2018-2019 Avatar: Evan Hendrickson

Hi everyone! My name is Evan Hendrickson, and I am honored to be serving as a Gatton Academy Avatar. As soon as you hear me speak, you’ll probably guess that I am from somewhere in eastern Kentucky. Nestled in the eastern Kentucky Coal Field, Daniel Boone National Forest, and Appalachian Mountain foothills, Mount Vernon is a very small town of only 2,500 people, much smaller than the 65,000 in Bowling Green! At my home high school, I was an active member of Student Council, Student Y, DanceBlue, and the track, football, and swim teams. The thought of leaving my close-knit community was initially difficult to stomach, much less follow through with. However, this adjustment was one of the easiest I have ever made thanks to the fantastic opportunities and community of friends, that I consider a second family, that I have gained here at the Gatton Academy.

 

During my first year at the Academy, I was lucky enough to continue most of the same clubs that I participated in at my home school, and even joined a few more such as Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and Gatton Academy Leaders in Education (GALE). I was also fortunate enough to research in the Biology and Chemistry Departments during my junior year. Through the Genome Discovery and Exploration Program (GDEP) and under the guidance of Mrs. Naomi Rowland, I was able to isolate and characterize a mycobacteriophage, a virus that infects and lyses bacteria. The GDEP experience has definitely been the most enriching of my academic career and equipped me with lab skills and knowledge that will serve me well in research projects to come. In addition to GDEP, under Dr. Cathleen Webb of the Chemistry Department, I also analyzed the bioaccumulation of toxic methylmercury in bald eagle organs and tissues, which continued into the summer thanks to the generous Gatton Academy Research Internship Grant. This semester, I am excited to keep working with Dr. Webb by conducting a systematic analysis of methylmercury concentrations from roosters and hens to chicks and their eggshells. Each of these projects has further cemented my interest in the STEM field and has shown me the vast potential their applications have to improve the world around me.

 

I also have had the privilege to study abroad while at the Academy, and this past summer, I traveled to England to study and analyze British Literature. By visiting the birthplaces of some of the world’s most celebrated authors and poets, I gained a profound appreciation of them and their work. This winter, I hope to travel to Costa Rica and continue my interest in research by studying the biodiversity of the Cloudforest in the Talamanca Mountains.

 

I am beyond thankful for the incredible academic opportunities and people that Gatton has brought into my life, and although bittersweet, I cannot wait to see what my final year will hold.

 

Evan