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May 13, 2011 | Graduation | No Comments
May 10, 2011 | Academics, News, People, Student Success, Students, WKU | No Comments
For Sarah Schrader, a student at WKU’s Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky, her senior year of high school has been marked by significant accomplishments. Along with graduation invitations, college decisions and prom, Schrader has been continuing research, studying abroad and mastering a second language. When Schrader receives her diploma from the Gatton Academy on Saturday, she will do so with an added achievement to celebrate.
The Bowling Green student is among 141 outstanding high school seniors recently named 2011 U.S. Presidential Scholars. Students selected for the honor have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, artistic excellence, leadership, citizenship, service and contribution to school and community. U.S. Presidential Scholars will be honored for their accomplishments in Washington, D.C., from June 18-21.
“Receiving this honor means that something more is expected of me from this point on,” Schrader said. “It means that I must continue to strive for excellence, work toward achieving my dreams and, most importantly, use my successes to contribute something significant to the world. This journey is not one to be traveled alone.”
Schrader is in good company in the honor. The 141 U.S. Presidential Scholars include one young man and one young woman from each state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and from U.S. families living abroad, as well as 15 chosen at-large and 20 Presidential Scholars in the Arts. The White House Commission on Presidential Scholars, appointed by the president, makes the selections.
Schrader becomes the first Gatton Academy student to be named a U.S. Presidential Scholar. She believes the traits needed to become a scholar were cultivated not only by her experience at the Gatton Academy, but also the people who have surrounded her during her high school experience.
“The support from staff and peers that I received at the Academy has allowed me to develop more confidence, and experiencing living away from home has molded me into a more independent person,” Schrader added. “Most importantly, the courses I have taken and people I have met during my time at the Academy have given me the chance to discover and begin to explore my interests and passions, from Chinese to chemistry to biological research; having a good idea of what I am passionate about will allow me to select the path that best suits my interests and steer myself towards a successful future.”
For the past 47 years, this prestigious program has honored more than 6,000 of the nation’s top-performing students. Of the three million students expected to graduate from high school this year, more than 3,000 candidates qualified on the basis of outstanding performance on the College Board SAT and ACT exams.
Each Presidential Scholar has invited his or her most inspiring and challenging teacher to travel to Washington, D.C., to receive a Teacher Recognition Award from the U.S. Department of Education and to participate in the recognition events. Schrader selected Dr. Liping Chen, an assistant professor of Chinese language and linguistics at WKU. Even as an experienced educator, Dr. Chen believes Schrader stands out among the many students with whom she has worked.
“Chinese, a difficult language for the thousands of American students I have taught over the years, seems so easy for her,” Dr. Chen said. “She has completely changed my view of language teaching and learning and forced me to rethink and reevaluate what I believe students can achieve with the language after one or two years.”
Dr. Chen isn’t the only person kept on their toes by Schrader’s talents. Tim Gott, director of the Gatton Academy, noted that even though he has grown accustomed to working with some of the nation’s best and brightest minds, Schrader is a rarity because of her strengths beyond the classroom.
“In 26 years of working with high school students, Sarah ranks as the strongest student I have ever encountered,” Gott said. “Her academic prowess, her work ethic, her passion for learning, her diverse interests, and her genuine humility mark her as a true role model of excellence.”
Schrader will continue her studies at WKU this fall, the first U.S. Presidential Scholar to do so. One of the main factors in her decision to continue at WKU was the Chinese Flagship Program, in which she will work toward superior-level proficiency over the next two years. Next spring, she will travel to Nanjing University for a semester abroad followed by a research internship at a Chinese university or company over the summer.
“These unique opportunities will allow me to continue to develop linguistic and cultural competence as well as gain experience working in a vastly different research environment, providing me with knowledge and skills that will prepare me for my future career,” Schrader said.
While her immediate future path is set, Schrader took time to reflect on the combined efforts of the Gatton Academy and WKU to help chart that course.
“I have been fortunate to have the continuous support and encouragement of outstanding faculty and amazingly talented peers,” she said. “Without these things, I would not have been able to achieve this recognition. So, I will continue on my journey with a thankful heart, always keeping in mind the tremendous efforts of those who work selflessly to help shape my future, while striving to live up to the high expectations that come with being recognized as a Presidential Scholar.”
