Student Profile: Graves County Student Enrolled in Unique School

by Paul Schaumburg, Graves County Schools

Manuel Cortez  of Graves County begins his second year this month as one of 120 academically-outstanding students in the Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky at Western Kentucky University. The academy’s goals are to provide Kentucky’s exceptional young scientists and mathematicians a learning environment with advanced opportunities, preparing them for leadership roles in Kentucky. The students have completed their junior year of high school and will finish their senior year continuing to live on the WKU campus and taking courses there. Next May, they will be high school graduates and will have earned at least two years’ college credit hours. Pictured with Manny Cortez are his parents, Gilbert and Desiree Cortez.

Manuel Cortez already had achieved an outstanding academic and extracurricular resume in his first two years as a student at Graves County High School. Then last summer he entered a unique dual-credit program on the campus of Western Kentucky University. What he hadn’t done in his first 16 years of life was to wash his own clothes.

“It was the first time I did laundry,” he said with a grin, on a recent visit home. “So, I was calling Mom and saying, ‘Okay, now how do you do this?’

As classes resume this month, “Manny” returns to Bowling Green as one of 60 academically-outstanding students selected statewide for the Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky at Western Kentucky University.

It’s designed to enable Kentucky’s exceptional young scientists and mathematicians to learn in an environment which offers advanced educational opportunities, preparing them for leadership roles in Kentucky.

The students now have completed their junior year of high school and will finish their senior year continuing to live on the WKU campus and taking courses there. Next May, they will be high school graduates and will have earned at least two years’ college credit hours.

“Our math class is all academy students, but for the rest of our classes, we’re just in them with everybody else and even the professors don’t know that we are also finishing high school at the same time,’ he said. “We all stay in a dorm together. It’s all like a family, a little community. It’s a great opportunity. It’s difficult, but at the same time it’s a lot of fun and I’m learning a lot of life lessons and college lessons, too.”

“The transition was good for him,” said his mother, Desiree Cortez. “We talked every night on the phone. What I really liked about it is they actually have a study hour and a curfew. The academy people told us they would be the mom and dad. They won’t let anyone come in without our permission.”

“There’s security where your coded ID card will only work in your own dorm, so you can’t go into other dorms,” said Manny.

“And they have chores,” said his father, Gilbert Cortez. “He has his day to mop and to sweep.”

In all, 130 students applied and were judged based on ACT/SAT scores, high school grades, awards, responses to essay questions, and letters of recommendation. Then 100 were invited for interviews with Academy staff members and representatives from across the commonwealth. In the end, 60 dynamic applicants emerged from the review process.

Even as sophomores, the gifted group carried an average ACT score eight points higher than the statewide average for graduating seniors.

Academics aside, “it is hard having him live away from home this early,” said Desiree. “I cried a lot and could cry right now if I think about it because I have to send him back and start all over again this year. We’re very close.”

“We miss him at home,” said Gilbert. “When we needed something fixed with the TV or DVD player, we’d just call Manny and say how do you work this thing? Now, his sister has to do those things,” he said with a laugh.

The program requires the students to visit home one weekend each month.

“I didn’t want to hold him back,” said Desiree.

“The opportunity that was presented to him was too good to turn down,” added Gilbert. “Plus the socializing and self-discipline through chores are valuable lessons.”

“The university pays for almost everything,” said Desiree. “It’s the equivalent of $30,000 or $40,000 as a scholarship.”

Manny said he also enjoys the camaraderie of talented students and tutoring. Study groups provide the chance to hear other students’ perspectives on classroom activities.

“Manny is an outstanding student and several teachers the high school were very disappointed for their own programs when Manny left for Bowling Green,” said long-time Graves County administrator Carla Whitis. “While we knew we’d miss him and his talents, we all knew he would be an outstanding success and would benefit from this wonderful opportunity,”

“We’re very proud of him in everything he does,” Gilbert said of his son’s achievements and personal growth. The proud father concluded, with a smile: “He doesn’t act like he’s 17. He just gets up in the morning and mows the lawn without anybody asking him.”

The Gatton Academy is Kentucky’s only state-supported, residential program for high school students with interests in science and math careers and the 14th such program in the nation. More information about the Gatton Academy is available online at http://www.wku.edu/academy/

Graves County, leaving home, Manny Cortez, Parents