The weekend of the 4th of July was parents’ weekend for the 343 Governor Scholars on Bellarmine University’s campus. That meant making sure there was some fun and educational component on Sunday – this was important. As the scholars made their way to festivities planned by the faculty and staff, one man stood out, his face painted entirely like an American Flag, Aris Cedeño, Dean of the Governor’s Scholars Program.
Originally from Panama, Cedeño appreciates what US culture has to offer. If there are any lessons he wants the high school juniors to understand at GSP, is that it is a privilege to be at the program and to be a citizen. As acting dean of GSP as well as the director of Bellarmine, one of the 3 Universities that host the scholars for 5 weeks, Cedeño is strict, but caring.
“I tell the scholars Aris is your friend, but the Dean has no soul,” said Cedeño of his role on campus.
Cedeño is not afraid to call out someone in a crowd of 400 for something like a missing T-shirt talking during meetings, or being late to classes. In group meetinigs he is quick to give a 10-minute speech on responsibility not directed towards that person, but everyone knows who he is talking to.
Aristófanes Cedeño started with Governor’s Scholars Program in 1992 as a teacher and has been with it ever since. In 1995 he was promoted to campus director and is now the mastermind behind the entire program. He works with a board of directors, the yearly employees, the administrators, and the planning for each summer. Cedeño starts his work for the next summer the day after the scholars leave. From hiring of staff to selection of students he is behind it all.
The program itself has been part of Kentucky for 26 years. It is one of only 17 that remain in the country. Thousands of high school juniors apply from all over the state. Only a little over 1,000 get in, divided on to three designated campuses. Bellarmine has been a GSP location for the last three years.
Scholars stay in dorms on campus for 5 weeks and take classes from high school and college faculty, specializing in specific fields. The dorms are monitored by former scholars who must apply for resident assistant positions. There are also field trips, clubs and games for the scholars and advice about college, testing and scholarships. Cedeño oversees the entire operation.
“Every year has its own characteristics that make it unique,” said Cedeño.
Cedeño has seen the scholars change from a less conservative body in 1983 to a more conservative campus in 1994-95, to a mix of both since 2005. Also the subjects that are taught have changed. Until 1996 the program tried to be similar to a liberal arts colle
ge with classes like philosophy, history, and literature. Since then it has become more professional with classes like architecture and journalism and the sciences.Cedeño has some high expectations for the scholars. He wishes that everyone have a mind and body balance. He sees that people are playing ultimate Frisbee and Quidditch and that is fine by him. But he wishes that scholars would read books and poetry along with those activities. He wants everyone to put themselves fully into their classes because this atmosphere is never going to happen again.
“Here people can be themselves without the pressure and constraints of time and grades. Everyone is learning things they would learn elsewhere but with the freedom to take it all in,” he said.
Cedeño wants people to realize that it isn’t the grade or degree that matters. What matters is the knowledge gained.
“The knowledge is the jewel in the crown,” he said.
His ultimate goal is to make a year-round Governor’s Scholars Program so that students can gain the knowledge without having to worry about the grades. Cedeño sees GSP as a way for scholars to learn something new by taking an intellectual risk.
With public schools in Kentucky ranked low in test scores and funding, Cedeño feels programs like GSP are crucial to provide support for bright students who need to be pushed in the right direction. He sees these 17-year-old kids as the future of Kentucky.
“Aris is among the top leaders [I] know because he is adept at [dealing with] people,” said former scholar and GSP teacher Dr. Kevin Hub. “At the end of the day all you have is your relationships.”