2010 – Page 5 – The Gatton Academy News

[Video Blog] Academy Alumni Mentor Gifted Youth as VAMPY Camp Counselors

July 9, 2010 | Alumni, News, People, Student Life, Video, WKU | No Comments

The Center for Gifted Studies at WKU is currently hosting the 27th annual installment of the Summer Program for Verbally and Mathematically Precocious Youth, better known as VAMPY. Students spend three weeks during the summer taking one of sixteen in-depth courses on campus. 10 of the incoming members of the Gatton Academy’s Class of 2012 are among the nearly 240 students attending VAMPY. In this video blog, alumni George Johnson, Alex Boswell, and John Max Wilson share their thoughts on camp, the Academy experience, and working alongside students who are gifted and talented.

More information about VAMPY can be found online at VAMPYblog.org.

By Corey Alderdice

Academy Alumni Among Students Honored at HOSA Conference

July 9, 2010 | Alumni, News, People, Student Success, WKU | No Comments

via WKU News

Three students in WKU’s Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) program earned honors at the 2010 HOSA National Leadership Conference in Orlando, Fla.

WKU students Matthew Kirk (’09) of Livermore and Victoria Bertke (’09) of Reynolds Station finished first in the nation in Post-Secondary CPR/First Aid. DeAnn Wright of Franklin placed in the top 10 in Post-Secondary Nutrition.

Emily Hall (’10) of Nicholasville was also a participant.

HOSA is a national student organization endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education. The purpose of HOSA is to promote career opportunities in health care and to prepare students to successfully pursue a health career.

Since its inception in 1976, HOSA has grown steadily reaching nearly 107,000 members through 47 chartered HOSA State Associations and approximately 3,000 secondary and postsecondary/collegiate chapters in 2008-2009.

The HOSA National Leadership Conference includes educational and social learning activities, the national competitive events program, and an opportunity to meet people from across the U.S. and Puerto Rico with similar career goals.

Contact: Amy Wininger, (270) 745-6265 or amy.wininger@wku.edu.

By Corey Alderdice

Courtney Howard Represents WKU at HHMI Science Education Alliance Symposium

July 9, 2010 | News, People, Students, Summer, WKU | No Comments

Courtney Howard (Hardin, ‘11) recently returned from the 2nd Annual Science Education Alliance Symposium at the Janelia Farm campus of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) in Ashburn, Virginia. There, she presented her research work and the research work of the inaugural class of WKU’s HHMI’s Science Education Alliance National Genomics Research Initiative course.

After a full-year experience in the nationally-sponsored research program that is overseen at WKU by Drs. Rodney King and Claire Rinehart from WKU’s Department of Biology, Howard was asked by her instructors to represent WKU, since it was her virus that was completely sequenced and annotated.

Last fall semester, Howard isolated a novel bacterial virus from a soil sample she collected from her home in Radcliff, KY, naming the virus “Backyardigan” after a television show she used to watch as a kid.

Dr. King described the research work Howard undertook during the fall semester after this initial collection. “She grew large numbers of the virus in the lab and examined its structure using an electron microscope. She then isolated the DNA from the virus and characterized it by cutting it with special enzymes called restriction endonucleases. The pattern of DNA fragments generated from this treatment was then examined and compared to other viruses isolated by her classmates and by other NGRI participants located throughout the country. Courtney’s viral DNA preparation passed rigorous quality control tests and it was chosen to have its DNA sequence determined,” he said.

During the spring semester, the WKU Genome Discovery class identified all the genes contained in the DNA sequence of the virus.

Howard is already looking forward to what may happen next. “I had a wonderful experience at the conference. It renewed my interest in research. As a matter of fact Dr. Rinehart and I are currently discussing ways to extend my phage research. Listening to the presentations opened our eyes to other possibilities and things we can do to learn more about my phage,” she said.

The slides from Howard’s talk, titled 007: A Lysin to Kill in my Backyardigan, are available at the following weblink: http://www.hhmi.org/seawiki/download/attachments/11993294/23_WEKU.pdf

For more information, contact Derick Strode at (270) 745-6565.

By Corey Alderdice

Summer 5Q: Torey Gilkison Researches with the KY Department of Fish and Wildlife

June 22, 2010 | 5Q, People, Research, Students, Summer | No Comments

Victoria “Torey” Gilkison (Anderson County, ‘11) is spending the summer before her senior year near the water, but not in the same way most teens do.

As a rising high school senior, she is performing research with aquatic plants at the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources Center for Mollusk Conservation in Frankfort, KY under the direction of Dr. Monte McGregor, a biologist and researcher there.