Contact: Corey Alderdice, 270-745-6565 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 270-745-6565 end_of_the_skype_highlighting.
May 10, 2011 | Academics, News, People, Student Success, Students, WKU | No Comments
WKU’s Department of Mathematics and Computer Science held its annual High School Programming Contest on April 29 and its Gatton Academy Programming Contest on May 3.
Eight teams from five schools in Kentucky participated in the high school contest. Each team consisted of up to three students.
Nelson County finished first followed by St. Xavier and Warren Central. Other schools with teams competing were Shelby County Area Technology Center and Trinity High School.
Each member of the first-place team received a $1,000 scholarship. Nelson County team member Jon Owens will begin his undergraduate program in WKU’s Department of Mathematics and Computer Science this fall.
In the Gatton Academy individual competition, five students participated. David Sekora of Simpson County finished first followed by Austin Taing of Warren County and Keaton Smith of Campbell County. The top two finishers received a $1,000 and $500 scholarship, respectively.
The annual high school programming contest brings excellent students to the Computer Science program at WKU. Dr. Peter Hamburger, head of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, plans to strengthen the collaboration with high schools to attract more students to the contest and WKU programs.
The contests are sponsored by the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Ogden College of Science and Engineering, and WKU.
Contact: Qi Li, (270) 745-6225 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (270) 745-6225 end_of_the_skype_highlighting.
Western Kentucky University, The Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky, is seeking applicants for a Residential Counselor. This is a 10-month position. This position reports to the Residence Life Coordinator. Anticipated start date is August 1, 2011.
This is an extraordinary opportunity for professionals who wish to make a true difference in the lives of young people who are gifted and talented and in the future of the Commonwealth. In the fall of 2007, the Gatton Academy opened as the nation’s 14th state residential school with a focus on mathematics and science. Located on the campus of Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, KY, the program provides extraordinary academic and research opportunities for Kentucky High School juniors and seniors who are academically talented and interested in careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. One hundred and twenty-eight students will earn at least sixty hours of college credit while completing their High School Diploma in both a residential and peer-supported living/learning environment.
Duties and Primary Responsibilities:
The following duties are customary for this position, but are not to be construed as all-inclusive. Duties may be added, deleted and assigned based on management discretion and institutional needs:
Required Qualifications:
Desired/Preferred Qualifications:
Salary Grade: 105
Expected Salary Range: $22,500.00 -$25,008.00 annually, plus housing
Applications for employment will be accepted electronically only. Interested candidates must submit a cover letter describing qualifications and experience, a current resume, and names, addresses, and daytime phone numbers of three professional references using the on-line application process. Transcripts may be requested at time of interview. Please refer to the following website to apply: http://asaweb.wku.edu/sjobs or call (270) 745-5934 for assistance. Reference requisition number S2911. To ensure full consideration please submit all application materials by May 9th, 2011. Position will remain open until filled.
Western Kentucky University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability, age, religion, or marital status in admission to career and technical education programs and/or activities, or employment practices in accordance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Revised 1992, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
May 4, 2011 | Academics, International, News, People, Student Success, Students, WKU | No Comments
Three students from The Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky at WKU have been selected for the National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) scholarship for the summer
Brandon Kerr of Edmonton and Victoria Allen of Auburn, both studying with the Chinese Flagship program at WKU, one of nine such federally funded programs in the country, were awarded the NSLI-Y scholarship for summer 2011 to study Mandarin for six weeks at Shanghai Normal University.
Charlotte Humes of Bardstown, who is studying Arabic, will be spending her summer in Morocco immersed in Arabic culture.
The NSLI-Y summer scholarship will cover all program costs, travel to the applicant’s destination, tuition, housing, activities, and more for six weeks. These merit-based scholarships are for high school students studying less commonly taught languages.
Brandon Kerr
“Brandon is very serious about Chinese and has impressed me deeply with his talent and motivation,” said Dr. Liping Chen, Assistant Professor of Chinese Language and Linguistics with the Chinese Flagship Program. “He is no doubt a rising star in the program.”
Kerr said that he was concerned that, without practice over the summer, he might lose the progress he has made so far with the language. Hoping to serve as a volunteer doctor after graduation, Kerr saw the potential for personal progress in continuing his studies this summer.
“I was really inspired by the winter program the Flagship took, and I wanted to get back to China as soon as possible. Learning the language will be critical for me if I want to work as a physician in a foreign country one day,” he said.
