In the News: Boyle ‘junior’ enjoys role in WKU academy

The following article originally appeared in the Danville, Kentucky Advocate Messenger on February 26, 2009.

The article is accessible at the following link.

By DAVID BROCK
dbrock@amnews.com

Maggie Matheny has never been daunted by breaking away from the pack.

When all of the kids in kindergarten said they wanted to be basketball stars and ballerinas, Matheny had a different idea: archaeologist.

At 17, while most of her cohorts are focused on Friday nights, Matheny is looking forward to a career as a genetic engineer. Oh, and she wants to work on a cure for cancer.

Matheny found an ideal venue for her love of science and lofty ambitions at The Carol Martin Gatton Academy for Mathematics and Science.

The Gatton Academy is a residential academic program based at Western Kentucky University made up of 60 high school juniors and seniors from across the state. There is no cost to those admitted to the program.

Matheny, who would be a junior at Boyle County High School this year, had to complete a rigorous application process that takes into account standardized test scores, grades, an interest in pursuing a math or science career, essays and interviews.

She will graduate with a minimum of 60 college credit hours and a spot at Western Kentucky should she decide to continue on there.

It did not take Matheny long to realize that academic expectations had been raised. Her schedule includes chemistry, biology, calculus, astronomy and English.

“In a regular high school setting you may have one hour of homework, but here you have three,” she said. “It is a challenge, but I like that.”

Maggie takes 18 hours of mostly college level courses at Western, where she is sometimes the only Gatton student among much older classmates.

“At first it was strange and a little intimidating to be around people who may be three of four years older,” she said. “But it did not take me long to get used to that and feel like I belonged there. I am there for the same classes they are and for the most part I am just like any Western student.”

Maggie’s mother, Barb Matheny, said that the difficulty of having a child leave for school two years earlier than most is tempered by her daughter’s attitude.

“A lot of people wonder how I could let her do it, but after looking at the program I think how can I not,” Barb said. “It is really preparing her so well for the future. The opportunities and the doors that are opening are tremendous.”

Before Maggie could test the waters on her own in Bowling Green, she first had to come to grips with leaving familiar surroundings in Boyle County. That included forgoing her role on the swim team, where she was on the cusp of breaking school records.

“It was difficult to imagine at first, leaving my friends and band and especially swimming,” she said. “But I was going to be leaving in two years anyway, and I really like where I am. It is going to be worth it.”

Despite some skepticism about the social scene in such a highly competitive academic environment, Maggie has made fast friends at the academy.

“You think that the students might be kind of nerdy, but most of the people I have met are very well-rounded. You get to meet people from many different backgrounds, and there is a lot more individuality among the students here.”

The residential aspect of the program requires some extra vigilance on the part of administrators, which Maggie said provided a level of comfort for her and her parents.

“We live in a dorm that is only for the academy and there is an emphasis on security. It is stricter than a normal college dorm. We have a curfew, there are no boys allowed on girls halls and vice versa. Overall it is really nice. We have our own computer lab and a rec room.”

Barb agrees that the staff of the program works hard to ensure that students are in an age appropriate living environment and that parents have peace of mind.

“I obviously wanted to feel like she would be safe, and I think they really go the extra mile to make sure that happens. They realize that they are dealing with minors and provide plenty of counselors and tutors for the students.”

Barb, a teacher at Woodlawn Elementary, said that the Boyle County school community has also been extremely supportive of one of their best and brightest, even helping pay for her first semester books.

For Maggie, the liberties that a college-like atmosphere provides continue to excite.

“It is challenging, but you have a lot of the freedom to study what I like. I get to take an astronomy class. You get to do actual research. I can accomplish things here that I might never have had the chance to even try otherwise.”

Copyright: The Advocate-Messenger 2009