Gilkison was one of eleven students from the Gatton Academy’s class of 2011 who received a Research Internship Grant from the Academy for this summer. The Research Internship Grants are available to Gatton Academy students in the summer between their junior and senior years to support students during summer research experiences.

Gilkison’s summer research builds upon the botanical research she did with Dr. Albert Meier of WKU’s Department of Biology during her first year at the Academy. Torey recently took some time away from her summer research with Dr. McGregor to answer some questions.

1. Tell us a little about the project or program in which you are participating this summer that the Research Internship Grant is funding.

I am designing and building three separate aquaponic systems as a basis for my research. An aquaponic system is a way to use plant filtration to help improve the water quality for other organisms, in my case mussels, to live in. On top of noting the effect of the plant growth or presence on the mussel I will also be testing an all organic fertilizer to a regular fertilizer to see if this affects the mussel growth in any way.

2. What is the part of the summer experience you are enjoying most?

The part that I am most excited about this summer is the fact that I get to take part in hands-on research that could help Dr. McGregor in his research later on. I am also enjoying learning about all the different aquatic organisms including mussels and plants. There may be a point this summer when I will be able to go out into the field and assist Dr. McGregor in gathering plant or mussel species for his research.

3. How is this different from the way you think most high school students spend their summers?

Most high school students either spend their time at home or out with their friends, they don’t get the opportunity to participate in research. Research is something that benefits a person for the rest of their life because it develops problem-solving skills. So the fact that I get to partake in research really prepares me for work that I am going to be doing in the future.

4. Will you be using this research experience as a launching point for any particular applications, competitions, or scholarships?

I am going to use my research work to enter into the Siemens Competition.

5. How does this research experience or internship fit into your educational and professional goals?

I hope to major in Botany. By doing this research it allows me to work with plants and to get a hands-on feel for whether this is really the area I want to be working in or not.

6. What are you looking forward to the most about your second year at the Academy?

I am looking forward to taking more specific classes that will get me closer to my major in Botany and choosing classes that will benefit me specifically for where I want to be in life.

By Corey Alderdice

Gatton Academy Named to Newsweek’s “Public Elites” for the Second Consecutive Year

June 14, 2010 | News, Student Success, WKU | No Comments

The Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky at Western Kentucky University has been named to Newsweek’s list of “Public Elite” American high schools for the second consecutive year.

Each spring, Newsweek recognizes the top 6 percent of public schools as measured by the Challenge Index ratio devised by Washington Post Education Columnist Jay Mathews. The ratio is based, in part, on the number of Advanced Placement and/or International Baccalaureate tests taken by all students at a school in the previous year divided by the number of graduating seniors. This year, Newsweek recognized 1,600 schools from across the country.

The Challenge Index is designed to recognize schools that challenge average students. Top-performing schools, such as The Gatton Academy, were excluded from the regular list of well-performing high schools because of their exceptional quality and remarkably talented student bodies. Specialized schools are, instead, acknowledged by The Public Elites.

Though 16 Kentucky high schools appear on Newsweek’s traditional list of top-performing high schools, Dr. Julia Roberts, executive director of the Gatton Academy, noted the Gatton Academy is the only Kentucky high school to have been recognized as a member of The Public Elites. Roberts also added the Gatton Academy is one of the youngest institutions to appear on the list.

“How outstanding for a program as young as the Gatton Academy to make the Newsweek list of the Public Elites among public high school schools in America for a second year,” Roberts said. “This recognition reflects entirely upon the dedication of the staff at the Gatton Academy and the outstanding students from across the Commonwealth who participate in research and advanced classes as well as international experiences and service learning opportunities. People across the Commonwealth and beyond can share pride in this wonderful recognition for the Gatton Academy.”

The Gatton Academy once again finds itself among the nation’s 20 most distinguished high schools. Schools such as the Bergen County Academies (New Jersey), Illinois Math Science Academy, North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, and Thomas Jefferson High School (Virginia) make perennial appearances on the list. These schools, along with the Gatton Academy, are members of the National Consortium of Specialized Secondary Schools of Math, Science and Technology (NCSSSMST).

According to Tim Gott, the Gatton Academy’s director and NCSSSMST board member, the Commonwealth’s future leaders and innovators in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) have already begun to distinguish themselves among peers across the nation through sharing research at the consortium’s student research symposium and Keystone National Youth Policy Summit.

“The Gatton Academy has been extremely fortunate to be involved with NCSSSMST peer institutions,” Gott said. “This incredible network of over 200 schools and affiliates creates a strong professional community that provides a collective wisdom on STEM education that cannot be duplicated. Serving on the board and co-hosting the most recent professional conference has provided us the opportunity to participate and contribute on a national stage. This experience has been invaluable in guiding our work at Gatton Academy.”

