The Governor’s School of Entrepreneurship (GSE) fosters innovation, critical thinking, and a growth mindset while expanding students’ confidence and professional network.

The 2025 West Virginia Governor’s School of Entrepreneurship (GSE) at Marshall University is an intensive 10-day program designed to ignite a passion for innovation and entrepreneurship in high school students. Established in 2016 with an inaugural class of 54 young entrepreneurs, GSE empowers students to turn their ideas into reality and tackle West Virginia’s biggest challenges through team-based startup creation. By applying proven strategies from global leaders like Intuit, Apple, AirBnB, and Dropbox, participants gain the skills and confidence to become trailblazers in their communities.

During this immersive experience, students will collaborate in teams to design and prototype innovative solutions while connecting with industry experts, successful entrepreneurs, and like-minded peers. They’ll master creative problem-solving, rapid iteration, and pitching to investors, all while building a powerful network to support their future endeavors. Whether you dream of launching a business, making an impact in your community, or exploring your creative potential, GSE offers the tools, inspiration, and mentorship to shape your future and leave a lasting mark on the world.

The GSE requires high schools and county boards of education to actively recruit and assist 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students during the application window. The school counselor should not be the only individual involved in recruitment. The GSE provides career technical education (CTE) students an opportunity to get involved in the Governor’s Schools program. High schools should share information about the GSE with all CTE instructors. Please use the flyer attached below to share this information in classrooms and with teachers who may be able to promote the program.

2025 GSE Flyer (for 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students)

High School Responsibilities

• Inform all qualifying students of their eligibility. Speak with students about the merit of the GSE.
• Post the flyer in multiple areas of the school.
• Inform students of the application.
• The application deadline, expected to be in April, will be made available soon.
• The school counselor must print transcripts and first-semester student grades as required in the application.
• The school principal is required to sign a certification form. Please assist student applicants with this section of the application.
• The application requires two teacher recommendations. Please inform students to ask teachers for recommendations in a timely manner.
• The school may need to assist students when they create their “pitch” video.

County Contact Responsibilities

• Review all the information about the GSE on the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) website.
• Share information from the WVDE with all high schools and CTE centers.
• Communicate the PDF flyers with all high school principals and counselors to post and share with students and parents.

If you have questions, please contact Dustin Lambert, WVDE State Coordinator of West Virginia Governor’s Schools, or call (304) 558-5325.

Thank you for your interest in the GSE at Marshall University. Please review the qualifications listed below before completing this part of the application.

The dates for the GSE are July 11-20, 2025.

This application and all the required components comprise the entire application process for GSE.

Required Qualifications

1. Must be a current high school student in West Virginia with plans to attend next school year.
2. Must be a West Virginia resident.
3. Must be a current 9th, 10, or 11th grade student at the time of application. You may attend multiple years.
4. Must have a grade-point average of at least 2.5
5. Must have a recommendation from the school principal (include in your application).
6. Must have a recommendation from two teachers (within the application)
7. Must satisfy all immunization requirements according to the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR). Non-public school and homeschooled students must provide proof of immunizations.

2025 Governor’s School for Entrepreneurship Student Application

Apply online for the 2025 GSE program

If you have questions, please contact Dustin Lambert, WVDE State Coordinator of West Virginia Governor’s Schools, or call (304) 558-5325.

Drop Off and Pickup

Please be advised, parents are required to drop off students on July 11^th and pick up students on July 20^th at Marshall University in Huntington, WV.

Handbook

The 2025 GSE Handbook will be available soon.

The West Virginia Department of Education maintains a Facebook page to showcase students during each school. Please visit the page to view all the exciting activities going on throughout the summer.

You may also view a short video and student testimonies of GSE on the Marshall University website.

Faculty

The GSE faculty, guest speakers, coaches, and judges are selected based on their expertise and experience in academic, professional, and/or clinical settings, which provides a robust residential experience for GSE attendees.

Residential Staff

The GSE residential staff are selected based on their experiences with entrepreneurship and/or creativity and demonstrated competencies in leadership, mentorship, and responsibility.

For information on applications, please contact the dean of the GSE:

• Dr. David Wiley, Dean
• Tricia Ball, Co-Dean