Murray State University hosts 2023 Governor’s Scholars Program

MURRAY, Ky. – Murray State University is proudly partnering with the Governor’s Scholars Program (GSP) as one of three host universities in the state of Kentucky for the years 2023, 2024 and 2025. The Murray State University GSP 2023 recently completed its five-week program, June 25 – July 29, hosting a total of 352 students representing 87 counties throughout the state of Kentucky.

The Governor’s Scholars Program is a summer residential and intellectual program for outstanding high school students in Kentucky who are rising seniors as part of an effort to enhance Kentucky's next generation of civic and economic leaders. Established in 1983, the program provides academic and personal growth through the balance of a strong liberal arts program with full co-curricular and residential life experiences. Students must complete an application and compete with others from across the state. Those selected attend the program free of charge.

Dr. Melony Shemberger is the Murray State University GSP 2023 campus director.

“Each day looked a little different for the scholars,” said Shemberger. “For example, every Monday we had a community meeting starting at 9 a.m. in the Johnson Theatre with everyone involved with the program to prepare for the week ahead. Following that meeting, the scholars would attend their specifically selected focus area class starting at 9:45 a.m., and then during the afternoon students would attend their leadership seminar. For the remainder of the week, students would attend their general studies classes, leadership seminars and various activities and clubs offered by the program, similarly structured to a college student’s schedule. Students were also provided breakfast, lunch and dinner at Winslow Dining Hall located on campus.”

Upon application, a total of 19 focus areas were offered to students on the Murray State GSP campus. When students apply for the program they get to choose any three focus areas that interest them, and then every scholar is granted one of their three choices.

“My high school encouraged us to choose three vastly different focus areas,” said Nancy Haddad, Governor’s Scholar from Boyle County High School in Danville, Kentucky. “I remember out of the three choices I chose healthcare and journalism as two of my options, both of those being two very different areas of studies. I ended up receiving journalism and am very glad that I did. I am planning on taking a pre-med or pre-dental route when I enter college and having the knowledge and skills to build a website will be useful when going to advertise my services or owning a healthcare practice one day.”

“My focus area was international relations,” said Jake Barker, Governor’s Scholar from West Jessamine High School in Nicholasville, Kentucky. “The main focus of the class was on the United Nations. We did a lot of experiential learning compared to what is offered in a high school classroom. For example, we got to model a United Nations General Assembly with each group of students acting as different countries. I was only vaguely interested in this prior to my experience here at Murray State GSP. Now I am so happy that I selected this focus area because it has influenced me to pursue an education in international or diplomatic relations in college.”

Aside from a high academically achieving goal for the students at Murray State GSP, one of the main goals for the students is to realize that they are leaders.

“We expect the students’ leadership skills to come to fruition,” said Shemberger. “It doesn’t mean that they have to be up-front leaders, they can be leaders in the back or in between. We need them all. Whatever leadership role these students might possess, they have to be open to ideas, know when to communicate fairly and respectfully, and have a plan and goals. It is a self-realization type of experience.”

“This is the most intellectually stimulated I’ve been in my entire life,” said Trenton Schroering, Governor’s Scholar from DuPont Manual High School in Louisville, Kentucky. “I am somebody who really enjoys being challenged academically and that was certainly the case here. I had classes on ethics, leadership and philosophy. Not to mention getting the opportunity to attend these classes with other students who are so academically gifted that they pushed me to become a better student myself. Plus, the faculty and staff here at Murray State have been nothing but the best that the Commonwealth has to offer us students. This is a place where I really felt like I was gaining so much.”

“It has been such a fun and interesting experience,” said Vijay Karthikeyan, Governor’s Scholar from Paul Laurence Dunbar High School in Lexington, Kentucky. “Academically it’s been quite different from high school because I don’t have to worry about the grades or the stress of competing with my peers. It is nice to be able to get the opportunity to collaborate with my fellow students and teachers here in the classroom. From a social standpoint, all of the events and clubs that have been offered throughout the program have been nothing short of inclusive. I always knew that I never had to be alone if I didn't want to be. There was always something being offered or I’d always have friends around to hang out with. The clubs and speaker sessions offered were some of my favorite experiences throughout the program. I feel as if this program has truly impacted my life and I have been able to take away a lot of life lessons to prepare me for my future.”

Additionally, one of the main takeaways from the Governor’s Scholars Program at Murray State is to help the scholars find a level of independence that they have yet to experience. By providing these students with a residential college experience for a summer, it allows these students to submerge in classes and areas of learning different from what they have previously been offered in a high school setting.

“It is very rewarding to see the students’ progression throughout the course of the five weeks, both intellectually and socially,” said Shemberger. “They become more self-aware of things. We just hope that whatever they learn they take back to their family and community. We hope that these lessons are just the seeds in developing and preparing these young people for their adult lives.”

The Murray State University Governor’s Scholars Program held a closing ceremony on Saturday, July 29 to honor all scholars for graduating the program. For more information on the Governor’s Scholars Program at Murray State University please visit murraystate.edu/gsp.