LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Walking around Bellarmine University’s campus this summer, you will find some of Kentucky’s best and brightest high school students. That’s because Bellarmine is the host university of the Governor’s Scholars Program.
GSP was created to provide enrichment opportunities for rising seniors and encourage them to stay in Kentucky. A new financial incentive for GSP participants could give them further incentive to do just that.
Bellarmine is now offering a $30,000 per year scholarship for Kentucky students who participated in the Governor’s Scholars Program, the Governor’s School for the Arts or the Governor’s School for Entrepreneurs. Those students would still be eligible for other scholarships as well. For comparison, Bellarmine used to offer a $1,500 scholarship for GSP, GSA and GSE participants.
“Having the scholarship available for our Governor’s Scholar students, whether they are in the Governor’s Scholars Program, Governor’s School for Entrepreneurs or Governor’s School for the Arts, shows them that we are invested in them and we want to reward them for the hard work they put in,” said Lauren Keeling, Bellarmine University’s Assistant Vice President of Enrollment Management. “They are Kentucky’s best and brightest and most talented, so we would love for them to be on our campus.”
Hope Jordan is a student at Henry Clay High School in Lexington, and John Kehdy goes to Trinity High School in Louisville. The two likely would not have crossed paths had it not been for the Governor’s Scholars Program bringing both of the rising seniors to Bellarmine University this summer. Meeting other students from across the state is something many of the participants said they like most about GSP.
“I like just meeting people from everywhere in the state. There are a lot of different cultures and viewpoints. It’s refreshing,” said Kehdy.
The participants all stay on campus and take a variety of courses over several weeks. For many of them, this serves as a preview of what college life might be like.
“I’ve talked to my parents about leaving my city for college, and it’s been a big point of discussion for us. This is a really good opportunity for me to see what it’s like to be away from family, even though it’s just an hour and a half,” said Jordan. “It’s really nice to know what that is like and get some experience before it comes time to decide where I want to go.”
GSP Campus Director Jennifer Price was a Governor’s Scholar in 1992. Back then, the program took place at Murray State University. She said GSP has made a lasting impact on her life, so much so that she now works there, hoping it does the same for the next generation.
She said Bellarmine informed GSP participants and their families about the increased scholarship availability at the beginning of the program. She’s noticed it’s made some students consider Bellarmine, who may not have otherwise.
“Watching the faces of scholars and their families, everyone was very excited. I even had a scholar tell me just a few days later, ‘I hadn’t thought about Bellarmine before, but now I am because it is such an opportunity,’” said Price.
Jordan hasn’t decided on a college just yet, but knows that there will be a lot of factors that can impact her decision. That includes campus life, strength of programs and finances. She said she is grateful Bellarmine, and other universities in the state, are offering financial incentives for Governor’s Scholars.
“It’s a huge component in the college decision and I think it’s amazing that Bellarmine has raised the financial aid they are giving to GSP students. I think it will bring in a lot more students for them, especially after already spending time on the campus being familiar with it,” said Jordan.
The program serves over 1,200 Kentucky students from across the state per year.