Victoria Allen
Allen, a first-year Gatton Academy student, hopes to someday work for an international organization focusing on environmental science. Allen was also offered an opportunity to spend her summer conducting research with theNational Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program at WKU, studying the impacts of land use and land cover in the Upper Green River Watershed.
“Even though I am incredibly thrilled with this achievement, I have decided to decline the NSLI-Y scholarship. While both are extremely lucrative opportunities, I feel the REU will serve my major and future better,” she said.
Dr. Chris Groves, director of the Hoffman Environmental Research Institute, said Allen’s work this summer “will be largely here at WKU working on some new methods to evaluate environmental impacts on landscapes. In general this work isn’t specifically China related, but we are going to utilize Victoria’s experience with the Chinese culture to explore how we can transfer this technology to Chinese settings.”
Dr. Groves said that they are also looking into having Allen present her work in Guilin, China, to his Chinese colleagues and work alongside the team for a few days as they work on how to apply the research in China.
“With Victoria’s interest in environmental sustainability issues combined with her Chinese skills working with the Flagship program, I was thrilled that she came to the Hoffman Institute seeking research opportunities this year,” Dr. Groves said. “She has already begun working on an evolving methodology to evaluate environmental impacts at the landscape scale, and with her experience this summer we will evaluate ways to utilize these methods in a Chinese context, where the scales of environmental challenges are enormous.”
Charlotte Humes
Humes said she applied because she loves Arabic and will be spending her summer in Morocco immersed in Arabic culture. Humes is also a first-year student in the Gatton Academy.
The Department of Modern Languages at WKU offers two years of Arabic courses. Courses are taught by Khaldoun Almousily, a native of Jordan, and a new Fulbright Language Teaching Assistant each year, giving students exposure to different dialects and the opportunity to delve deeper into cultural differences.
“Charlotte is an outstanding student who has dedicated herself to her academic pursuits. She has been one of the highest achieving students and is quick to grasp new material. Her proven abilities demonstrate that she truly is a worthy recipient of this prestigious scholarship,” Almousily said.
Humes, whose studies at the Gatton Academy are focused on chemistry, said that while other opportunities presented themselves that would advance her as a scientist, she felt that her participation in NSLI-Y would make her a better person.
“NSLI-Y is only one part language; it’s also one part culture. I will have the chance to learn about a whole new side of the world, to grow in understanding of their way of life. The program is very dedicated to broadening the global perspective of students they send,” Humes said.
The opportunity to volunteer in Morocco during the program also interested Humes.
“I believe I am most looking forward to these service opportunities; there have been many chances for community service offered to participants in past years, and the thought of being able to help others while there is immensely exciting,” she said.
About the Chinese Flagship: The WKU Chinese Flagship, one of nine Chinese Flagships in the United States, is sponsored by a federal grant through the National Security Education Program. The Language Flagship is a national initiative to create global citizens by bringing students to the professional, or superior, level of proficiency in any discipline. Students in the WKU Chinese Language Flagship program take intensive Chinese language courses each semester throughout their undergraduate career and participate in multiple funded overseas opportunities. Contact: Melinda Edgerton, (270) 745-5043 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (270) 745-5043 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
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 careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Sixty students each year are admitted to the program through a competitive 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 will have earned at least 60 college credit hours in addition to completing high school. Contact: Corey Alderdice, (270) 745-6565 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (270) 745-6565 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
Office of Scholar Development: The Office of Scholar Development is committed to helping students on all WKU campuses and 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 applying for international scholarships. Contact: Dr. Audra Jennings, (270) 745-5043 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (270) 745-5043 end_of_the_skype_highlighting.
Contact: Audra Jennings or Melinda Edgerton, (270) 745-5043 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (270) 745-5043 end_of_the_skype_highlighting.
April 28, 2011 | International, News, People, Student Life, Students, Video, WKU | No Comments
April 18, 2011 | News, People, Student Success, Students | No Comments
Via the Frankfort State Journal
by Keren Henderson
When Suzanne Van Arsdall drags her tired body from bed at 5 a.m. to run several miles before school starts, she pictures the children she met in South Africa.
“And then I have the energy to do it,” says the 17-year-old from Frankfort. “I’m running for a purpose.”
