Governor’s School for the Arts Archives

Transylvania breaks record with official enrollment

Posted on September 20, 2007July 14, 2020 by Office of Marketing and Communications

LEXINGTON, Ky.—Transylvania’s campus is bustling with a record enrollment of 1,153 students. The former record, set in 2005, was 1,151, and last year’s enrollment was 1,117. President Charles L. Shearer said he expects enrollment to level off at or slightly below the current level. “We are delighted that our enrollment has increased at the rate it has over the past decade,” said Shearer. “Our enrollment is at capacity.” The record enrollment is attributed to an excellent retention rate of returning students combined with a full class of new students and 14 transfer students. Of the 335 members of the Class of 2011: 44 are Kentucky Governor’s Scholars, and five attended the Kentucky Governor’s School for the Arts Four are National Merit Finalists; two are National Merit Semifinalists Seven percent identify themselves as racial or ethnic minorities 48 percent rank in the top 10 percent of their high school graduating class, and 76 percent rank in the top 25 percent of their class 28 were valedictorians, and 18 were salutatorians 60 percent have a high school grade point average above 3.50, and the mean GPA of the incoming class is 3.51 The ACT scores for this group are impressive with a middle 50 percent range of 23-29 “This year’s class is outstanding in every measure of academic strength,” said Shearer, “and these new students join a student body that is also academically strong. I think our enrollment record speaks very well

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Transylvania University establishes Lucille C. Little Endowed Chair in Theater; drama professor Tim Soulis named recipient

Posted on August 2, 2007June 17, 2021 by Office of Marketing and Communications

LEXINGTON, Ky.—Transylvania President Charles L. Shearer has announced that drama professor Tim Soulis is the recipient of the Lucille C. Little Endowed Chair in Theater. The endowed chair was created with a challenge grant of $500,000 from the W. Paul and Lucille Caudill Little Foundation and is the first endowed chair at Transylvania. “We are extremely grateful to the Little Foundation for its generous support of the arts at Transylvania and I am delighted that Professor Soulis is the recipient,” said Shearer. “Tim’s dedication and commitment to our theater program is tremendous.” Soulis taught courses in drama and performance throughout the country and directed more than 70 productions before coming to Transylvania in 1994 as a Bingham Fellow. “The main purpose of Transylvania’s theater program is to develop in student actors, technicians, directors and playwrights the vocal and physical skills and intellectual and emotional maturity to explore drama as an important form of artistic and personal expression and fulfillment,” Soulis said. “This is in harmony with the University’s goals as a liberal arts institution to broaden student’s intellectual and creative abilities.” These goals will be enhanced by the endowed chair, which will allow operating funds to be redirected to new initiatives, which may include employing guest artists to direct theater productions; arranging trips to New York City for drama majors and minors to attend plays and musicals; organizing workshops featuring visiting actors, directors, playwrights, and designers; and augmenting funds for

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Performances, graduation highlight the final day of the Governor’s School for the Arts, Saturday, July 7

Posted on July 5, 2007July 14, 2020 by Office of Marketing and Communications

LEXINGTON, Ky.—The 2007 session of the Governor’s School for the Arts comes to a close Saturday at Transylvania, highlighted by final performances and graduation ceremonies. The GSA will wrap up its eighth year on the Transy campus on Saturday, with final performances in all disciplines preceding graduation ceremonies at 5:30 p.m. in Haggin Auditorium. Final performances, including those in instrumental and vocal music, musical theater, visual arts, drama and architecture, will begin at various campus locations at 12:30 p.m. 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 1,000 people to the Transy campus. Refreshments will be available at various campus 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 226 high school students from 50 counties and about 86 high schools have been on the Transylvania 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. Highlights of the 2007 GSA program

Governor’s School for the Arts moves into final stage

Posted on June 26, 2007July 14, 2020 by Office of Marketing and Communications

LEXINGTON, Ky.—The 2007 session of the Governor’s School for the Arts will reach the half-way point on Wednesday with its 20th-year anniversary celebration and final day performances still on the horizon. The GSA summer program includes 226 rising junior and senior Kentucky arts students. The 2007 session features students from 50 counties and about 86 Kentucky high schools. Over the 20 years of its existence, the GSA has provided scholarships for over 3,300 students from all 120 counties. During their 21-day stay on the Transylvania campus, the students are immersed in a rigorous schedule of daily seminars, master classes, lectures, hands-on workshops and field trips to regional arts attractions. Instruction is offered in eight disciplines: architecture, creative writing, dance, drama, instrumental music, musical theater, visual arts and vocal music. Students, faculty and staff have already hosted a meeting of the Kentucky General Assembly’s interim joint Education Committee. This Saturday, alumni from the program have been invited to Transy for a reunion that will include performances, an alumni art exhibit and classroom visits. On July 4, all students will attend a field trip to the Freedom Center in Cincinnati. Final performance day is set for July 7, where family, friends, and family are invited to attend performances and art displays featuring the work of the students. Graduation is set for 5 p.m. Editor’s Note: Media are invited to attend remaining daily GSA sessions as well as final day performances on July

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Governor’s School for the Arts session begins June 17 at Transylvania

Posted on June 14, 2007July 14, 2020 by Office of Marketing and Communications

LEXINGTON, Ky.—More than 200 of Kentucky’s best young artists will gather on the Transylvania campus on Sunday to begin the three-week 2007 session of the Governor’s School for the Arts. The latest GSA class includes 226 rising junior and senior students with about 50 counties and 86 Kentucky high schools represented. During their 21-day stay, the student-artists will be immersed in a rigorous schedule of daily seminars, master-classes, lectures, hands-on workshops and field trips to regional arts attractions. Instruction is offered in eight disciplines: architecture, creative writing, dance, drama, instrumental music, musical theatre, visual arts and vocal music. Since 1987, more than 3,300 of the state’s most talented high school artists from 120 counties have attended the GSA summer program following a rigorous selection process. More than 1,300 students apply for the program each year for one of the available scholarships valued at over $3,000. Currently, 18 colleges and universities, including Transylvania, offer scholarships to GSA alumni. The program will culminate on July 7 with an all-day festival that celebrates the achievements of Kentucky’s young artists. Corporate and government supporters of the program have also been invited to attend the final day festivities along with parents, relatives, friends and GSA alumni. Transylvania has hosted the prestigious program since 2000. “Hosting this wonderful program has been a delight,” said Transylvania president Charles L. Shearer. “The GSA is the focal point of our summer campus activities. We believe our arts and performance

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