Andy Beshear shares advice, stories during Centre visit with Kentucky Governor’s Scholars

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear spoke with high school students participating in the Kentucky Governor’s Scholars Program (GSP) for more than an hour, sharing stories from his time as a program participant and hinting at his future political plans.

Beshear addressed over 300 of Kentucky’s brightest high schoolers currently living and studying on the Centre College campus. He is the first Kentucky Governor to have graduated from the program, having spent the summer of 1995 on Northern Kentucky University’s campus.

“I owe this program so much,” he told the 2026 scholars gathered in the Norton Center for the Arts. “I came to Governor’s Scholars not quite sure of myself… Certainly, in my day, being smart wasn’t all that cool in high school. You got picked on a little bit, or you wouldn’t get included in so many things. And Governor’s Scholars told me I was not alone, that there were so many people out there like me that cared about me, that believed in me… It instilled in me a confidence that changed my life.”

After his opening remarks, Beshear took questions from scholars for nearly an hour, including one pointed question seeking clarity on his future political plans. Beshear has been discussed as a potential candidate for the 2028 U.S. presidential race.

“I walked offstage in 2023 after a reelection, looked at my wife and said, ‘Woo, I’ll never have to run for office again,’” said Beshear, who cannot run for a third term as Kentucky governor due to state term limits. “And I’ll put it this way, I’m not sure that was correct.”

Most of the questions Beshear faced centered on issues facing Kentucky today, from regulating data centers to drug overdose deaths and women’s reproductive rights.

Many students also asked about his experiences in the GSP program and advice for students getting ready to begin their senior years in high school.

“I loved every day of it,” he said of his GSP experience and meeting fellow students from across the state. “I learned that diversity can be much more than just what we look like. I could talk with people who had come from incredibly different backgrounds… with very different types of upbringings.”

He shared his most memorable moments from the program, including a tearful farewell with friends at the end of the summer and the embarrassment of performing during the GSP showcases.

“When you’re trying something hard, and you’re really bad at it, at GSP, everybody claps for you, right? For your bravery and being willing to do it. For stepping outside your comfort zone,” he said. “It was really important to me. I still remember that.”

One piece of advice he returned to repeatedly was to encourage the students to forge strong connections with their fellow scholars.

“This is a network that will follow you through life,” he said. “And when it’s tough at school, when it’s tough within your community, lean on these folks. No matter what you’re going through, they’re ready to help you, and they want to help you. This can create that type of system that can help you get through the tough times.”