Carroll County High School junior Hannah Weedman has obtained a goal she has held for many years - becoming a Kentucky Governor’s Scholar.
“I wanted to be in GSP for as long as I can remember,” Weedman said. “I remember driving by Trimble County High School and seeing banners of everybody who got it. I always knew I wanted to do this.”
That long-held dream became reality this spring when Weedman learned she had been selected for the prestigious Kentucky Governor’s Scholars Program, a highly competitive summer program that recognizes some of the state’s top students for academic achievement, leadership, and creativity.
“Congratulations to Miss Weedman for her selection into GSP,” said Carroll County Schools Superintendent Casey Jaynes. “I know that she will find this program very beneficial for her growth academically and her leadership development for her future.”
The application process was extensive. Students earned points based on GPA, course rigor, ACT scores, recommendations, service work, and extracurricular involvement. Weedman compiled detailed descriptions of every award, activity, and volunteer experience she has accumulated throughout high school.
"Congratulations to Hannah on this incredible accomplishment. Being selected as a Kentucky Governor’s Scholar is a reflection not only of her academic excellence, but also her leadership, character, and commitment to serving others,” Carroll County High School Principal Crystal Harris said. “Hannah represents some of the best of Carroll County High School students, and we are extremely proud of the hard work and dedication that led her to this opportunity. I have no doubt she will make the most of this experience and continue to accomplish great things in the future."
One of the most personal parts of the application was an essay asking students to share a story their family would tell for generations. Weedman chose not a single story, but a tribute to her grandfather, Gene Whitely, whose family roots stem from the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia, supplying no shortage of memorable tales.
“Anyone who meets him will hear just a fraction of his stories,” she said with a laugh.
Finding out she had been selected as a Governor’s Scholar was a memorable experience in itself. Her mom, who is the guidance counselor at CCHS, learned about the award before Hannah.
“I originally told her not to tell me because I wanted to read the letter myself,” Weedman said. “But then I started seeing other kids posting (on social media).”
Hannah said she was so ecstatic,happy and excited” when she learned she got into GSP.
This summer, Weedman will spend five weeks on the Centre College campus through the program. She selected business accounting and entrepreneurship, engineering, and modes of mathematical thinking as her areas of interest. Of those, accounting remains closest to her heart.
“I feel like accounting is a good fit because everything is black and white,” she said. “I like the attention to detail it requires. I enjoy math, but I don’t like the higher-level hypotheticals. I like things that have clear answers.”
The summer experience, she hopes, will help solidify her future plans while opening doors to new friendships and opportunities.
“I’m really hoping it gives me 100 percent certainty about what I want to study,” she said. “I’ve heard so many stories about people making lifelong friends at GSP.”
Outside the classroom, Weedman stays busy through the First Baptist Church youth group, Young Leaders, working at HOS Coffee, and taking classes full-time through Jefferson Community and Technical College.
For now, though, her focus is on the opportunity ahead.
“I’m really going into it blind,” she said of Governor’s Scholars. “I don’t know what to expect. I just know people say it’s some of the best weeks of their high school years. I’m really looking forward to it.”