2016-2017 Avatar Intro: Benjamin Luckett

Hello, I am Benjamin Luckett from the small town of Versailles in Woodford County, Kentucky. My home high school is Woodford County High School. I thoroughly enjoyed my junior year at The Gatton Academy. After I heard about the STEM+ Critical Language program offered here, I jumped at the opportunity to learn Chinese on the mandarin track. I am also part of the Chinese Flagship program that teaches the language at a very quick pace.

Out of the variety of clubs Gatton offers, I am a part of GALE (Gatton Academy Leadership in Education) and SPAC (Sierpinski Performing Arts Club). With GALE, we spent an afternoon a week playing games with and teaching a group of fourth and fifth graders at a local elementary school, while SPAC is a preforming arts club. So far the only study abroad trip I have attended was the spring break excursion to China with many of the other STEM+Chinese students. I thought it was an amazing educational and cultural experience and am looking forward to going on another study abroad trip as a senior. I am an Avatar this year and will work the preview days and happily talk to anyone interested in The Gatton Academy. One of my favorite things about my junior year was the nightly frisbee games. The Academy has really allowed me to explore more possibilities than I had considered. Upon entering, I thought programming was not an interest of mine, but after java and CPS, I see that it is very useful and a good use of time.