Author: Corey Alderdice

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Gatton Academy Students Contribute to Global STEM Discussions through Summer Experiences

June 15, 2012 | Academics, Alumni, News, People, Research, Students, Summer, WKU | No Comments

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Educational opportunities for students at the Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky do not stop when classes let out for the summer.  Two-thirds of recent graduates and students returning for the fall semester will participate in some form of learning through the school’s summer research and internship program.

Highlights of the summer 2012 program include seven participants in Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) programs, 35 students studying abroad focusing on research and culture, and unique public and private industry partnerships via ten-week research internships in some of the nation’s most premier programs.

The Gatton Academy’s program begins in late November each preceding year with faculty and staff members promoting summer programs.  Students prepare applications as early as the winter break for some of the most competitive STEM-based summer programs available not only to high school students, but undergraduates as well.

Derick Strode, assistant director for academic services at the Gatton Academy, coordinates the school’s research and internship programs.  He explained the variety and depth of these experiences distinguish these students from their peers at both the high school and undergraduate level.

“This summer, our students are pursuing answers to research questions across STEM fields,” Strode said.  “They are active participants in cultures on four continents.  They are in their own hometowns shadowing the doctors and engineers they looked up to as children.  Our summer program encourages students to follow their passions for science, math, and learning, and get a taste of what it means to be a contributing citizen and professional in the broad STEM community.”

One such student is Lydia Brothers, a class of 2012 graduate from Madisonville.  Brothers is interning at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, this summer in missions operations.  She will focus on crew operations and training for the International Space Station (ISS).

“I’m working with the people who create the procedures that the astronauts actually execute,” Brothers explained.  “We ultimately use the procedures to train the astronauts to carry out tasks and experiments while they are on mission.”

Brothers’ internship at NASA is combines features of her coursework at the Gatton Academy in engineering, physics, and computer science.

“In my work, not only do you have to have a good understanding of how all the machinery works but also provide the information in the same format that an astronaut sees it in, which is computer programming,” Brothers said.

Brothers’ first experience at the Marshall Space Flight Center came as a middle school student when she went to space camp.

“I would have never thought that sitting around learning about the ISS that one day I would be working with people on a daily basis who help run it,” she said.  “It’s like a dream come true.”

Strode noted that the success in students’ summer exploits can be drawn directly back to the preparation students receive at WKU.

“Lydia is a perfect example of a student who embraced the rich research opportunities available at WKU and applied hard work to her passions,” Strode said.

Brothers participated in research during the entirety of her two years at the Gatton Academy with WKU’s Department of Physics and Astronomy under the mentorship of Drs. Louis Strolger and Edward Kintzel.  Additionally, she interned in summer 2011 at the University of Tennessee’s Space Institute.  Her research for that experience was recognized by the Siemens Competition.

“Many of the summer research programs that our students apply to accept only five to ten percent of their total applicants,” Strode said.   “In such competitive programs, the Gatton Academy students compete so well for coveted spots because they engage in research that goes far above and beyond their coursework.”

91% of the students who graduated in the Gatton Academy’s class of 2012 had participated in a mentored research project while studying at the school—almost entirely under the tutelage of a WKU faculty member.

“These are students that love to learn.  Whether it’s the middle of the semester or the middle of summer, these are curious students,” Strode said.

Contact: Derick Strode, (270) 745-6565.

A full listing of Gatton Academy students’ summer plans are listed after the jump.

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By Corey Alderdice

Gatton Academy Named to List of “Public Elites” for Fourth Consecutive Year

May 31, 2012 | Uncategorized | No Comments

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The Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky at WKU has been named to The Washington Post’s list of top-performing schools with elite students.

For the fourth consecutive year, the Gatton Academy finds itself among the nation’s 22 most distinguished high schools, including many with emphases in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Schools such as the Illinois Math Science Academy, North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics and Thomas Jefferson High School (Virginia) make perennial appearances on the list. These schools, along with the Gatton Academy, are members of the National Consortium of Specialized Secondary Schools of Math, Science and Technology (NCSSSMST).

According to Dr. Tim Gott, the Gatton Academy’s director and NCSSSMST board member, the Commonwealth’s future leaders and innovators in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) have already begun to distinguish themselves among peers across the nation through sharing research at the consortium’s student research symposium and Keystone National Youth Policy Summit.

“The Gatton Academy has been extremely fortunate to be involved with NCSSSMST peer institutions,” Gott said. “To have the Gatton Academy on the same list as these other outstanding schools is an incredible honor. The depth and strength of schools such as IMSA and Thomas Jefferson is well established. Kentucky can be very proud that it has a school that stands among these fine institutions.”

Since 1998, Mathews has ranked Washington-area public high schools using the Challenge Index, his measure of how effectively a school prepares its students for college. The Post later expanded its research to high schools across the United States. The ratio is based, in part, on the number of Advanced Placement and/or International Baccalaureate tests taken by all students at a school in the previous year divided by the number of graduating seniors. This year, The Post recognized 1,900 schools from across the country.

The Challenge Index is designed to recognize schools that challenge average students. Top-performing schools, such as The Gatton Academy, were excluded from the regular list of well-performing high schools because of their exceptional quality and remarkably talented student bodies. Specialized schools are, instead, acknowledged by The Public Elites. Qualifying schools with ACT composites greater than 29.5 were included in The Public Elites.

Though 12 Kentucky high schools appear on educational columnist Jay Matthews’ traditional list of top-performing high schools, Dr. Julia Roberts, executive director of the Gatton Academy, noted recognition of schools is an important part of encouraging districts to provide appropriately-challenging learning opportunities for gifted and talented students.

“I think it so wonderful for Kentucky to be celebrating academic excellence,” Roberts said. “We need for all children to be learning every day in school and we need to be developing our talent.”

The Post’s recognition drew attention to the strategic partnership between the Gatton Academy and WKU, which facilitates all coursework for academy students. As part of the rigorous curriculum, students earn more than 60 hours of college credit during their four semesters in the program while also earning a high school diploma.

Corey Alderdice, assistant director for admissions and public relations, praised WKU’s longstanding commitment to the program.

“Time and time again, WKU has proven itself as a university committed to challenging young people who are gifted and talented,” Alderdice said. “From faculty in the classroom and research labs to administrators campuswide, we are proud to have the support of the WKU community in our role of engaging some of the commonwealth’s most innovative thinkers and future leaders.”

Though particular attention is given to the Gatton Academy, Gott was also quick to praise partner high schools across Kentucky that prepare students during elementary, middle, and early high school for study at the Gatton Academy during their junior and senior year of high school.

“The great thing about this honor is that it reflects the partnership that the Gatton Academy has with all of the high schools across the state,” Gott said. “This recognition elevates the amazing students that come from across the whole Commonwealth. Every school represented at the Academy shares in this accolade.”

Since the program’s inception in 2007, students have been admitted from 107 of Kentucky’s 120 counties. In all, students from more than 100 public high schools across the state have enrolled in the program.

Earlier this month, Newsweek magazine ranked the Gatton Academy as the nation’s top high school in its annual survey of “America’s Best High Schools.”

Contact: Corey Alderdice, (270) 745-6565.

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By Corey Alderdice

Smith Awarded Emerson National Scholarship

May 28, 2012 | People, Students | No Comments

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Keaton Smith, a 2012 graduate of The Gatton Academy of Mathematics & Science in Kentucky, has been awarded an Emerson National Scholarship.

He is among 30 recipient of the scholarship awarded annually to children of Emerson employees. Keaton, of Alexandria, KY, is the son of Robert (Bob) W. Smith, Systems Administrator, at Power Transmission Solutions in Florence, KY.

Winners, selected from among 128 finalists, were announced this week by Michael G. Rohret, Emerson Senior Vice President Human Resources.

Keaton plans to attend Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, MA, and study computer science.

The winners of the Emerson scholarship receive $2,000 per academic year for four years. Selection is made based on academic performance of the applicants,: Grade point average, class rank, and national test scores. Participation in school activities and community involvement are also considered in the selection process.

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By Corey Alderdice

Newsweek Recognizes Gatton Academy as America’s Best High School

May 20, 2012 | News | No Comments

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The Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky at WKU has been recognized byNewsweek magazine as the nation’s top high school.

America’s Best High Schools 2012, released online Sunday and in the May 28, 2012, print edition of the magazine recognized 1,000 schools from across the United States. The Gatton Academy was ranked fifth in 2011 list.

