2025 Conference

New Orleans, Louisiana - October 9th-12th, 2025

2024 conference

A great time was had by all!

The National Conference of Governor's Schools went back to its roots in 2024. The event was hosted by the Kentucky Governor's School for the Arts and Governor's Scholars Program. 

NCOGS enjoyed a robust annual meeting in Louisville.

NCOGS 2024 Agenda

All activities at The Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts (501 W. Main Street, Louisville, KY) unless otherwise noted. Agenda is still being developed; timing, topics, and locations may change. A final version of the agenda will be provided to all conference attendees.
 
Thursday, Oct. 17th
3:30 p.m.: Executive Committee Meeting (only attended by committee members)

6:00 p.m.: Welcome, Introductions, and Dinner at Noble Funk Brewery (922 S. 2nd Street, Louisville, KY; 6 minute drive/Uber from conference hotel)
 
Friday, Oct. 18th
8:00 a.m.: Breakfast

8:30 a.m.: Welcome from NCoGS Leadership, Conference Hosts, and Kentucky Performing Arts Leadership

9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.: Grounding ourselves in our work, our mission, and our needs (each program should have one representative prepared to describe their program – scope, size, subject matter, etc. - - as well as one/two things they’re finding great success with, one/two things they’re challenged by, and one/two things they hope to gain/learn from the NCoGS network).

10:30 – 10:45 a.m.: Break

10:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.: Mini-grant presentations

11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.: Lunch Break

12:45 – 1:45 p.m.: Backstage Tour

1:45 – 2:00 p.m.: Break

2:00 – 3:15 p.m.: Government Relations and Lobbying

3:15 – 3:30: Break

3:30 – 5:30: Special Topic Breakout groups and report-outs (with break built in)

6:30 p.m.: Dinner

OPTIONAL: 8:00 p.m. Concert by the Louisville Orchestra
 
Saturday, Oct. 19th
8:00 a.m.: Breakfast

8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.: Business Meeting

11:30 a.m.: Adjourn; all official NCoGS Conference events concluded.

12:30 – 3:30 p.m.: OPTIONAL: Cruise and lunch on Ohio River via Mary Miller Steamboat (tickets must be purchased in advance through Nick Covault; more info to be provided). Boat docking/wharf is 7 minute walk from KY Center/Conference hotel.

4:00 – 6:00 p.m.: OPTIONAL: The Kentucky Rural Urban Exchange Presents The Golden Thread ($35 tickets must be purchased separately/in advance; takes place in the Bomhard Theatre in The Kentucky Center)
The Golden Thread is an annual forum gathering visionary leaders from various sectors to foster unity across cultures and communities in the Commonwealth. The event will feature remarks from the Secretary of State (KY GSP alum!), and performances by Kentucky Youth Poet Laureate Amy Roblero Perez (KY GSA alum!), an Appalachian folk collaboration between dancer Carla Gover (KY GSA alum!) and musician Randy Wilson, a Latin musical trio with Yani Vozos and friends, and the art rock band Producing A Kind Generation. The heart of the celebration is the "Long Conversation," a relay of short, unmoderated conversations stitched together by themes of commonality and a shared future. This year the event will be emceed by Chad Benefield from WBKR in Owensboro, and will bring together Jen Algire (Greater Clark Foundation, Winchester), John Bowman (Dream.org, Louisa), Victor Calderon (Kentucky Refugee Ministries, Louisville), Crystal Fox (Mayfield Minority Enrichment Center, Mayfield), Dreama Gentry (Rural Partners for Education, Berea), Val Horn (Cowan Community Action, Whitesburg), Richie Kessler, (Forever Green, Campbellsville), and Lamont “Jack” Pearley (African American Folklorist Magazine, Bowling Green). KY RUX is founded by KY GSA alumna Savannah Barrett (modeled after her KY GSA experience)
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6:00 p.m. - ???: OPTIONAL: Ervay Avenue Chili Cook-Off (Free, although folks can purchase $2 tickets to vote if desired; 10 min drive from The Kentucky Center) – if you’re still in town and looking for fun, you’re invited to join Nick Covault (KY GSA) and his neighbors for their annual neighborhood chili cookoff! Low stakes, new friends, chili, and probably some front yard karaoke.

For frequent updates, look at our facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/governors.schools

FUTURE CONFERENCES

2025: LOUISIANA

2026: VERMONT

2027: MISSOURI
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2028: WEST VIRGINIA

2029: TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY