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Syllabus Week

September 4, 2018 | Avatars, Student Life, Sydney Wheeler | No Comments

As I look from my window on the 2nd floor of Florence Schneider Hall, I can see dozens of students trekking up the hill. Classes are finally back in full swing, Java (the campus coffee shop) has a line out the door, and campus is alive again. For most college students, the first week of classes is pretty easy. “Syllabus Week,” as they call it, is supposed to be a time to get back into the hang of things before the real work begins. But for Gatton students, I think the first week back can be a little more stressful.

The juniors are just beginning to acclimate to their new home; after a week of meetings, activities and getting to know Florence Schneider Hall, they’re set loose on campus and thrown into classes. The first days in a computer science, calculus, or biology class can be a little panic-inducing, but the nerves will settle after the first round of homework assignments, quizzes, and tests. The juniors are beginning to develop routines, discover favorite study spaces, and realize that there are more restaurants on campus than Panda Express and Chick-fil-a.

For the seniors, the return to campus is familiar and, for some, bittersweet. The first week of classes marks the beginning of our “last firsts” as high schoolers. For some of us, it will be our last year on WKU’s campus, though some of us will be back in the fall. Rather than worrying about CS or finding the way to our classes, the senior class is panicking about college applications. Where to apply, how many schools to apply to, who to ask for letters of recommendation are all questions that swirl around with the calculus equations and chemistry formulas that have been etched into our brains. It’s an exciting time, filled with the possibility of the coming 2 or 4 years as an undergraduate, but the combination of college applications and a full college course load can a cause more than a few late-night freak-outs in anticipation of the unknown. Learning how to balance everything on our plate will take time, but just as “our seniors” were able to check off all the boxes on their to-do list, we’ll learn to do the same.

The first week of classes can be a stressful time for both juniors and seniors, but it’s good to remember to take time to enjoy the quiet part of the semester before midterms and finals week hit hard. Going to Preston to play Wallyball or Basketball, walking downtown to visit Spenser’s, a local coffee shop, or having a group dinner at Thai Express or Mariah’s are popular ways to fill the coveted downtime of the first few weeks of the semester. Whether it’s your first-first week of classes on campus or your last, it’s great to take pause and enjoy the opportunities that the new semester brings.

 

Sydney

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2018-2019 Avatar: Anna Dong

August 31, 2018 | 2018-2019, Anna Dong, Avatars | No Comments

Nearly 200 students from all over Kentucky call the Gatton Academy their home, and I am one of them. My name is Anna Dong and I’m from Morganfield, a small town in western Kentucky. I first learned about the Gatton Academy in seventh grade but didn’t think much of it until two years later. I decided during my freshman year that I would take a leap of faith and try my best to be accepted into Gatton. Fast forward to the solar eclipse of 2017, I was surrounded by Gatton students watching the sun being hidden before our eyes. Like that, my junior year was full of amazing experiences that I will never forget.

Coming from a small town, I never had the opportunity to really learn my native language, Mandarin. When I decided to apply to Gatton, the first thing I looked into was their stem plus languages program. I was very pleased to find that Mandarin Chinese is included in the program. I’ve been taking Chinese at WKU for two semesters now, and I have learned so much – even my parents, who are native speakers, are impressed. In addition to learning more Mandarin, I got to study abroad in China for ten days. I’ll never forget the steep steps of the Great Wall, the crowded streets of Shanghai, and the weird yet cool statues of district 798.

Speaking of study abroad trips, Costa Rica was just as unforgettable. I spent two weeks learning Costa Rican biodiversity. Filled with sea turtles, colorful birds, weird bugs, and the ocean, the trip could not have been better. I made memories and friends that will always hold a special place in my heart.

People are always so focused on the academics of Gatton. How many credit hours will I get when I graduate? What scholarship will I receive? How will my GPA change while at Gatton? While these questions and their answers are important, I think it’s also important to keep in mind that the Gatton Academy is so much more. I came to Gatton for the academics, but I love Gatton for the memories and friends that I made there.

 

Anna

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2018-2019 Avatar: Sydney Wheeler

August 31, 2018 | 2018-2019, Avatars, Sydney Wheeler | No Comments

Hi everyone! My name is Sydney Wheeler, and I am a rising senior from Allen County. I grew up in Bowling Green, but at the beginning of my freshman year my family moved to a 150-acre farm just across the Warren County/Allen County Border. I continued to attend Greenwood High School in Bowling Green, and I consider BG to be my home, although I’ve embraced Allen County and Scottsville in the three years I’ve lived there.

I first heard about the Gatton Academy when it opened in 2008 because it was so close and connected to lots of the activities that I participated in through the Center for Gifted Studies at WKU. It always seemed like something that I might be interested, and by the time I hit middle school I knew that I wanted to apply. Before coming to Gatton, I was heavily involved in dance as a member of the pre-professional Southern Kentucky Dance Ensemble. When I wasn’t at the dance studio, I was attending Greenwood’s sporting events, helping with student council, or helping my mom with her vegetable delivery business.

It’s crazy to think that just about a year ago I was moving into Gatton as a junior. The past year has been filled with new challenges, new friendships, and tons of new experiences. It brought my first venture out of the country when I went to England through the Harlaxton study abroad program this summer and my first classes in computer science. However, my favorite “first” here at Gatton has been the opportunity to do faculty-mentored research. Last September I started working in the Gustav Fechner Vision and Haptics Lab in the Department of Psychological Sciences. I’m very interested in Neuroscience, so our lab, which focuses on human perception, is a great fit. I continued my research this summer through a Gatton sponsored Research Internship Grant, which was an amazing way to dive into my research full time.

My free time at Gatton is mostly filled by club meetings or studying with friends on third-floor commons. I participate in a tutoring group at the local Boys & Girls Club, Student Y, Science Dance, and Cryptocurrency Club. If I’m not studying or at a club meeting, you can probably find a few friends and me at the Fresh Food Company, the main dining hall on campus.

My junior year was filled with new experiences and nerves, but returning for senior year feels a lot like coming home. I am still filled with excitement for the year to come, but it is an excitement that comes with being sure of the good (and, sometimes, stressful) times ahead, rather than the excitement of the unknown. I am fully looking forward to spending my senior year surrounded by my amazing classmates, our supportive staff, and the extended Gatton Family.

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2018-2019 Avatar: Drew Aubry

August 31, 2018 | 2018-2019, Avatars, Drew Aubry | No Comments

I am Drew, a current senior at the Academy. I love physics and hope to study aerospace engineering in the future. I played the flute in band at my sending school, and was in every club under the sun, but especially enjoyed the broadcasting team I was on. At the moment, German is the language I have spent the most time studying and practicing and plan to one day spend at least a year, immersing myself in an entirely different culture. I also love to watch and analyze film and express myself through film projects.

I’ve lived a variety of places, but most recently Hardin County. I first heard of Gatton when I first moved to Kentucky in the 4th grade. Ever since then, I’ve wanted to come. When I first got the email saying I got an interview, I was overjoyed. Then, when I got the email telling me I got in, I remember I was sitting in the Chick-fil-a drive-thru. I’m more than happy that I made the decision to pursue the Academy.

During my junior year, I spent a lot of time with my floor. We would go out to RedZone (a restaurant on campus) every Thursday, play card games, play video games, and listen to music together. Some of my favorite memories on my floor are from when we would sit around and have freestyle rap battles after curfew. I participate in a few clubs here, including Space Club, Film Club, and Y-Club. I am currently looking for research in the Physics and Math departments.

I personally went on the Harlaxton trip in between my junior and senior years. I wholeheartedly say that is one of the best experiences I have ever had. I loved being in England and being able to see both the big city of London, the small town of Grantham, and the many towns between them in size. More than that, though, I enjoyed the class. It forced me to look at literature in a different way and helped me make personal connections to the authors I was reading. That connection allowed me to enjoy and understand the novels, short stories, and poems on a level I had never had the chance to understand anything before.

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2018-2019 Avatar: Hannah Congleton

August 31, 2018 | Uncategorized | No Comments

Hello, people reading this! My name is Hannah Congleton, from a tiny town called Bedford, inside of a small county called Trimble County. To get you an accurate picture of how little Bedford is our town went from two stoplights down to one stoplight. Because of the size, everyone is very close in my town, especially at my school. Because my community is so close-knit, I tried to be a part of it as much as possible. One of my favorite clubs was GRIT team, which was a leadership club that focused on improving the morale of the high school. I also was a part of our school’s Drama club where I was an actor in the annual plays. I never will forget playing Officer Patsy, a clumsy detective which allowed me to learn to fake-hit people with a metal detector. Other than Drama, I was also in Cross Country where I ran my heart out. Outside of school, I took piano and art classes that gave me a creative edge. Trimble County will always be in my heart.

Now that I am at Gatton and I still try to be a part of the close-knit community here. I am a part of Student Y club, where I was Bill Author and got my groups bill passed. I am also a part of Envirothon, which is a version of academic team that is about the environment. We were able to go to State and even placed. Envirothon helped me learn to appreciate nature and know the inner workings of it. I also did research this past year with Genome Research Initiative where I discovered and annotated a bacteriophage. I learned how to do research in a laboratory, but also how to use bioinformatics software. When I’m not in school at Gatton, I have gone to study abroad trips in Costa Rica and England. I went to Costa Rica this past winter break where our group went all over Costa Rica learning more about field research and the unique ecosystem of Costa Rica. I even got to hold baby leatherback sea turtles! This past summer I went to England which was spent in London and at Harlaxton Manor and was the best and most life-changing English literature class I’ve ever taken. Being an Avatar allows me to reach out to the future students of this amazing community at Gatton Academy. I plan on going to Environmental Engineering school and helping to make the world a better place!

 

Hannah

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2018-2019 Avatar: Devin Davis

August 31, 2018 | 2018-2019, Avatars, Devin Davis | No Comments

Greetings! My name is Devin Davis and I am a senior from Georgetown – home of the Toyota plant and north of the Kentucky Horse Park. Prior to coming to Gatton, I attended Scott County High School where I played soccer, was on the Academic Team, and volunteered for the Scott County Teen Court. I also served on the Gifted & Talented council, Advanced Placement Advisory Council, and the Kentucky Department of Education Commissioner’s Student Council.

Gatton had been on my radar ever since I discovered it while attending a Duke TIP recognition ceremony in seventh grade. Wanting to study engineering, I always felt as if it would be a perfect fit for me and my academic future. Gatton is a unique place that offers opportunities for students to thrive. One of my favorite opportunities thus far has been studying abroad at Harlaxton. While at Harlaxton, we were able to delve into English Literature with the vibrant Dr. Rutledge. We were able to tour amazing sites such as Stonehenge and Warwick Castle, watch a Shakespearean play at the Globe Theatre, and immerse ourselves in a foreign culture.

Another amazing opportunity that we have as high school students is the ability to conduct research. Last semester, I began working alongside Dr. Morteza Nurcheshmeh to analyze high-speed metal forming technologies using high-strength steels and low-dense metals in order to reduce vehicle weight and fuel consumption.

I am incredibly proud of this school. Not only do we learn each day from outstanding WKU professors, but the Gatton staff works diligently to create an optimum learning environment and prioritizes each one of us and our ultimate goals. The students and staff have developed an amazing support system and community. We are students that are very similar despite our diverse backgrounds. We all work to accomplish our goals, strive to be active members on campus and in the community, and even struggle through CPS. Gatton has provided me with lifelong friends and a family that will forever welcome me. This is why I am excited to serve as a Gatton Avatar this year. I want to share my Gatton story and my appreciation to be able to call this special place home.

 

Devin

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2018-2019 Avatar: Evan Hendrickson

August 31, 2018 | 2018-2019, Avatars, Evan Hendrickson | No Comments

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

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2018-2019 Avatar: Georgia Hoffman

August 31, 2018 | 2018-2019, Avatars, Georgia Hoffman | No Comments

My name is Georgia Hoffman, I’m a 17 year old from eastern Kentucky. My father is a Methodist pastor, so my family has been appointed to locations across Kentucky including Upton, Ludlow, Portland, and most recently, Hindman. My house is about 4 hours from Bowling Green, so as you can imagine, moving to Gatton was a tough decision. When they learn this, most people ask why I chose to apply to Gatton. Though I love and miss my hometown and family, attending the Gatton Academy has been the best decision I have ever made. It has opened doors for me that I never even knew existed.

After graduating from high school I plan on majoring in Biology and continuing my education through medical school, in hopes of being a surgeon one day. In my first semester, I participated in the Genome Program and conducted research about bacteriophages, viruses that attack bacteria.  I continued my research with a Bioinformatics class in the spring where I worked on sequencing the DNA of several phages.  I have always known that I wanted to be a doctor, but my courses and research at Gatton have affirmed my love for biology and cemented my future goals.

Over the past year, I have participated in several clubs and programs. My favorite program was Future Healthcare Professionals, where students interested in medicine are able to explore, learn about, and practice medical techniques. Our group visited the Greenville Medical Center, practiced suturing, and became CPR certified. I was also a member of the Gatton Academy Medical Association, in this club I was able to have lunch and talk with several medical professionals throughout the year. I am also a member of Gatton’s Student Y and I volunteer at the Humane Society.

When I am not studying for class or participating in Gatton activities, I attend countless WKU events that are offered throughout the year. I enjoy playing volleyball, going to yoga at Preston, watching Netflix with my friends, and attending WKU baseball games.

During the past year, I have grown to love the strange and incredible life I live at WKU. The Gatton Academy has broadened my horizons and provided me with endless opportunities. I cannot wait to see what this year has in store for me!

 

Georgia

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2018-2019 Avatar: Elvin Irihamye

August 31, 2018 | 2018-2019, Avatars, Elvin Irihamye | No Comments

My name is Elvin Irihamye, I’m a senior at the Gatton Academy from Lexington, arguably the best city in Kentucky. Outside the classroom, I love to explore the city of Bowling green with friends and participate in several clubs from Yearbook to Gatton Academy Medical Association (which I run with my sister). In addition, I also like to go down to the Preston center during the weekdays to work out and playing basketball with friends. On weekends, I love spending time on wing watching late night movies or playing video games to recharge before another week of hard work.

As a middle school student, I had been fortunate to have an older sibling who attended the academy. I had seen her transform into a confident and ambitious young adult ready to take on the world. Watching her change as she went through the Gatton Academy made me even more anxious to come and take on the same challenges.

Growing up I’d always wanted to pursue the sciences, hoping to grow up to be able to help impact others around me and maybe even extend our understanding of science and medicine. Coming from Lexington, opportunities to succeed academically were always present but being at the Gatton Academy has given me so much more of an immersive and wholesome experience.

After talking to several professors I decided to start my research career with the Neurobiology lab of Dr. Michael Smith for both the school year and the summer. I began learning zebrafish microdissection techniques in order to observe how certain chemotherapy drugs can induce hearing loss. I later continued this research over the summer with the Gatton Research Internship Grant which funded housing and supplies for me to work on my project. I truly feel as if research is an important part of my academic satisfaction and having this experience has confirmed my desire to continue to pursue research beyond the academy.

In the winter term, I was able to go on the Gatton Academy Costa Rica study abroad trip where we got to learn about ecology and biodiversity in real life conservation camps and projects. While there my group studied the efficiency of reforestation efforts in regaining carbon storage levels in a Costa Rican cloud forest. Our research was able to highlight how reforestation has significantly improved the forests ability to store carbon and even explore the specific species types that are most efficient. I was later able to place at the WKU Student Research Conference with the same research.

After a year of experiencing newfound hobbies, meeting some of my favorite people and truly finding a sense of independence, I’m beyond ecstatic to be here for another year of what I expect will be full of fun, learning, and exploration.

 

Elvin

 

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2018-2019 Avatar: Trivan Menezes

August 31, 2018 | 2018-2019, Avatars, Trivan Menezes | No Comments

Thanks for interrupting your perfectly fine day to read about me. My name is Trivan Menezes, and I’m from La Grange in Oldham County, Kentucky. You’re probably wondering where my heritage lies. Don’t worry, I wondered the same thing for the longest time. Anyways, my mother is from Indonesia and my father is from Brazil, so I guess my family-life is not super American—or it is, depending on how you see it.

I came to Gatton in search of a change of pace. I challenged myself at my former school academically while also pursuing one of my biggest passions—soccer. I typically look over almost everything that I “left behind” to come to Gatton, with the exception being “The Beautiful Game.”

In terms of academics, the rigor is just what I was looking for. It’s refreshing to live alongside students who care about what they’re doing and where they’re going, and I’ve surrounded myself with people who share similar aspirations and outlooks. During my first semester, I scoured around to try to find a feasible and enjoyable research project. I had limited success, but I eventually settled on a mobile app development project with my computer science professor…or so I thought. After my first semester, my calculus professor, Dr. Claus Ernst, pulled me aside and invited me to join his knot theory research project alongside one of my senior Gatton students, Camuel Hart. I dropped everything (a.k.a. my app development project) to join the project, and I have not looked back. Camuel and I made a fair amount of progress in our research back in the spring. It was enough for me to give my first research presentation at a mathematics conference. It’s a bit surreal to think that without Gatton, I would probably be sitting back in the comfortable world of Oldham County taking some AP classes, as opposed to actually making strides in the world of academia.

This past summer, Gatton provided me with the opportunity to continue my research into the summer via their Research Internship Grant awards. My project’s progress continued, but after my seven-week stint of full-time research, I joined my classmates for a study abroad trip to England. We spent three weeks in England, bouncing around from place to place with the goal of experiencing a new culture.

Outside of my classes, I keep myself busy by volunteering each week at a local elementary school with Gatton’s GALE club (Gatton Leaders in Education), attending film club, participating in Student Y, and hanging out with the rich community at Gatton.

The Gatton experience has been full of up’s, quite a few down’s, but an unlimited amount of learning experiences. I appreciate that I was given the chance to reflect on this, at the expense of however long it took you to read these paragraphs full of conceit and self-praise. Anyways, I’ll go back to being an Avatar and fulfilling my duties in mastering all four elements (oh wait, wrong Avatar).

 

Trivan

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