1780 – The Official Blog of Transylvania University

1780 | The Official Blog of Transylvania University

Governor’s School for the Arts

Transylvania’s 2012 entering class is second largest in school history, sets records for diversity; retention rate is highest ever

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LEXINGTON, Ky.—Transylvania University President R. Owen Williams announced today that this year’s entering class of 350 is the second largest in school history, tied last year’s class as the most academically prepared and set school records for geographic and racial/ethnic diversity. Transylvania also set a new school record for freshman to sophomore retention, with 88 percent of last year’s entering class returning this fall. The national average for freshman to sophomore retention rates at private, nonprofit colleges is 79 percent, according to the College Board. Total enrollment is 1,074 students. Transylvania’s high retention rate can be attributed to many factors, including a student/faculty ratio of 11:1 and an average class size of 14, with no classes having more than 35 students and 47 percent of classes having fewer than 10 students. Members of the class of 2016 have an average ACT of 27, a middle 50 percent ACT range of 24-30 and an average GPA of 3.72. Forty-one percent were ranked in the top 10 percent of their high school class. They include 34 students who took part in either the Kentucky Governor’s Scholars Program or the Kentucky Governor’s School for the Arts. Geographically, the class is the most diverse in 38 years and includes 99 students from outside Kentucky who make up 28 percent of the class. Ohio led the way in out-of-state students, followed by Tennessee, Indiana and three states in a tie—Florida, Texas and West Virginia. Twelve

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Newest class of Governor’s School for Arts graduates July 7; final day features public performances, graduation ceremony

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LEXINGTON, Ky.—The Governor’s School for the Arts 2012 summer session comes to a close Saturday, June 7 at Transylvania University, highlighted by final student performances around campus and a graduation ceremony at 5:15 p.m. in Haggin Auditorium in the Mitchell Fine Arts Center. Final performances, including those in instrumental and vocal music, musical theater, visual arts, drama, new media and architecture, will begin at various campus locations at noon. All final day events are open to GSA parents, friends and relatives as well as the public and media. Previous final day performances have attracted over 1,200 people to the campus. Refreshments will be available at various locations near Old Morrison, Transylvania’s administration building on Third Street. Final performances will be held at the Mitchell Fine Arts Center, the Little Theater, the Shearer Art Building, the Haupt Humanities Building, Old Morrison and the Cowgill Center. See a campus map here. A total of 225 high school students from 43 Kentucky counties have been on campus since June 17, immersed in a rigorous schedule of daily seminars, master classes, lectures, hands-on workshops and field trips to local arts attractions. Over 1,500 students attended auditions for the 225 positions, which are valued at $2,800 per student. GSA is free to all students selected for the program. GSA pays the entire cost per student through the General Assembly under the leadership of the governor, along with donations from individuals, corporations and private foundations. Nearly

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New Governor’s School for the Arts session opens June 17 at Transylvania University; Gov. Beshear helps GSA celebrate 25th anniversary

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LEXINGTON, Ky.—Kentucky’s most talented young artists from 43 counties will assemble on Transylvania University’s campus on Sunday, June 17, to begin the three-week 2012 session of the Governor’s School for the Arts. The latest GSA class is comprised of 225 rising juniors and seniors from all regions of the Commonwealth who will receive top-level training through daily seminars, master classes, lectures, hands-on workshops and field trips to various arts attractions in central Kentucky. The student-artists will receive rigorous instruction in nine disciplines: architecture, creative writing, dance, drama, instrumental music, musical theatre, new media, visual arts and vocal music. Since 1987 more than 4,500 of the state’s most talented high school artists from all 120 counties have attended the GSA summer program following a highly demanding selection process. Each year 1,500 students have applied annually for one of the available scholarships, valued at $2,800. Transylvania is among 21 colleges and universities that offer scholarships to GSA alumni. The program will culminate on Saturday, July 7, with an all-day festival that celebrates the achievements of the young artists through performances open to family, friends and the public. Graduation ceremonies will be held that day at 5 p.m. in Haggin Auditorium in the Mitchell Fine Arts Center. “The presence of the Governor’s School for the Arts on our campus each summer is an eagerly anticipated event,” said Transylvania President R. Owen Williams. “We feel that our urban setting in Lexington, combined with our

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Transylvania attracts most academically talented, diverse entering class in its history

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LEXINGTON, Ky.—Transylvania University President R. Owen Williams announced today that the entering class for fall 2012 has set school records for geographic and racial/ethnic diversity and academic preparedness. The entering class of 333 includes 95 students from outside Kentucky—more than double last year’s number—who make up 29 percent of the class. The 40 students who identify themselves as a racial or ethnic minority comprise 12 percent of the group, while nine are international students from China, Mexico, Taiwan and Poland. Academically, the members of the class of 2016 attained an average ACT of 27, a middle 50 percent ACT range of 25-30 and an average GPA of 3.69. In addition, the class represents 21 states and includes 34 students who took part in either the Kentucky Governor’s Scholars Program or the Kentucky Governor’s School for the Arts. “The composition of this class is really something special and reflects our continuing emphasis on the quality and nature of our student body,” Williams said. “Having a good, strong number of 333 so far is good news for the university, but it’s also the type of student we are attracting that bodes well for Transylvania’s future.” Vice President for Enrollment and Dean of Admissions Brad Goan said that the overall number of 333, which is the largest in the past five years, is expected to grow over the summer with the addition of transfer students and could become the largest incoming class in

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Performances cap GSA final day at Transylvania

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LEXINGTON, Ky.—The Governor’s School for the Arts 2011 summer session comes to a close Saturday at Transylvania University, highlighted by final student performances and graduation ceremonies set for the Mitchell Fine Arts Center. The GSA will wrap up its 12th year on the Transylvania campus on Saturday, with day-long performances in all disciplines beginning at 11 a.m., preceding graduation ceremonies at 5:15 p.m. in Haggin Auditorium. Final performances, including those in instrumental and vocal music, musical theater, visual arts, drama, new media and architecture, will begin at various campus locations at noon. All final day events are open to GSA parents, friends, and relatives as well as the public and media. Previous final day performances have attracted over 1,200 people to the campus. Refreshments will be available at various locations near Old Morrison. Final performances will be held at the Mitchell Fine Arts Center, the Little Theater, the Shearer Art Building, the Haupt Humanities Building, Old Morrison and the Cowgill Center. A total of 225 high school students from 49 counties have been on the campus since June 19, immersed in a rigorous schedule of daily seminars, master classes, lectures, hands-on workshops and field trips to local arts attractions. Over 1,700 students attended auditions for the positions, which are valued at $2,800 per student. For more information, or to cover the events, contact GSA director Carrie Nath at 281-3532.