Newsweek’s recognition drew attention to the strategic partnership between the Gatton Academy and WKU, which facilitates all coursework for academy students. As part of the rigorous curriculum, students earn more than 60 hours of college credit during their four semesters in the program while also earning a high school diploma.

“One of the reasons for our early success is the outstanding partnership we have with WKU,” Gott said. “Integrating into the college curriculum available on campus allows our students to have a rigorous and relevant learning environment with professors and instructors who are experts in their disciplines and leaders in a vast array of research fields. WKU, across the board, has made every resource available so Gatton Academy students can truly expand and enrich their educational experience while making significant contributions to academic and student life on campus.”

Though particular attention is given to the academy, Corey Alderdice, assistant director for admissions and public relations, said the Gatton Academy is an educational partnership encompassing districts across the state.

“We are humbled to find ourselves among the nation’s most prestigious high schools once more,” Alderdice said. “However, it’s not an accomplishment we celebrate alone. Such recognition is born out of previous and present commitment and dedication of parents, educators and administrators in our students’ local districts.”

Since the program’s inception in 2007, students have been admitted from 95 of Kentucky’s 120 counties. In all, students from over 100 public high schools across the state have enrolled in the program.

“We believe this program and accomplishment is something all Kentucky educators have ownership in and can celebrate,” Alderdice said.

More WKU news is available at http://www.wku.edu/news/index.html and http://wkunews.wordpress.com/.

For more information, contact Corey Alderdice at (270) 745-6565.

By Corey Alderdice

Summer 5Q: Tina Stottman Studies Brain Trauma at UK Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center

June 8, 2010 | 5Q, People, Research, Students, Summer | No Comments

This summer, rising Gatton Academy senior Tina Stottman (’11, Bullitt County) is spending ten weeks exploring a research interest. Working full time at the University of Kentucky’s Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center with Dr. Kathryn Saatman, Stottman is studying experimental models of traumatic brain injury using rodent models of brain trauma to investigate cellular mechanisms of damage to neurons in the brain and evaluating treatments aimed at lessening cell damage.

Stottman received a Gatton Academy Research Internship Grant, which is a grant available to Gatton Academy students in the summer between their junior and senior years to support students during research experiences.

Stottman learned about the opportunity at the Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center from 2010 Gatton Academy graduate Emily Hall, who spent the summer of 2009 working in Dr. Saatman’s lab. Emily too will return to Dr. Saatman’s lab this summer along with Justin Jatczak, also a recent graduate from the Gatton Academy’s class of 2010. The three Gatton Academy students will work alongside University of Kentucky scientists and researchers for the summer, gaining valuable laboratory and research skills.

Tina recently took a break from her research to answer some questions about how her summer experience was going so far.

1. Tell us a little about the project or program in which you are participating this summer that the Research Internship Grant is funding.

This summer I’ve been working in the Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Lab. Our lab focuses on different aspects of brain cell death and axonal damage caused by traumatic injuries. We perform surgeries on mice in order to learn about what occurs in the brain after head trauma. So far, my tasks have included things such as cutting and mounting brain tissue, staining tissue to detect brain cell degeneration, and learning about the procedures performed on the mice.

2. What is the part of the summer experience you are enjoying most?

I’ve really enjoyed working in a lab setting. This past year, I only had one course that required a lab, so at first I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to keep up with everyone during research. Luckily, the people that I work with have been great at explaining different techniques and answering all of my questions. I’m doing something that I’ve never done before, so every day is a chance to learn something new! Now that I’ve been here for almost two weeks, I’ve actually come to love working on research in the lab, and the work day always seems to fly by.

3. How is this different from the way you think most high school students spend their summers?

Whenever I was at my home high school, summer was a time for me to just sit back and relax. For the most part, I can’t say that I did anything productive with my break. This summer, the situation is completely different. Every day, I get to spend time researching what I’m most passionate about. I’m walking away from this with an experience that will make me a competitive college applicant. Living on my own in Lexington has also helped me prepare myself for life after graduation, and as an added bonus, the people that I work with are amazing! How many high school students can say that they spent their summer getting paid to do what they love every single day?

4. Will you be using this research experience as a launching point for any particular applications, competitions, or scholarships?

Currently, I’m still looking for competitions and scholarships to enter with my research. I’ve had a few setbacks because I’m working with live vertebrae. I’m going to continue my search, and hopefully I’ll find some great competitions to enter this fall!

5. How does this research experience or internship fit into your educational and professional goals?

I haven’t chosen a specific career or major yet, so this research experience has given me a lot of insight into the physiology and neurosurgery field. Working in the lab will give me a head start for future research experiences during and after college. It will also look great on my college applications. Right now, I’m just trying to find a specific area to focus on, and this research experience is definitely leading me in the right direction.

