FOUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS from Woodford County attended this summer’s three-week Governor’s School for the Arts held at Northern Kentucky University. From left, Noa Bennett, Sarah Bradley, Jacob Head and Noura Lovelace. (Photo provided by KSA)
By Scott White
Woodford Sun Staff
Report for American Corp Member
The 2026 Kentucky Governor’s School for the Arts program concluded on June 27, with a class of 275 students, representing half of the commonwealth’s 120 counties. The tuition-free, three-week program took place from June 7 to June 27 and was the first year the program was held at Northern Kentucky University.
Woodford County High School was represented by Sarah Bradley in drama, Noa Bennett in film and photography, and Jacob Head in vocal music. Noura Hart Lovelace, a Woodford County resident who attends The Sayre School, attended in graphic design.
The student-artists were immersed in a rigorous schedule of daily seminars, creative projects, master classes and lectures, according to a press release. Instruction was offered in 10 disciplines.
Special activities and performances for GSA 2026 included a trip to the Arnoff Center in Cincinnati to see Broadway’s The Lion King. In addition, award-winning performing vocalist and composer, Martha Redbone, as well as director and choreographer, Grasan Kingsberry, performed for the GSA students this year.
Since 1987, more than 9,000 rising high school juniors and seniors have descended on a college campus setting to immerse themselves in an arts-intensive environment, with cross-discipline learning, special guest artist performances and lectures and the opportunity to access critical life-changing college scholarships.