Kentucky's Governor's Scholars program has received a major gift.

Kentucky Power Company presented a check Friday morning for $100,000 to scholars at Centre College in Danville.

Half of the money will be used next year, and the other half in 2012.

The money is designed to assist students from the 20 counties in eastern Kentucky served by Kentucky Power.

"Helps fund students, so they can participate and not pay any tuition, which is excellent," Tim Mosher of Kentucky Power said. "They get the college, on campus experience before they go to college."

The Governor's Scholars program began in 1983 to identify and nurture Kentucky's next generation of civic and economic leadership.