2017-2018 Avatar: Caleb Curry

Hello! My name is Caleb Curry, and I am a senior at The Gatton Academy. I am from Louisa, KY, which is a small, rural town in Eastern Kentucky. Before Gatton, I attended Lawrence County High School. There, I played varsity tennis and participated in extracurricular activities such as Student Y, 4-H, student government, academic team, and a few medical-related activities.

Over this past year at Gatton, I have been able to participate in many things that would not have been possible back home. In regards to research, I participated in the Genome Discovery and Exploration Program (GDEP), and I was able to discover, characterize, and annotate a cluster B bacteriophage, that I so cleverly named Squiggle. This two-part, yearlong research course provided me with the basic and useful skills that are required for other research. Building on this, over the summer, as part of a Research Internship Grant (RIG), I researched at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute. While there, I researched stem cell-derived podocytes with Dr. Oliver Wessely. These two research experiences have fit perfectly with my interests in Biology and Medicine.

In addition to research, I have also had the opportunity to study abroad. Last winter term I went to Costa Rica, where we volunteered at the Goldring-Gund sea turtle conservatory to conduct research on leatherback turtle nesting. We also visited Cloudbridge Nature Reserve to conduct research projects, Corcovado National Park for hiking, and Isla del Caño for snorkeling. I have also participated in the Harlaxton study abroad trip, which is in the UK. There, we read, studied, and analyzed classic English literature, and visited the birthplaces of the authors and the locations where the ideas of these works came to light. Both of these trips were magnificent and, as what I consider a bonus, worth college credit.

Also at Gatton, I have continued to be a part of Student Y, and I have participated in Future Healthcare Professionals, GALE, and as you now know, Avatars. I sincerely look forward to this second half of Gatton, and to all the new things that I will experience this year.