Igniting the Flame of Curiosity from Michael Breeding MEDIA on Vimeo.
Special to NKyTribune
The idea of a summer program for high-achieving Kentucky high school students was born in the early 1980s. Its founders believed the creation of the Governor’s Scholars Program would help Kentucky nurture its best and brightest young people, the Commonwealth’s future leaders.
Over the years the program expanded to three college campuses with more than 1,000 scholars graduating each year.
Northern Kentucky University is one of the three sites this year for the scholars. NKU will host the summer program for the next two years as well
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As the program has continued to evolve and expand, its core values and essence remain unchanged. At its heart, it is one unified intellectual experience on three campuses. What began as an experiment in innovative education in 1983 has blossomed into the largest and most successful Governor’s Scholars Program in America.
“Governor’s Scholars Program has been around now since 1983 so most of us have some knowledge about its mission and innovative programs, but having been embedded in the program for two years watching, filming and listening, I now have a new appreciation not only for this academic program but for our youth in general,” says producer/director Michael Breeding of Michael Breeding Media.
Tonight on KET, “Igniting the Flame of Curiosity” will air for the first time — and then for multiple times throughout the month.
The documentary by renowned producer/director Michael Breeding is a deep look at the history and mission of the Governor’s Scholars Program. Breeding has dedicated the film to Lillian Press, founding executive director of the program
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“I expected these youth to be smart, but I wasn’t prepared for such depth and purpose in response to my line of questioning,” said Breeding. “They are wise beyond their years and I think all of us can learn a lot from these young scholars.”
Exploration and discovery
Throughout the film, the viewer will see scholars in various active explorations and personal discoveries.
“This documentary is the outcome of two years working in collaboration and under the professional advice of Michael Breeding,” says Aris Cedeño, Executive Director, GSP.
“When Michael approached us, I immediately agreed that it was time to capture the history and successes of the Governor’s Scholars Program in its first thirty years in order to show to the future generation the original ideas that laid the foundation of such an extraordinary utopian community of learners. Michael has done exactly that with outstanding results. This documentary is a journey through the fascinating and novel world of interactive learning and the creation of a community of scholars predicated upon the fact that bright minds generate bright ideas.”
Across the academic and extracurricular experiences, students learn techniques and concepts related to a wide range of professional paths and intellectual subjects, but more importantly, their leadership skills are grown and expanded upon. They learn how to handle themselves in new and perhaps unfamiliar situations and are empowered with the tools to solve problems and challenged to take intellectual risks.
When asked about his favorite parts of the film, Breeding said that several interviews and segments stand out as magical.
“I was really pleased at how the film seamlessly flowed from one innovative activity to another,” Breeding said. “But I was especially amazed by how many students spoke about respect for others, compromise, the need to build community and their love of meeting diverse people from across the Commonwealth. I want people to watch this show because I think there’s much to learn from these scholars and faculty.
“At its core, watching this program will renew your faith in the youth of Kentucky. And, perhaps ignite a spark to want to do more for our communities, state, and world.”
The KET schedule:
“Igniting the Flame of Curiosity” will air on KET at the following times in July. For additional broadcast times, go to www.ket.org:
• KET: Monday, July 11 at 10:00 PM ET
• KET: Thursday, July 14 at 3:00 AM ET
• KETKY: Sunday, July 17 at 5:00 PM ET
• KETKY: Monday, July 18 at 12:00 PM ET
• KETKY: Tuesday, July 19 at 7:00 PM ET
• KETKY: Wednesday, July 20 at 9:00 PM ET
• KETKY: Friday, July 22 at 2:00 PM ET
• KETKY: Saturday, July 23 at 1:00 PM ET
• KET2: Sunday, July 24 at 7:00 PM ET