Rounding out the top five schools were The School for the Talented and Gifted Magnet (Dallas, Texas), BASIS Scottsdale (Arizona), School of Science and Engineering Magnet (Dallas, Texas), and BASIS Tucson (Arizona).

Newsweek’s methodology for their rankings sought to highlight schools that focus on providing solutions to the challenges of 21st century education and prepare students for both college and life. (To read more about the Newsweek list, visit http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2012/05/20/newsweek-ranks-kentucky-academy-as-america-s-top-high-school.html)

Each school’s score is comprised of six components: four-year, on-time graduation rate (25 percent), college matriculation rate (25 percent), Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) tests per student (25 percent), average SAT/ACT scores (10 percent), average AP or IB scores (10 percent), and AP courses offered (5 percent). (To view the complete list, visit http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2012/05/20/america-s-best-high-schools.html)

Dr. Julia Roberts, executive director of the Gatton Academy, explained that the components of the methodology reflect the high-level learning necessary for successful students in a globally-competitive society.

“The United States has emphasized proficiency or grade-level learning to the exclusion of nurturing the talents of advanced learners,” Dr. Roberts said. “A promising future for our country is closely tied to the development of talent in science, mathematics, languages arts, the social sciences, and the arts. The purpose of the Gatton Academy is to extend learning opportunities for gifted students who live in all parts of Kentucky.”

WKU President Dr. Gary Ransdell underscored the unique experiences available to Gatton Academy students and the role the campus community has in engaging students at the highest level.

“What a great tribute to everyone on our faculty and to the staff of the Gatton Academy,” Dr. Ransdell said. “The key has been the manner in which WKU faculty have involved these students in serious undergraduate research and opened up international experiences for them.”

Over half of Gatton Academy students engaged in study programs abroad during the previous academic year, with opportunities in Italy, the United Kingdom, Costa Rica, China, and Taiwan. Moreover, 91 percent of recent Gatton Academy graduates participated in a research project sponsored by a university faculty mentor.

The program’s strategic partnership with WKU plays an important role in the development of students both in and out of the classroom, according to Gatton Academy director Dr. Tim Gott.

“This recognition would not have been possible without the full partnership we have with Western Kentucky University,” Dr. Gott said. “Having access to top professors and instructors, the university’s research facilities, and the support of the administration provides a pathway for advanced Kentucky students to be on equal footing with others across from the United States.”

Corey Alderdice, assistant director for admissions and public relations, also noted the recognition is something that should be shared with the more than 100 public school districts in the state that have partnered with the Gatton Academy to engage students from 107 Kentucky counties since the program’s inception.

“At the core of its mission, the Gatton Academy acts as an extension of the nearly 200 public high schools is the state of Kentucky,” Alderdice said. “These students excel not only because of the opportunities they have been provided by the Academy but also because of the preparation and experiences they have pursued at the elementary, middle, and early high school level in their home districts.”

The Gatton Academy, which opened in 2007 and is funded by the Kentucky General Assembly, is the commonwealth’s only state-supported residential high school with an emphasis in math and science.  Roberts added that the announcement is the culmination of over a decade of advocacy to make the program a reality for Kentucky students.

“Fifteen years ago the idea for what has become the Gatton Academy was put forward,” Dr. Roberts said. “Ten years of advocating preceded its opening. Being recognized as the top high school in the country by Newsweek at the conclusion of the Gatton Academy’s fifth year is a dream come true.”

Contact: Corey Alderdice, (270) 705-3632; Dr. Julia Roberts, (270) 745-6480 or (270) 991-6355; Dr. Tim Gott, (270) 745-3605 or (270) 307-0135.

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By Corey Alderdice

[Class of 2012] Gatton Academy Recognizes 47 Students in Fifth Class of Graduates

May 12, 2012 | News | No Comments

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Celebration of Commencement Weekend at WKU continued on Saturday as The Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky honored its fifth graduating class of high school seniors.

Forty-seven students representing 30 counties from across the Commonwealth were recognized during the ceremony in Van Meter Auditorium. The ceremony not only celebrated the significant accomplishments of the program and its graduates over the last two years but also looked toward the infinite possibilities ahead.

Gatton Academy Executive Director Dr. Julia Roberts expressed that the day’s events were both a celebration of the Class of 2012’s personal accomplishments, a starting point toward their work of creating a better Kentucky, and a fitting close to the first chapter in the history of the program.

“Reaching five years marks an important milestone in the history of the Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky,” Roberts said. “This fifth graduating class of the Academy brings joy and promise to the Commonwealth.  Their interests in STEM and talent for learning at high levels have become evident during their two-year experience at the Gatton Academy.”

Curtlyn Kramer, a graduating senior from Ashland, framed the unique learning environment of the Gatton Academy as a program attuned to the needs of gifted and talented students.

“Each of our experiences has been different, shaped by not only the things we have accomplished, but the people with whom we have shared these experiences along the way,” Kramer said. “At no typical high school is every single student’s achievements so unanimously celebrated, because at no other high school is each student’s struggles so unanimously understood.”

The Honorable John D. Minton Jr., Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Kentucky, delivered the commencement address. Minton, an alumnus of the final graduating class of WKU’s Training School, reminded graduates that they are not the first generation of high school students to claim the WKU campus as their home.

“My high school commencement took place here in Van Meter Auditorium in May 1970,” Minton said. “I cannot tell you how proud I am to have such a prestigious high school return to the WKU campus. We have heard about your outstanding ACT/SAT scores and the success of Gatton graduates in college. So if you don’t mind, we Training School alumni will claim Gatton as the 21st Century iteration of Western’s Training School.”

The major difference is that Gatton Academy students have taken advanced coursework in mathematics, science and other subjects at WKU in fulfillment of high school requirements and the Gatton Academy curriculum. On average, students have each earned more than 70 hours of college credit.

Minton also encouraged students to be engaged citizens.

“As you begin life beyond the Gatton Academy campus, you will discover that your alma mater intends for you to leave here equipped with a literacy of doing, not simply knowing” he said. “Having equipped you with knowledge, Gatton Academy expects of you a life of social and civic service that is active, fulfilling, and socially responsible.”

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By Corey Alderdice

Fleischmann Receives National Scholarship to Study in Morocco

May 4, 2012 | Academics, International, News, People, Student Success, Students, WKU | No Comments

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A student at the Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky at WKU has received a national scholarship to study in Morocco this summer.

Paul Fleischmann of Crestwood has received theNational Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) scholarship. The NSLI-Y, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, offers scholarships to high-achieving high school students to learn critical languages in overseas immersion programs. Scholarships include all program fees, travel to and from the program site, housing and activity fees for six weeks during the summer.

Fleischmann, the son of Maria and Randall Fleischmann, is a second-year student at the Gatton Academy. He has studied Arabic for three semesters with Khaldoun Almousily, instructor of Arabic in WKU’s Department of Modern Languages. Through the NSLI-Y award, he expects to gain an additional year’s worth of language proficiency this summer.

“I am so grateful to have been awarded this scholarship,” he said. “It is a unique opportunity, and will give me both knowledge and experience to help with my future.”

Fleischmann aspires to become a research scientist in chemistry and to use his Arabic skills to study environmental issues concerning fossil fuels in a region that has some of the largest oil reserves in the world.

“Paul is a bright student and overall genuine individual,” Almousily said. “The NSLI-Y scholarship will assist him in achieving his ambitious professional goals and learning the Arabic language and culture. I look forward to seeing what the future holds for him.”

Fleischmann spent several weeks working on his application for the NSLI-Y scholarship with Dr. Melinda Grimsley-Smith, Coordinator of International Scholarships in the Office of Scholar Development.

“Many meetings to revise my essays with Dr. Grimsley-Smith both strengthened my application and made the process a great experience,” Fleischmann said.

“It is a real pleasure to work with students like Paul. There’s a good amount of ambition hiding under his laid-back exterior,” Dr. Grimsley-Smith said. “He brings all of his academic and personal interests together in a compelling way, and clearly conveys a strong sense of purpose in his writing. In short, he demonstrates the recipe for success in competitions like NSLI-Y.”