6. What are you looking forward to the most about your second year at the Academy?

More than anything, I’m looking forward to meeting all of the new juniors. Last year, as I’m sure it is every year, we all formed a little family. I was sad to see the class of 2010 leave us, but I know that we’ll always share the bonds that we’ve made over the past year. I can’t wait to see what this new group of students will bring to the Academy. I met quite a few of them on interview day, and they all seem to be such amazing people with a wide variety of personalities and interests. I know that this new addition to our family will make it another great year to remember!

By Corey Alderdice

Gatton Academy Students Engaged in a Variety of Activities this Summer

June 8, 2010 | Academics, Alumni, International, News, People, Research, WKU | No Comments

While many high school students and graduates are spending their summer getting ready for college or enjoying weeks on the beach, Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky students and recent alumni will spend the coming weeks academically engaged, building off their experiences at the Gatton Academy.

Over half of the current Academy students and recent alumni have current plans to participate in an academic or career exploration during the months of June, July, and August that will take place across the world. Derick Strode, the Academy’s coordinator for research, internships, and scholarships expressed both the geography and educational experiences of these students will be wide-ranging.

“This summer, Gatton Academy students’ plans range from internships in their own Kentucky backyards to research experiences than span from the east coast to adventures abroad,” Strode said. “Gatton Academy students will be on several continents this summer, collecting experiences that will propel them to higher achievements.”

Summer time research projects and internships are important educational experience facilitated by the Gatton Academy because it allows student to explore a possible career field while staying active academically.

“Our students have the chance to experience research for a summer with the guidance of a professional researcher,” Strode said. “They have the opportunity to shadow the inner-workings of a professional in the field the student plans to work. These practical experiences allow our students a glimpse into the realities of their own personal goals, forcing them to question and answer whether the career they have in mind for themselves truly fits.”

“The Gatton Academy’s curriculum is designed for the ultimate challenge during the academic year,” Strode said. “Likewise, we ask our students to consider doing more with their summers than your typical student. By completing summer time projects, the door is metaphorically opened for our students as they apply for colleges, scholarships, and we expect eventually in their career searches.”

Summer 2010 experiences include:

Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs):

From South Dakota to Michigan to Kentucky, nine Gatton Academy students will be participating in full-summer REU programs this year. REUs are funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and offer students full-summer research opportunities with travel, food, and lodging provided as well as a generous stipend. Nationwide, only 5.1% of REU applicants are admitted into a program, making REUs one of the most prestigious and selective of summertime opportunities.

REU in Information Assurance Security (Cybersecurity), Dakota State University, Madison, SD

Sean Karlage (’10), of Edgewood

REU at the Space Physics Research Laboratory within the Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic and Space Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

Sarah “Katie” Brown (’10), of Taylorsville

REU Mammoth Cave/Upper Green River Watershed Project at Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY

Sydney Combs (’11), of London
Zachary Laux (’11), of Elizabethtown
Sean Freeman (’11), of Hebron
Katherine Rush (’10), of Frankfort

REU in Investigative Biotechnology at Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY

James “Zac” Forshee (’10), of Franklin
Alexander Hare (’10), of Morehead
Margaret Matheny (’10), of Ashland

International Research Experiences for Scientists:

Two students have been selected to participate in an NSF International Research Experiences for Scientists program at the National Chung Hsing University in Taichung, Taiwan. This program, on the same level as an REU, offers students fully paid travel to Taiwan, food, lodging, and a stipend.

Opto-Electronic Polymer Laboratory, National Chung Hsing University, with Dr. Ru-Jong Jeng

Camille Turner (’11), of Radcliff

Membrane Separation Technology Laboratory, National Chung Hsing University, with Dr. Shing Yi Suen

Kia Allen (’11), of Georgetown

DAAD RISE Program (Germany):

Rebecca Brock (’10) of Rineyville has been selected for the Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst (German Academic Exchange Service) Research Internships in Science and Engineering (DAAD RISE) program in Brunswick, Germany. She will be doing biochemical research involving gold complexes. She will be synthesizing gold complexes and testing their effects biologically. Rebecca will receive pay from the DAAD at 650 Euro per month this summer, as well as health insurance, a paid trip to Heidelberg, and a Rail Pass for travel in Germany.

EarthWatch Student Challenge Awards Program:

Clarice Esch (’11) of Somerset has been accepted into the prestigious EarthWatch Institute’s Student Challenge Awards Program. She will be a part of a research team traveling to Cook’s Lake Reserve in Nova Scotia, Canada to perform research on the mammals of Nova Scotia. Clarice’s award includes full travel expenses, food, and lodging for her trip to Nova Scotia.

