Three seniors participated in the Kentucky Governor’s Scholars Program (GSP), a selective five-week summer residential program created in 1983 to expose the “best and brightest” to the opportunities available in the Commonwealth. Although Gigi Cornett, Henry Deckard, and Anna Palumbo studied different topics at GSP, they all believed Sayre prepared them for the life-changing experience that will continue to pay dividends at college and beyond.
For two of the scholars, attending GSP was in their blood. Gigi’s mom, a former scholar, encouraged Gigi to apply, and Henry’s brother Levy ’21 shared his experience with his brother. Anna heard about the program from upper-level students and “was drawn to the idea of meeting new people across Kentucky, spending time on a college campus, and learning new topics.”
All three benefited from the support of former college counselor Randy Mills. Mr. Mills managed the application process, assisted with essays, and helped consolidate extracurricular activities. Other Sayre faculty and coaches also assisted the students by writing letters of recommendation.
As for how the Sayre education contributed to the scholars’ GSP experience, they believed in being well-prepared as a result of Sayre’s “encouraging and open-minded atmosphere,'' according to Henry. Gigi added that teachers “are focused on helping their students learn rather than placing emphasis on our performance.” Anna found that the “strong work ethic” instilled in her at Sayre helped her maintain her focus.
During GSP, students select a Focus Area, a General Studies subject, and a Seminar topic. While their coursework differed, they had a similar appreciation for the friendships made across the state, the various clubs and activities offered, and the off-campus field trips. Also, they highly recommend that future seniors attend GSP as it helped shape who they are today. For Gigi and Anna, GSP influenced their potential career choices: anthropology for Gigi and journalism for Anna.
Congratulations to Anna, Henry, and Gigi on being selected for GSP!