This will be the second international experience for Fleischmann. Over the 2012 winter term, he traveled to Costa Rica to conduct research at the Cloudbridge Nature Reserve with WKU Biology Professor Keith Philips, as well as another Gatton Academy student and a Gatton Academy alumnus to investigate the Gunnera-Nostoc Symbiosis. Students identified populations of Gunnera on the reserve, harvested samples and dissected portions to determine if bacterial symbionts were present. He has also been involved with research under the direction of Dr. Ouida Meier of the Department of Biology investigating local wastewater as a source for cave and karst and groundwater pollution.

About the Office of Scholar Development: The Office of Scholar Development is committed to helping WKU students in all majors and degree programs develop the vision, experience and skills to be independent, engaged scholars. OSD welcomes the opportunity to work with students interested in the National Security Language Institute for Youth or other similar opportunities. Contact: Dr. Melinda Grimsley-Smith, (270) 745-5043.

About the Gatton Academy: The Gatton Academy offers a residential program for bright, highly motivated Kentucky high school students who have demonstrated interest in pursuing advanced careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Approximately 60 students each year are admitted to the program through a competitive selection process. Instead of spending their junior and senior years in traditional high schools, students enroll in the Gatton Academy and live in a uniquely dedicated residence hall. The goals of the Gatton Academy are to enable Kentucky’s exceptional young scientists and mathematicians to learn in an environment that offers advanced educational opportunities and to prepare them for leadership roles in Kentucky.  At the end of two years, Gatton Academy students earn at least 60 college credit hours in addition to completing high school. Contact: Corey Alderdice, (270) 745-6565.

Contact: Melinda Grimsley-Smith, (270) 745-5043.

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By Corey Alderdice

Sekora Receives National Merit Stalnaker Scholarship

April 27, 2012 | News, People, Student Success, Students | No Comments

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David Sekora, a second-year student from Franklin at the Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky, has been named the recipient of the 2012 National Merit John M. Stalnaker Memorial Scholarship.

The award is a four-year scholarship underwritten by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation as a tribute to its founding President and Chief Executive Officer.

“I’d like to thank the National Merit Corporation for awarding me the Stalnaker Memorial Scholarship,” Sekora said. “This is truly a high honor, and I am certain that it can do nothing but help to propel me forward along the path of achievement.”

Sekora, who is dually enrolled in the Gatton Academy and Franklin-Simpson High School, was among approximately 1,000 distinguished high school seniors who have won corporate-sponsored National Merit Scholarship awards financed by about 200 corporations, company foundations and other business organizations. Recipients were selected from a pool of some 15,000 Finalists nationwide.

About 1.5 million juniors in some 22,000 high schools entered the 2012 National Merit Scholarship competition when they took the 2010 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®), which served as an initial screen of program entrants.

Dr. Tim Gott, director for the Gatton Academy and member of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation’s advisory council, described Sekora as both an emerging scholar and outstanding young adult.

“We are thrilled to celebrate this incredible honor with David,” Gott said. “Not only does this recognize him as one of the top academic students in the nation, it also reveals his depth and balance that allows him to be considered such an outstanding young man.  He has made a huge impact while he has attended the Gatton Academy and we look forward to seeing his accomplishments in the years to come.”

Sekora was selected from the 2012 pool of National Merit Finalists who are planning to pursue majors and careers in science or mathematics. Beginning this fall, Sekora will pursue degrees in mathematics and computer science at the University of Chicago. He would like to eventually become a mathematics professor and independent software developer.

During his time at the Gatton Academy, Sekora already has a jump start on his pursuits. Sekora researched geometric knot theory under guidance of Dr. Claus Ernst. The ultimate goal of the project was to learn about viral DNA, as in some cases viral DNA displays a knotted structure inside the capsid, which prevents the DNA from being threaded into a host organism for reproduction. To better understand their behavior, they developed software to generate random knots in confinement spheres, simplify knots through various transformational schemes, and identify knots given a suitably simplified polygonal representation.

“Overall, I would say that my time at the Academy has been a very positive experience in my life,” Sekora said. “The opportunities available to me–particularly research and scholarly opportunities alone– would have been enough to make the experience worthwhile. I am confident that the Gatton Academy has prepared me for life to a degree that few other programs can claim, and am thankful a million times over that I could be a part of something so wonderful.”

Additional National Merit Scholarship winners will be announced by the corporation in May.

Contact: Corey Alderdice, (270) 745-6565.

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