WKU Chinese Language Flagship Study Abroad:

Three Gatton Academy students will be traveling to Chongqing, China this summer for an eight-week, intensive language study abroad trip with the WKU Chinese Language Flagship program. Students will earn 12 hours of college credit for the academic work they will complete as part of the July and August trip.

Jason Ludden (’10), of Columbia
Jared Mink (’10), of East Bernstadt
Sarah Schrader (’11), of Bowling Green

Gatton Academy Research Internship Grant recipients:

Eleven rising seniors were chosen to receive Gatton Academy Research Internship Grants (RIG) from the Gatton Academy to support research work this summer. The 2010 RIG recipients and their research locations and projects are:

Derek Fox (’11), of Alexandria, will be researching artificial intelligence with Dr. Jeffrey Ward at Northern Kentucky University’s Department of Computer Science.
Victoria Gilkison (’11), of Lawrenceburg, will be working with Dr. Monte McGregor at the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources Center for Mollusk Conservation in Frankfort, KY. Torie will be studying the relationship of aquatic plants to existing water quality in streams and rivers and the resulting influence on the distribution of rare aquatic species.
Benjamin Howard (’11), of Morehead, will be working with Dr. Richard Schugart of the WKU Department of Mathematics and Computer Science on a mathematical research approach to a wound healing project.
Shelby Martin (’11), of Mt. Washington, will be working with Carly Sinderbrand and Dr. Bruce Schulte of WKU’s Department of Biology, assisting with a research project on the dominance-stress hypothesis in horse behavior.
David McChesney (’11), of Danville, will perform research with Dr. Seth DeBolt of the University of Kentucky Department of Horticulture at the Agriculture Science Center North in Lexington, studying cellulose synthase in plant proteins.
Justine Missik (’11), of Danville, will be working on a research project with Dr. Stuart Campbell of the Spallation Neutron Source at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Oak Ridge, TN. Justine’s project will be on the development of a user interface tool for analysis of protein dynamics using Quasi-elastic Neutron Scattering (QENS). Along with her award, Justine will also be spending a few days of her summer participating in the Sante Fe Institute’s course on Exploring Complexity in Science and Technology in Portland, OR.
Michael Phillips (’11), of Benton, will work with Dr. Matthew Nee of the WKU Department of Chemistry. Michael will be coding and testing a computational kinetic model for the reactions following aqueous nitrate photolysis.
Sarah Schrader (’11) of Bowling Green, will perform bacteriophage research with Dr. Rodney King of the WKU Department of Biology.
Won Suk “Josh” Song (’11) of Bowling Green, will do research with Dr. Kane Jennings of the Vanderbilt University Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. Josh’s research will be on surface properties of polymer films and will be titled “Responsive, Superhydrophobic Coatings.”
Courtney Vance (’11), of Williamstown, will work with Carly Sinderbrand and Dr. Bruce Schulte of WKU’s Department of Biology. Courtney will be assisting with a research project on the dominance-stress hypothesis in horse behavior.
Tina Stottman (’11), of Louisville, will be doing research with Dr. Kathryn Saatman at the University of Kentucky’s Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center. Tina will be assisting with a research project on lessening cell damage in traumatic brain injuries.

NCSSSMST Research Symposium:

Four Gatton Academy students will be presenting research this summer at the National Consortium for Specialized Secondary Schools of Math, Science, and Technology (NCSSSMST) Research Symposium at the Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ. From June 6-9, these students will join 96 other students from across the country to share their research work through oral and poster presentations. Gatton Academy representatives and their presentation titles are:

Clarice Esch (’11), of Somerset, will present “Is Collema sp., a Gelatinous Lichen, a Sustainable Source of Nitrogen for Greenhouse and Nursery Crop Production?”
Desiree “Taylor” Harbin (’11), of Fairfield, will present “Nature’s Cabin: Altering the Design Process to Create a Sustainable Home”
Tyler Scaff (’11), of LaGrange, will present “The Phage and I: Isolating and Purifying a Bacteriophage and Annotating its Genome”
Natalie Schieber (’11), of Elizabethtown, will present “The Effect of Composition and Temperature on the Photolysis of Aqueous Nitrate Solution”

National Youth Policy Summit:

Four Gatton Academy students will be participating in the National Youth Policy Summit at the Keystone Science Center in Keystone, CO. This year’s summit on Energy Innovation will take place from June 13 – 19 and will bring together 40 of the brightest students from across the nation to come up with a proposal of policy solutions to the world’s energy needs. The following Gatton Academy students will participate:

