https://kentuckygse.com.
Students, If you are interested in this opportunity please talk with a Business Teacher after doing some research on the program.