GSP | guidance

Governor's Scholar Program

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The Governor’s Scholars Program (GSP) is a five week summer residential program for outstanding high school juniors. The program mission is to enhance Kentucky’s next generation of civic and economic leaders.

2015 GSP Campuses:

Bellarmine University

Murray State University, and

Morehead State University.

The campus life experience is offered through residence hall accommodations. All rooms are air-conditioned and contain a bed, desk, chair, closet, and a dresser. A lounge area and shared bathroom facilities are easily accessible.

Speakers and performers from a range of disciplines and pursuits visit campuses. Field trips, special events, and a film series contribute to the comprehensive educational atmosphere. Scholars are challenged to examine and nurture their sense of learning and leadership.

Students completing GSP receive a certificate naming them a Governor's Scholar. Many Kentucky colleges and universities offer scholarships for GSP participation. A list of scholarship opportunities can be viewed at www.gsp.ky.gov.

CORE CURRICULUM

Ø Focus Area: a “major” subject of study, assigned according to scholar preference as indicated on the application.

Ø General Studies: an area of study assigned by staff to challenge the scholars. Courses frequently include service-learning components in the community.

Ø Seminar: a discussion-based small group session. Emphasis is placed on respectful debate and discussion. Scholars are encouraged to ask probing questions.

Eligibility Requirements

Be a junior in a Kentucky school at time of selection with intent to return next term
- Students skipping their senior year to enter college are not eligible to apply

Ø Be a current resident of Kentucky

Ø Have taken the ACT, PSAT, or SAT in the 9th, 10th or 11th grades, or, no later than the October, 2014 test date. (students may NOT apply without a test score)

Ø Complete online application form. Handwritten forms will NOT be accepted.

o Students may type the writing essay in a word document; insert the essay in the correct order within application

View completed sample application in the online “Helpful Hints Packet”

APPLICATION SELECTION PROCESS

Ø Student Biographical Information is filed separately prior to scoring.

o Information is tied to other sections through a "journal number" identifying the applicant. This allows each application to be read without any knowledge of the student's personal information, and ensures fairness in the selection process.

All GSP applications submitted by Dunbar High School students are sent to the Fayette County Public Schools (FCPS) District Selection Committee to be scored.

Highest scoring applicants from the FCPS District Level Competition are sent to the state GSP office in Frankfort for the final phase of scoring.

At the State Level Competition, applications are divided into seven sections for scoring. Statewide Selection Committee members score each section separately.

Scores for these seven sections are totaled to determine each applicant’s final score,

Qualifying students are chosen to participate in the 2015 Governor’s Scholar Program.

RATING CATEGORIES

Total Points: 100

1. Academic Achievement (30 Points)

Consists of ACT, PSAT, or SAT test score, grade point average, and difficulty of course load. This section is awarded points based on rating charts that can be viewed on the GSP website.

Student Profile (30 Points) - three separately ranked sections (# 2, 3, 4)

Ø Applicants may duplicate information in these sections to earn maximum points. (For example, if the student is Captain of the Basketball Team, the information will be listed as an Extracurricular Activity for participation and also as a Honor/Award for being named the Captain)

2. Extracurricular Activities (10 points)

3. Service – Voluntary or Paid (10 Points)

4. Honors and Awards (10 points)

Writing Entry – 500 Words (20 points)Selection committee members, trained in using the Kentucky Holistic Scoring Guide, rank the submitted writing entries in six categories.

One Teacher Recommendation (10 points)

Must have taught you in a core academic subjects during 9th, 10th, or 11th grade: English, Social Studies, Science, Mathematics, and Foreign Language.

One Community Leader Recommendation (10 points)

May NOT be a member of applicant’s immediate family, associated with Dunbar High School, or a member of school, district or state GSP selection committees.

RECOMMENDATION SUGGESTIONS

Stress the importance, to your Teacher and Community Leader recommender, of including details and examples about your achievements on their written answers to evaluation questions. This will positively impact the number of points you score on this section.

Provide your recommenders with a resume or completed student information sheet to assist them with answering these questions. (Information sheets available on PLD Guidance website

Share these five steps, for Completing a Recommendation, with your teacher and community leader recommender.

Go to www.gsp.ky.gov

Click on “Schools” in the horizontal bar at the top of the screen.

Click on 2015 Teacher Recommendation or

2015 Community Leader Recommendation Form.

Recommendations must be typed.
Send typed recommendations to jill.cowan@fayette.kyschools.us in an e-mail attachment. Students may also hand deliver community leader recommendations to Ms. Cowan in the counseling office.

IMPORTANT DATES

09/19/2014 October ACT Registration deadline

10/04/2014 GSP Information Session in the Dunbar Library

10/05/2014 PSAT Registration deadline. Registration link on PLD website

10/09/2014 October ACT Late Registration Deadline

10/15/2014 PSAT test administration in the Dunbar High School gymnasium

10/25/2014 October ACT Test Administration.

11/15/2014 Governor's Scholars Program Application Workshop 8am-5pm. Reserve a spot before Nov. 7th by calling 1-800-811-5233

12/02/2015 Deadline to submit completed applications to Ms. Cowan in the

Counseling Office. All submitted applications are sent to the FCPS

GSP scoring committee.

01/26/2015 FCPS district office sends selected applications to GSP office in