Anthony Bates (’11) of Walton
Katie Goebel (’11) of Simpsonville
Jake Moore (’11) of Crittenden
Suzanne VanArsdall (’11) of Frankfort

Governor’s Scholar Program:

Four rising Gatton Academy seniors will be attending the Kentucky Governor’s Scholar Program this summer. These students are:

Gabrielle Fisher (’11) of Cynthiana
Tejas Sangoi (’11) of Owensboro
Tyler Scaff (’11) of LaGrange
Dana Wheeler (’11) of Louisville

Other Notable Summer Experiences:

Thomas Choate, a graduating senior from Bowling Green, will be doing research with Dr. Robert Choate of the WKU Department of Engineering. Thomas’ project will center on themography and building weatherization. He will be presenting his research at the InfraMation 2010 – Thermographer’s Conference in Las Vegas in November.

Michelle Compton, a graduating senior from Ashland, will be working with Dr. M.J. Wixsom at Guardian Animal Hospital in Ashland.

Amy Cordero, a graduating senior from Pikeville, will be taking classes through the University of Kentucky in Lexington.

Manuel Cortez, a graduating senior from Symsonia, will be observing Dr. James K. Turnbo and working at the Lone Oak Pharmacy in Paducah.

Thomas Delomas, a graduating senior from Lexington, will be taking classes through the University of Washington in Seattle.

Leah Frazier, a graduating senior from Russell, will be working as a Laboratory Technician at Brooks Eyecare in Greenup.

Lori Froedge, a graduating senior from Tompkinsville, will be working as a Teaching Assistant for the Center for Gifted Studies’ VAMPY (Verbally and Mathematically Precocious Youth) camp.

Emily Hall, a graduating senior from Nicholasville, will be returning this summer to Dr. Kathryn Saatman’s lab at the University of Kentucky’s Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center in Lexington to conduct research. Emily will be studying the traumatic brain injury of mice models with the
hope of finding proteins that inhibit cell death.

Justin Jatczak, a graduating senior from Hopkinsville, will be doing research with Dr. Kathryn Saatman of the University of Kentucky’s Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center in Lexington.

Jordan Jones, a graduating senior from Ft. Wright, will be return to the Wood Hudson Cancer Research Laboratory in Newport for her second summer. Jordan will be performing research in the cell culture
lab, working on finding a connection between two proteins that may be linked in cancer-signaling
pathways.

Holly Mitchell, a graduating senior from Salvisa, will participate in two writing workshops this summer in Iowa City, IA (the Iowa Young Writers Studio) and in Amherst, MA (the Juniper Institute for Young Writers).

Rohith Palli, a graduating senior from Lexington, will be doing research with Drs. John Rinehart and Michael Fried at the University of Kentucky’s Medical Biophysics Laboratory. Rohith will work to improve fluorescent tags on proteins and examine the improved tags’ effectiveness.

Savannah Price, a graduating senior from Louisville, will be volunteering at the Norton Suburban Hospital in Louisville.

Sarah Pritchett, a graduating senior from Winchester, will be volunteering with the Student Conservation Association for the second straight summer. This summer, she will be a part of a trail crew in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina.

Sean Stopher, a graduating senior from Louisville, will be doing a STEM-industry job at P.T. Hutchins in Louisville. Sean will be working with chemists to develop new products for the paint and coatings industry on a commercial consulting basis.

Nowelle Altman, a first-year student from Somerset, will be doing research with Dr. Steven Wininger of the WKU Department of Psychology. Nowelle plans to make a compendium of documented effective reading strategies and find the empirical evidence to support those strategies. This work will be applied to her research project next academic year with Dr. Wininger.

Kevin Andrew, a first-year student from Bowling Green, will be doing research on programming and iPhone development.

Claci Ayers, a first-year student from Bowling Green, will be volunteering as a part of the STriVe- Summer Teens Volunteer program at the Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, TN.

Anthony Bates, a first-year student from Walton, will be shadowing an optometrist at Wing Eye Care in Florence.

Anthony Bombik, a first-year student from Union, will be participating in the U.S. Space and Rocket Center’s Advanced Space Academy in Huntsville, AL. He will also be taking a class through WKU this summer and doing research with Dr. Claus Ernst of the WKU Department of Mathematics and Computer Science.

Corban Coffman, a first-year student from Lexington, will be participating in the three-week Summer Intensive theatre training program offered through the Kentucky Classical Theatre Conservatory in Lexington.

Gabrielle Fisher, a first-year student from Cynthiana, will travel to Washington, DC with Bluegrass Electric as a part of the Washington Youth Tour.

Katie Goebel, a first-year student from Simpsonville, will be shadowing at a veterinary clinic.