Suzanne is running the Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon April 30 to raise $11,000 for a safe house for women and children in a South African township that claims one of the highest rates of domestic violence, rape and abuse in the world.
“It’s a pretty high goal,” says Suzanne, who currently has $4,000 in pledges. “But that’s how much it costs.”
Suzanne volunteered last summer for the small charity called Philisa Abafazi Bethu (which means “heal our women”) in Lavender Hill, a township on the outskirts of Cape Town, South Africa. The high school senior worked mostly with 100 girls, all survivors of rape and abuse, in the after-school program.
The current safe house is actually a wooden shack in the backyard of Lucinda Evans, the local woman who started Philisa Abafazi in 2008. It holds four people for up to 72 hours. As the only safe house in Lavender Hill, it’s always full, and Lucinda regularly sends victims away.
“I have women sitting in the road on a Monday morning waiting to be seen, and every time it tears my heart in pieces,” Lucinda says in an email from her home in Lavender Hill.
April 14, 2011 | News, People, Student Success, Students | No Comments
Several Gatton Academy students took top honors at the 2011 Region 2 and Kentucky State Future Busniess Leaders of America (FBLA) Conference, including three state champions.
Each of the seven students who competed were honored as finalists in their respective events at the regional level. Six were honored in the state competition.
Students will advance to the National Leadership Conference later this year.
FBLA-PBL is the largest business career student organization in the world. The high school division has 215,000 members, while the postsecondary division reaches over 11,000 college students. The newest group, FBLA-Middle Level, is showing remarkable growth with nearly 15,000 student members. Finally, the Professional Division has reached over 3,000 members. Over 11,000 advisers round out the group. Exclusive membership and career recognition programs are designed for each division to provide additional personal and chapter development opportunities.
Students honored at Regionals include:
1st Place Business Communications – Sarah Schrader
1st Place Networking Concepts – Daniel Dilger
1st Place Technology Concepts – Joey Tutor
2nd Place Economics – Madeline Buhr
2nd Place Health Care Administration – Tejas Sangoi
2nd Place Impromptu Speaking – Lori Lovell
3rd Place Business Calculations – David Sekora
Students honored at State include:
1st Place Networking Concepts – Daniel Dilger
1st Place Technology Concepts – Joey Tutor
1st Place Impromptu Speaking – Lori Lovell
5th Place Business Calculations – David Sekora
5th Place Business Communications – Sarah Schrader
5th Place Health Care Administration – Tejas Sangoi
Beth Hawke, Coordinator for Residence Life at the Gatton Academy, serves as the chapter’s sponsor. She expressed pride not only in the team’s accomplishments but also their attitude.
“I am incredibly proud of the work that our students have done and the way they represent Gatton Academy,” she said. “Our FBLA students made a strong showing at the Regional Leadership Conference this year, demonstrating yet again that Gatton Academy students are versatile and well-rounded. These students continue to set the bar high for those who will follow in their footsteps.”
Part of the Gatton Academy’s mission is to train students to think entrepreneurially while becoming the Commonwealth’s future leader. Hawke believes those skills contribute their future roles in STEM fields.
“Many of our students have entrepreneurial aspirations as they wish to go into private practice as physicians, market future inventions, or pursue other business opportunities,” Hawke explained. “With the growing opportunities that e-commerce and the internet provide, the sky is the limit for these students. Regardless of the fields that our students eventually choose, the knowledge and skills that they acquire through participation in organizations like FBLA will serve them well in the future.”
For Academy students, this is the the beginning of their professional growth.
“Professionalism is at the core of the mission of FBLA. Participation in FBLA helps students acquire valuable skills that will prepare them for future opportunities,” Hawke said. “From learning what constitutes professional attire to how to communicate in the business world, FBLA provides students with an opportunity to apply what they learn in the classroom to practical business situations.”
The FBLA concept was developed in 1937 by Dr. Hamden L. Forkner of Columbia University. The first high school chapter was chartered in Johnson City, Tennessee on February 3, 1942. In 1958, the first PBL collegiate chapter was chartered in Iowa. The Professional Division, originally the Alumni Division, began in 1979. Joining FBLA-PBL in 1994 was the FBLA-Middle Level for students in grades 5-9.
For more information, contact Corey Alderdice at (270) 745-6565.
