The University of Delaware’s 46th annual Governor’s School for Excellence welcomed both Gov. Matt Meyer and Lt. Gov. Kyle Evans Gay for a direct and engaging conversation with more than 130 high-achieving students from across the state. 

Sponsored by the office of the governor in cooperation with the Delaware Department of Education and UD’s Division of Professional and Continuing Studies (UD PCS), the one-week summer residential program brings together academically and artistically gifted rising juniors for immersive learning, creative exploration and leadership development. In an open and informal discussion, the governor and lieutenant governor responded to students’ questions as a dynamic “tag team,” each offering thoughtful insights drawn from their unique experiences and perspectives.

It was immediately clear that the conversation would be both serious and impactful when Liya Alford from Christiana High School asked the first question: “Given the current state of affairs, how are we going to be protected as we make our way to who we can be?”

“My primary job as governor today is to make sure everyone is protected,” Meyer said. “Whatever community they're from, whatever political persuasion they have, they should know the same promise of opportunity and freedom this country made to my immigrant grandfather and our family over 100 years ago. We want the people living here in Delaware to know that this is still a land of that promise.”

Gay emphasized her office’s focus on community engagement, encouraging students to get involved and connected with their elected officials. “In Delaware, we’re working not only to protect people under the law, but to stand with them as they face challenges — and to learn from them what’s needed next,” she said.

Economic concerns were top of mind for many students. Eugene Ma from Caesar Rodney High School asked how the state could raise wages without disrupting the free market. In response, Meyer reflected on his own experience as a small-business owner, explaining how government regulations often felt like barriers to growth and fair compensation. 

“I believe in ‘the magic of the market,’ and when buyers and sellers are able to negotiate freely, I think the government should largely stay out of it,” he said. “But, at a time the wealth of billionaires is growing exponentially and when there are multiple trillion-dollar companies that often have only a small number of owners, many families in Delaware are getting squeezed. I think by softening some of the edges of capitalism, we can continue to expand the wealthiest society the world has ever seen.”

Gay acknowledged that the balance between wage growth and economic stability is complicated. “Supporting working families is essential not just for fairness, but for building a strong future workforce.” she explained. “Public investment in areas like early education, affordable housing and health care can reduce the pressure on wages by lowering the cost of living. Ultimately, the governor’s role is to carefully choose which economic levers to pull to support both workers and small businesses”

In addition to wages, students voiced concerns about housing — specifically its availability, affordability and impact on communities. Meyer acknowledged the urgency of the issue, affirming that their concerns reflected a broader housing crisis affecting Delaware and beyond. 

“We're short something like 20,000 affordable housing units in Delaware, so we need to ‘build, baby, build,’” he explained. “But, I believe strongly that needs to be managed. You don't want people just building anywhere and in any way. If they do, you’re going to have low-quality housing; you're going to have neighborhoods that are destroyed and ecosystems that are destroyed.”

We need to build — but we need to build smart. That means protecting our communities and ecosystems through clear zoning and thoughtful planning, not just throwing up homes wherever there’s space. Every Delawarean deserves a chance at the American dream, and that starts with access to affordable, quality housing.”

Unsurprisingly, many of the students’ questions and concerns centered on education, including how funding cuts and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence might affect their learning. Kristopher Hart from Newark High School made an impassioned plea for arts education:

“Across the nation, we've seen schools cutting funding for the arts, which I believe are a vital part of many people's childhoods. Personally, getting into music changed the way I see the world. I see music and arts programs being cut simply because they're not seen as essential, and that concerns me. I wonder what we can do to protect and expand these programs — especially in elementary and middle schools — because providing these opportunities for kids can have a huge impact on their futures."

Gay spoke to his concerns as a former marching band member and a mother who has children also interested in the arts. She said, “I know we're facing cuts everywhere, but I think that you have a lot of advocates in the state who understand that sports, arts programing and music programming are sometimes the only reason some kids go to school. Sometimes it's the thing that makes kids realize that there is something different for them — that they can pursue their dreams.”

Anyone who's interested in this topic should connect with the March for the Arts and Education and participate with our local Arts Alliance to make sure that folks in our state legislature are aware of how important this is to you as students.”

This advice echoed a central theme throughout Meyer’s and Gay’s remarks: a call for students to find their voice, engage with their elected officials, contribute meaningfully to their communities and lead locally through service, advocacy and awareness. 

“The governor and I are public servants, and we’re just keeping the seats warm for you,” Gay said. “Get involved. Stay engaged. Look for ways to bring about outcomes that are better for all Delawareans.”

Learn more about the Governor’s School for Excellence at pcs.udel.edu/govschool.