Desiree “Taylor” Harbin, a first-year student from Fairfield, will be participating in a Materials Science Camp at the Missouri University of Science and Technology.

Leah Hayden, a first-year student from Corydon, will be participating in a professional shadowing experience.

Andrew Kenady, a first-year student from Woodburn, will be attending the DigiPen Institute’s two-week Video Game Development Level 3 workshop in Redmond, Washington.

Madeline Lauzon, a first-year student from Owensboro, will be attending the 2010 Thespian Festival in Lincoln, NE. She will also be volunteering with the Theatre Workshop of Owensboro this summer.

Jae Lee, a first-year student from Hopkinsville, will be volunteering at the Jenny Stuart Medical Center in Hopkinsville. Specific department or doctors?

Jake Moore, a first-year student from Crittenden, will be participating in the Naval Academy Summer Seminar in Annapolis, MD.

Michael Phillips, a first-year student from Benton, will participate in the Naval Academy Summer Seminar in Annapolis, MD this summer in addition to his research at WKU.

Tyler Scaff, a first-year student from LaGrange, will also spend a part of his summer job shadowing at Baptist Northeast Hospital in LaGrange.

Shelby Stephens, a first-year student from Tompkinsville, will be shadowing…

Sarah Tariq, a first-year student from Ashland, will be volunteering at the King’s Daughters Medical Center in Ashland.

Jessica Thornsberry, a first-year student from Louisa, will be participating in the Robinson Scholars Program Writers’ Workshop at the University of Kentucky.

Miller Travis, a first-year student from Glasgow, will be working on a research project with the Electric Plant Board of Glasgow. He will also be taking a class through WKU.

Suzanne VanArsdall, a first-year student from Frankfort, will be volunteering in South Africa through the Projects Abroad organization. Suzanne will be working with a human rights lawyer, interviewing abandoned and abused children for two weeks. She will live with a host family.

Benjamin Venable, a first-year student from LaGrange, will participate in several leadership conferences and institutes, including the Youth Governor’s Conference at George Washington University in Washington, DC, the YMCA Youth Conference on National Affairs (CONA) is held at theYMCA Blue Ridge Assembly in Black Mountain, NC, and the Kentucky YMCA Youth Conference’s Leadership Training Conference in Jabez.

Paras Voras, a first-year student from Owensboro, will perform cancer research and shadow under Dr. Kishor Vora at the Owensboro Cancer Center.

Kelsey Wagner, a first-year student from Taylorsville, will be shadowing a veterinary at the Louisville Metro Animal Services’ Animal Care Center.

Celia Whelan, a first-year student from Bardstown, will perform this summer with the The Stephen Foster Story musical in Bardstown.

By Corey Alderdice

Sarah Schrader Recognized in National STEM Competition

May 27, 2010 | News, People, Student Success | No Comments

A student at the Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky has been recognized among over 10,000 middle and high school students in the DuPont Challenge Science Essay Competition.

Sarah Schrader, a second-year student from Bowling Green, was one of 54 students recognized in the 2010 installment of the competition.

Schrader received an Honorable Mention in the Senior Division of the competition and will be awarded with a $200 U.S. savings bond and a certificate.

The DuPont Challenge Science Essay Competition annually invites students from the seventh through twelfth grades to submit their best written essays of 1,000 words or less to compete for cash and travel prizes. Essays can be written on any topic of the students’ choosing within science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Schrader’s essay stemmed from her research work through the Howard Hughes Medical institutes’ Genome Discovery and Exploration Program under the guidance of Drs. Rodney King and Claire Rinehart of the WKU Department of Biology. Using what she had learned through her own bacteriophage research in the past year as a student at the Gatton Academy and WKU, Schrader methodically laid out the possibilities of bacteriophages being used as cures for diseases and viruses after completion of future study and research.

“With a little research, we can easily harness their incredible power into effective, inexpensive, and side-effect free cures,” Schrader penned in her essay. “Who knows? Within a few years, patients may very well come home from the doctor’s office not with a bottle of antibiotics, but instead with a prescription for a phage.”

Schrader credits the research experiences she had in her first year as a Gatton Academy student for her success in the Dupont Challenge Science Essay Competition.

“Before I began my research last year, I didn’t even know what a bacteriophage was,” Schrader said. “My research as a part of the Genome Discovery and Exploration Course introduced me to what they were and how they worked, and furthermore sparked my interest in their unique properties. Since I already knew a lot about bacteriophage from the course, I was comfortable with the material I presented in my essay.”

This summer, Schrader is continuing bacteriophage research under the guidance of Dr. King in the WKU Biotechnology Center.