April 13, 2011 | Academics, News, People, Research, Staff, Student Success, Students | No Comments
Three WKU students have been recognized by the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program. Since 2007, more students from WKU have been recognized by the Goldwater program than from any other college or university in Kentucky.
Brittany Morgan of Glasgow, a junior in the WKU Honors College, and Sarah Schrader of Bowling Green, a student in the Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky, have been awarded prestigious Goldwater Scholarships. Clarice Esch of Somerset, also a student in the Gatton Academy, received an honorable mention in the highly competitive, national program.
“These awards show the emphasis we place on applied, practical research at the undergraduate level, from the Gatton Academy through our Honors College,” WKU President Gary Ransdell said. “The experience these students gain through research activity and interaction with faculty mentors will serve them well as they continue their academic careers and graduate to make a positive impact on the quality of life in our region.”
This success grows out of the efforts of both individual research mentors and WKU’s Goldwater faculty representative Kevin Williams. Dr. Williams, associate professor of chemistry and former Goldwater Scholarship recipient, took on the role of faculty representative in 2006. Additionally, the Gatton Academy, the Honors College and the Office of Scholar Development work to promote research endeavors and preparation for scholarship competitions.
Sarah Schrader, the daughter of Michelle and Steven Schrader, said the process of applying for and receiving the Goldwater Scholarship has solidified her desire to pursue a career in research. In the lab with Dr. Rodney King, associate professor of biology, she has been discovering a new virus that can only infect bacterial cells and is characterizing it based on its DNA and physical properties.
Schrader plans to pursue a Ph.D. in molecular biology or genetics and to become a research scientist in genetics. She attributes much of her success to the Gatton Academy for the many opportunities that the program offers as well as the Office of Scholar Development for helping to refine her Goldwater Scholarship Application.
“I would also like to thank my research mentor, Dr. King, for the immense amount of support and encouragement he has provided me throughout my time working in his lab,” she said.
Dr. King said he was excited to learn that Sarah had won a Goldwater scholarship. “Sarah is one of the most academically gifted students I have encountered in my career,” he said. “She has an insatiable appetite for learning and a remarkable work ethic. She is self motivated and tremendously disciplined. It’s been a privilege to watch Sarah’s potential for scientific research blossom during her time at WKU. I’m very happy for her, and I’m very pleased that she has received such prestigious national recognition.”
Clarice Esch, the daughter of Carol and Joseph Esch, has been researching methods to utilize lichens to reduce the need for nitrogen-based fertilizers. Like Morgan and Schrader, she plans to pursue a Ph.D. after she completes her undergraduate career.
According to Esch, her research has shaped her thinking on her future. “Through this project,” she said, “I discovered a passion for conducting research and intend to continue conducting research throughout the rest of my college career and beyond.”
Esch is grateful for the support of her mentor, Dr. Martin Stone, Leichhardt Professor of Horticulture. Dr. Stone said that Esch is the most promising student that he has worked with in his career as a researcher.
“Her work ethic, attention to detail, and ability to grasp the concepts of our joint research over the past two years have been impressive,” he said. “But beyond her intellectual abilities, she is unassuming and a genuinely nice person to know in both the classroom and in the greenhouse. Students like Clarice come along infrequently in the career of a faculty member and I am fortunate to have worked with her.”
The Goldwater Scholarship Program seeks to recognize excellence in the sciences and to encourage talented students to pursue research careers. Dr. Williams said that being honored by the Goldwater Scholarship Program “is a testimony not only to classroom performance but also to potential and passion for a research career.”
For WKU students, he said, “the Goldwater awards are a validation of their potential as scientists”—potential that Dr. Williams believes others will continue to recognize as these students move toward graduate education and research careers.
The numbers support Dr. Williams’ assessment of the award. Colleges and universities must nominate students for consideration, and the program limits four-year institutions to four nominations each year. In 2011, 275 scholarships were awarded from nearly 1,100 nominees. Scholarship recipients receive $7,500 annually to cover undergraduate tuition, fees, books, or room and board.
About the Office of Scholar Development: The Office of Scholar Development is committed to helping students on all WKU campuses and 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 Goldwater Scholarship Program or other similar opportunities. Call Audra Jennings at (270) 745-5043 to schedule an appointment with the Office of Scholar Development.
