Eight students from McCracken County High School have been selected to participate in the 2026 Kentucky Governor’s School for the Arts (GSA), a prestigious summer program that recognizes and develops outstanding young artists from across the Commonwealth.
The following McCracken County High School students were accepted into the 2026 program: Chloe Case (Drama); Brennan Freeman (Dance); Layla Nichol (Visual Art); Eleanor Polete (Vocal Music); Emmett Rathgeber (Musical Theatre); Kory Sulcer (Vocal Music); Sophia Witte (Creative Writing); and Polina Zagumennova (Instrumental Music – Strings). Amberlee Bradford was named an alternate in Drama.
The Kentucky Governor’s School for the Arts is an intensive three-week summer arts education program of The Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts. It brings together some of the most talented high school sophomores and juniors from across the state. This year’s program will be held on the campus of Northern Kentucky University in Highland Heights and is offered at no cost to participants.
Students audition and are selected in a variety of artistic disciplines, including Architecture + Design, Creative Writing, Dance, Drama, Film + Photography, Graphic Design, Instrumental Music, Musical Theatre, Visual Art, and Vocal Music.
During the program, students participate in daily seminars, master classes, lectures, hands-on workshops, and field trips led by experienced educators and professional artists. Each student focuses on their selected discipline while also engaging in interdisciplinary arts experiences that encourage creativity and growth across multiple forms of expression.
The Governor’s School for the Arts is widely recognized as a transformative experience, providing students with opportunities to refine their talents, collaborate with peers from across Kentucky, and explore future pathways in the arts.