For more information, contact Derick Strode at (270) 745-3167.

By Corey Alderdice

3 Gatton Academy Alumni to Participate in WKU NSF Grant For Biotechnology Research

May 27, 2010 | Academics, Alumni, News, People, Research, WKU | No Comments

Western Kentucky University’s Biology Department has been awarded its first Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) grant from the National Science Foundation.

The $300,000 grant will provide nine students, including three 2010 graduates of the Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky, intensive research training in WKU labs during the summer. The research program focuses on the interdisciplinary field of investigative biotechnology.

Students are assigned to a research project based on their interests. The projects are directed by WKU faculty mentors from Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Computer Science and the research topics encompass broad areas of biotechnology, including animal physiology, plant gene expression, microbiology, virology, biochemistry, protein structure and modeling, bioinformatics, neurophysiology and mathematical biology.

Students participating in the June 1-Aug. 6 program are: Melena Agyemang, Norfolk State University in Virginia; Mark Callaghan, California State University Monterey Bay; James Forshee, a Gatton Academy graduate from Simpson County; Alexander Hare, a Gatton Academy graduate from Rowan County; Hillary Jones, Georgetown College; Maggie Matheny, a Gatton Academy graduate from Lincoln County; Amanda Nolan, Stephen F. Austin State University in Texas; Stephanie Robey, Kentucky Community and Technical College System; and Shandrea Stallworth, Fort Valley State University in Georgia.

The students will work closely with their faculty mentor and interact with graduate students, post-docs, fellow undergraduates and research technicians. Students will participate in a series of Office of Scholar Development-sponsored workshops that will provide guidance on graduate school applications and grant writing and in a series of faculty-led seminars on reading professional literature and giving scientific presentations.

Through their participation in the WKU REU program, students will gain knowledge in a variety of research areas and develop the skills to prepare them for graduate studies. A major goal of the WKU program is to actively recruit undergraduates from groups that are under-represented in graduate education or from institutions with limited or no research facilities.

For information, contact Dr. Shivendra Sahi at shiv.sahi@wku.edu or Dr. Rodney King at rodney.king@wku.edu.

More WKU news is available at www.wku.edu and at http://wkunews.wordpress.com/. If you’d like to receive WKU news via e-mail, send a message to WKUNews@wku.edu.

For information, contact Rodney King at (270) 745-6910.

By Corey Alderdice

Gatton Academy Almuna Member of WKU All-Female Engineering Team in NASA Competition

May 26, 2010 | Academics, Alumni, News, People, Research, WKU | No Comments

Western Kentucky University’s Engineering Department is sending what may be the only all-female team to the NASA Lunabotics Mining Competition this week at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

“We’re probably not going to see a lot of girls at the competition and we will probably be the only all-girl team,” Bowling Green junior Christine Gries said of the May 25-28 competition. “It’s different working with all girls when you’re used to working with all boys and will probably be working with all boys in your professional career.”

Team ARTEMIS (Amassing Regolith with Toppers Engineers eMploying Innovative Solutions) is made up of eight females from all three engineering disciplines at WKU. The team built a robot that will be digging up regolith (lunar soil) and performing in different competitions in the process.

“It is a cool thing to work on an engineering project with all girls because it is such a male-dominated field,” said Brittany Logan, a sophomore from Englewood, Ohio.

The purpose of the Lunabotics Mining Competition is to engage and retain students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in a competitive environment that may result in innovative ideas and solutions, which could be applied to actual lunar excavation for NASA.

“The primary reason for WKU’s involvement in the competition is for our students to develop valuable engineering skills,” said Dr. Kevin Schmaltz, team advisor and associate professor of Mechanical Engineering. “Our experience has also been that WKU teams do very well in the competitions we enter.”

The other team members are mechanical engineering students Morganfield junior Amanda Huff, Smith Grove junior Whitney Tyree; civil engineering students Reynolds Station junior Sarah Bertke, Mount Washington junior Erica Rigney; and electrical engineering students Scottsville junior Maegan Young and Gatton Academy student Kaitlin Oliver of Central City.

This project, which began last fall, is being used by most of the students to fulfill their junior project requirement. Each person contributed something different to the robot.

“I was on the mechanical set team and my main focus was the hopper (the shovel) and getting the motor for the machine,” Huff said. “There is a certain weight limit to the machine. It has to be able to hold and move 1,500 pounds.”

“I was a part of the electrical sub team,” Young said. “We were in charge of all the electrical stuff. We had the motor controllers.”

For information, contact Dr. Kevin Schmaltz (270) 745-8859 or the Engineering Department at (270) 745-2461.

By Corey Alderdice

Recent News

Year: 2010

Summer 2010 experiences include: