The Kentucky Center Governor’s School for the Arts (GSA) is an arts education program of The Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts. The GSA three-week summer program is for rising juniors and seniors in Kentucky.
Each spring over 1700 students audition for spots in the program. Located at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, the program is free for students to attend (full tuition, room and board) and is funded by the state and private fundraising. Every summer, a faculty of professional artists and educators’ mentor over 200 of Kentucky’s finest young creative artists. Students are immersed in a rigorous schedule of daily seminars, master classes, lectures, hands-on workshops, field trips and performing/exhibiting at the finale Student Festival. While each student specializes in one art form, all students participate in structured, interdisciplinary arts experiences designed to familiarize them with the joys and challenges of specialties other than their own.
GSA historically takes place the last two weeks of June and has served all 120 counties in the Commonwealth through the summer program and its outreach workshops. GSA is a statewide program and encourages geographical and ethnic diversity.
Ambrosio is the son of Michael and Christina D’Ambrosio. Donnelly is the daughter of Jennifer Hughes Donnelly and Robert Donnnelly. French is the son Todd and Andrea French. Mehta is the son of Jay and Erika Mehta. Shelby is the son of Jason and Ellis Shelby. Tomonaga is the is the son of Masaaki Tomonaga and Min Sun Oh, Utgaard is the son of John and Bentley Utgaard. Vu is the son of Binh Vu and Ngoc Bui.
(photo from left) 2026 Murray High School Governor’s Scholars Program Recipients-Tyce Gibson, Owen Howell, Kenzie Myers, Adeline Pitman, Ava Grace Podrovitz, Joshua Sloan, Kalyn Stockdale, and Brodie Morris
Murray High School Students Selected for 2026 Governor’s Scholars Program
Murray High School juniors, Tyce Gibson, Owen Howell, Kenzie Myers, Adeline Pitman, Ava Grace Podrovitz, Joshua Sloan, Kalyn Stockdale, and Brodie Morris (alternate), are among the 1,020 Kentucky students selected as the 2026 Governor’s Scholars Program recipients.
The Governor’s Scholars Program is a competitive summer residential program for rising high school seniors across Kentucky. This year, a pool of 1,698 students applied. The Program’s mission is to enhance Kentucky’s next generation of civic and economic leaders. Students who are selected attend the Program without charge. In the spirit of partnership, the Office of the Governor, the Kentucky State Legislature, and private enterprise come together to provide financial support for the Program.
Murray High School was allowed to submit eight applications this year, and all eight students were accepted, with one as an alternate.
Participants will attend sessions hosted at Centre College, Morehead State University and Murray State University, where they will take part in academic coursework, seminars, and enrichment activities.
Program officials said the goal is to help develop the next generation of civic and economic leaders in Kentucky.
Gibson is the son of Trent and Ashley Gibson. Howell is the son of Jason and Renee Howell. Myers is the daughter of John and Beth Myers. Pitman is the daughter of Adam and Tiffany Pitman. Podrovitz is the daughter of Ryan and Beth Podrovitz. Sloan is the son of Bethany and Matthew Sloan. Stockdale is the daughter of Kristi Stockdale. Morris is the son of Micah and Abbie Morris.
We recognize the importance of mental, physical, and social-emotional health for all of our Tigers. As we head into the final weeks of school—with activities, testing, and year-end events—it can be a busy and sometimes stressful time for students, staff, and families.
Take time to care for yourself. Do the things that bring you balance, calm, and joy.
Remember— if you need support, please reach out to a staff member. We are here to help.
Let’s take care of ourselves and each other as we finish the year strong—together! 🖤💛
#murrayschools #EveryKidHealthyWeek #TigerPride 🐯
A special reception will be held Tuesday, April 21. Murray Elementary @ 7:30 a.m., and Murray Middle School @ 8 a.m. During this time muffins, water and special volunteer appreciation pins will be given to our volunteers.
Our community businesses have partnered with us to provide giveaways at both Murray Elementary and Murray Middle schools. We encourage our volunteers to register for the giveaways when volunteering throughout the week. A drawing will be held Friday, April 24, 2026.
We invite our volunteers to be a part of our Volunteer Recognition celebration April 20-24, 2026. Our Volunteers provide their unwavering support each day. The relationships they share with our students make all the difference in the Tiger Nation!
The Murray Independent Volunteer Program is one of the most successful in Kentucky, averaging 23,000 to 30,000 volunteer hours each year. Throughout the 2024-2025 year, 509 volunteers attended the numerous volunteer trainings offered and became approved certified volunteers. This past year volunteers logged 31,600 hours through numerous programs and initiatives: Murray Elementary School (5,000), Murray Middle School (2,500), Murray Preschool-Head Start (1,950), Murray High School (650), MISD Athletics (4,000), MHS and MMS Band (13,000), Academic Clubs (2,000), and Booster Club (2,500).
Special thanks to our Arts and Humanities Teachers: Mrs. Cornelison (Music), Mrs. Hastings (ART), Coach Traylor (PE), Mrs. Vanover (STEAM), and Mrs. Munsey (Library).
These kids were amazing! #murrayschools
Special thanks to our Arts and Humanities Teachers: Mrs. Cornelison (Music), Mrs. Hastings (ART), Coach Traylor (PE), Mrs. Vanover (STEAM), and Mrs. Munsey (Library).
These kids were amazing! #murrayschools
Amazing performances today at Murray Elementary School. The morning began with third grade students performing KID FLIX by John Jacobson inside the gym. Dr. David Meinschein, EdD., MISD Superintendent, was on hand to for the performances.
Special thanks to our Arts and Humanities Teachers: Mrs. Cornelison (Music), Mrs. Hastings (ART), Coach Traylor (PE), Mrs. Vanover (STEAM), and Mrs. Munsey (Library).
These kids were amazing! #murrayschools
These two will represent the only U.S. high school for the twenty-third year in a row at the International Space School, a two-week space academic learning initiative in Houston’s Bay area. Affiliated with NASA’s Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, United Space School invites one U.S. high school along with approximately 34 students from 28 other countries to participate each summer. Martin and Madden will join students from countries that include Canada, Mexico, Chile, Bolivia, South Africa, Namibia, Italy, France, Germany, England, Russia, and India representatives. While there, the participant’s daily activities involve working with civil and contractor aerospace professionals to provide needs-based instruction in topics relevant to designing a “Manned Mission to Mars,” assignment. Divided into four teams, each team designated by a colored uniform is responsible for a specific and integrated portion of the Mission while attending the school.
To apply students completed a Manned Mission to Mars application and assignment through Murray High School. An MHS panel comprised of former space camp members and MHS faculty members make the final decision from the applicant pool.
Robert Alexander, a shuttle robotics engineer with MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates and ISS board member, assists the ISS board of directors with a panel of distinguished aerospace professionals by serving as an advisor in strategically locating the schools represented at ISS. Alexander, the grandson of the late Dr. Max and Kay Carman, said Murray High School was first invited twenty-three years ago when Murray’s diversity, along with their science and math test rankings, helped in being chosen as the U.S. representative. “Murray’s location, little exposure and a diverse community, were among the criteria that aided in the decisive factor,” he said. “The fact that the school system had won numerous awards and applause for achievement was also a main factor that was appealing to our United States high school representative(s)." #murrayschools
Murray High School incoming senior students, Olivia Smee and Addyson Robbins (alternate) have been selected to attend the 2026 Governor’s School for Entrepreneurs (GSE). These students are among the 200 students selected for the 2026 Governor’s School for Entrepreneurs summer program. The 2026 GSE tuition free program will be conducted June 20-July 12 at the Summer Startup at the University of Kentucky Gatton College. During this three-week immersive program, students live on campus and develop entrepreneurial skills.
A highly competitive summer program where Kentucky high school students focus on product innovation and business model design with students from nearly 50 Kentucky counties . Hundreds of high school students applied to be part of the GSE experience. Participants are selected through a competitive process. GSE’s uniquely designed application is structured to identify creative problem-solvers who want to roll up their sleeves and dive headfirst into creating something meaningful.
Smee is the daughter of Shawn and Lauren Smee. Robbins is the daughter of Kelly Kennedy and father, Rex Robbins.
Murray Preschool Head Start students from the Whitten Center visited Pagliai’s as part of a nutrition education field trip.
While there, students watched the demonstrations involved in making pizzas, selecting healthy food choices, and participated in food nutrition games. Students met all the different employees who assisted in orders, baking, and servers. They were also introduced to the different types of dough used to make the pizzas, including Chicago and New York style.
This initiative is made possible through the $160,024 grant awarded from the Office of Head Start for Healthy Eating in Head Start Programs during the 2025-2026 school year. “The purpose of this funding is to develop and implement a Fresh Start Initiative across the eight counties that we serve and address healthy eating and food insecurities,” explained Cindy Graves, Director, Murray Head Start. “This initiative will address nutrition education and promote healthy eating for children, families and staff, and engage community partner agencies with our children and families.”
As a concluding event of the field trip, students ate pizza, and dessert pizza for lunch.
#murrayschools
Welcome to the future fourth graders!
#murrayschools
