WKU News

Joshua Gillespie from Todd County, Kentucky, is serving as a resident advisor at Murray State University for six weeks during the summer of 2024. This university is one of the host institutions for the Governor’s Scholars Program (GSP). The Governor's Scholars Program, established in 1983, aims to cultivate Kentucky's future civic and economic leaders. It offers academic and personal growth by combining a robust liberal arts curriculum with a comprehensive co-curricular and residential life experience.

In this role, Joshua assists rising high school seniors in exploring their collegiate interests and preparing for the transition to college. This is his third time participating in GSP – once as a student participant in 2021, and twice as a student staff member in 2023 and 2024. Participating in the Governor’s Scholars Program at Bellarmine University in 2021 as a high school student was a transformative experience.

He reflected, "It introduced me to so many things—my major and some of my closest friends. The program honestly changed my life, as ironic and mushy as that sounds." This marked the first time in his young adult life that he was on his own, having previously shared many activities with his identical twin brother. The program offered him his first taste of independence and played a crucial role in his journey of self-discovery.

Balancing his role as both a peer and a GSP staff member can be challenging. "I'm 20 years old; they're 17. So it's not a huge age difference, but maintaining a professional relationship in the classroom versus a more personal one in the residence hall has been interesting," he observed.

Over the years, GSP has evolved its curriculum, and this summer Joshua is leading a seminar focused on leadership skills, including organizing all the necessary lesson planning. He is paired with Dr. Lin Handayani, a professor of agronomy at Murray State University as a co-teacher, but Joshua is responsible for creating and facilitating the content while Dr. Handayani ensures classroom decorum and participation.

“I originally thought it would never be as fun working for the program as it was being a scholar, but the past couple of years I've enjoyed it a lot more. It's so interesting to see how something that was so important and valuable to me can be part of another student's experience,” Joshua shared.

A typical day for Joshua includes supervision duties of his hall and the campus to ensure that students honor the rules of behavior, attending daily staff meetings, teaching the leadership course, and then helping students progress through the rest of the daily events and lessons.

The opportunity to connect with students from all corners of Kentucky is the most valuable aspect of his experience. He has met students from different faith traditions, geographical areas, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Another aspect of his role that he enjoys is the ability to share his collegiate experiences and help the younger generation realize the amazing opportunities available to them in college.

“We're here to give them advice and information on college, including being an honors student at Western Kentucky University. I also share my experiences, such as studying abroad in Italy or receiving a Gilman scholarship. It's a cool way to give back to something that was so important to me when I was 17 years old,” he said.

While his participant experience in 2021 was limited due to COVID-19 restrictions, his staff experience has led to many learning and fun opportunities, like participating in a kazoo parade for the Fourth of July, learning how to drive a 12-passenger van, flexing his artistic skills in decorating his students’ residence hall doors, and even dealing with a high-pressure situation when he had to take a participant to the emergency room.

He’s also facilitated trips and experiences for his students to better understand the agribusiness opportunities available at Murray State University, including its apiary and horse farm. “It’s cool to be back and still be learning new things, even though I'm not necessarily a scholar myself,” he noted.

As he prepares to return to WKU’s campus to begin his junior year in the 2024-2025 school year as a Corporate and Organizational Communication, Public Relations, and Political Science major, he reflected on the value of his multi-year service with GSP. “Especially with this program, it's not just career-specific. As I'm still figuring out what I want to do in the future, having the opportunity to hone skills like leadership, communication, team building, and conflict management is invaluable.”

Joshua plans to apply for the Head Resident Advisor role for the summer 2025 iteration of the GSP program. This role focuses on developing skills such as advanced conflict management, disciplinary action, and dealing with parent phone calls—skills that align with his career aspirations in crisis management.

Joshua’s journey with the Governor’s Scholars Program is a testament to the program's impact and the power of mentorship. His experiences as both a participant and a staff member have allowed him to grow personally and professionally, equipping him with essential skills that transcend any single career path. His story is a powerful reminder of the lasting impact that dedicated mentorship and comprehensive educational programs can have on young individuals, setting them on a path toward success and fulfillment. Through his continued dedication and passion, Joshua Gillespie exemplifies the true spirit of the Governor’s Scholars Program and of a Hilltopper, paving the way for future leaders of Kentucky.