About the Honors College at WKU: WKU is home to the only Honors College in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Created in 2007, the Honors College at WKU provides an intimate, highly selective learning environment where college-age gifted and high-achieving students can develop the skills to prepare them for success in the nation’s top academic and career opportunities. Contact: Drew Mitchell, (270) 745-2081
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 careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Sixty students each year are admitted to the program through a competitive 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 which offers advanced educational opportunities and to prepare them for leadership roles in Kentucky. At the end of two years, Gatton Academy students will have earned at least 60 college credit hours in addition to completing high school. Contact: Corey Alderdice, (270) 745-6565
April 6, 2011 | Admissions, News, People, Students | No Comments
The Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky at WKU has selected 73 students for its Class of 2013.
The students in this year’s class span 46 counties from across the Commonwealth. This gifted group of high school sophomores brings with them to the Gatton Academy an average ACT score almost 10 points higher than the statewide average for graduating seniors.
Last fall, 280 students began the admissions process with 171 students qualifying for review. Students were reviewed based on ACT/SAT scores, high school grades, awards, extracurricular activities, responses to essay questions, and letters of recommendation. Earlier this month, 102 candidates were invited for interviews with Academy staff members and representatives from across Kentucky. In the end, 73 dynamic applicants emerged from the review process.
Tim Gott, director of the Gatton Academy, expects these students to continue the level of academic and personal engagement Academy students have demonstrated over the last four years.
“With our fifth recruited class, we continue to see the depth of ability and passion of students from across the state,” Gott said. “This cohort demonstrates, once again, that the Commonwealth can compete globally in producing young men and women who will have a major impact in STEM fields.”
The selected students scored an average composite of 28.9 on the ACT and 28.7 on the math portion of the exam. The highest possible score is 36. The 2010 state average ACT score for graduating Kentucky high school seniors was a composite of 19.0.
“The members of the Gatton Academy’s Class of 2013 have demonstrated they are ready for a greater academic challenge,” said Corey Alderdice, the Academy assistant director for admissions and public relations. “They will bring to WKU a variety of passions and abilities. Our goal will be to sharpen those skills as they grow and mature both academically and socially. Their experiences will be the flagstone in their pursuit to lead Kentucky in the 21st century.”
The incoming class includes students from the following counties: Barren, Boone, Bourbon, Boyle, Breckenridge, Bullitt, Butler, Carroll, Carter, Christian, Cumberland, Daviess, Elliott, Estill, Fayette, Floyd, Franklin, Greenup, Hardin, Hart, Henderson, Hopkins, Jefferson, Jessamine, Kenton, Lincoln, Logan, Marion, Mason, McCracken, Meade, Menifee, Montgomery, Muhlenberg, Nelson, Nicholas, Oldham, Rockcastle, Shelby, Simpson, Spencer, Taylor, Todd, Union, Warren, Wolfe.
This year, eight counties had students admitted to the Gatton Academy for the first time: Breckinridge, Elliott, Floyd, Mason, Meade, Menifee, Nicholas and Wolfe. To date, the Gatton Academy has admitted students from 103 of Kentucky’s 120 counties.
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, preparing them for leadership roles in Kentucky. Moreover, the Gatton Academy assists in preparing Kentucky to compete in a knowledge-based economy by increasing the number of scientists and engineers who live and work in the state.
Students will finish their junior and senior years of high school living in Schneider Hall and taking courses offered by WKU. At the end of their two-year course of study, they will graduate from high school and have earned at least 60 college credit hours.
The Academy provides a rich living/learning environment designed specifically for academically talented adolescent students that features clubs, organizations and community service. Additionally students are able to participate in advanced research with WKU faculty members. Research conducted during students’ time at the Gatton Academy has been honored in the nationally competitive Siemens Competition, Intel Science Talent Search, Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program, and the Department of Defense Science, Math, and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship Program.
The Gatton Academy is Kentucky’s only state-supported, residential program for high school students with interests in advanced science and math careers and one of sixteen such programs in the nation. In 2010, Newsweek magazine honored the Academy as one of 20 “Public Elite” American high schools.
More information about the Gatton Academy is available online.
Students selected for the Gatton Academy Class of 2013
From Barren County: Victoria Cain, a student at Barren County High School whose parents are Tonya Cain and Douglas Cain.
From Boone County: Akhil Ghanta, a student at Boone County High School whose parents are Uma and Koteswara Ghanta; Leonard Ivey, a student at Larry A. Ryle High School whose parents are Jeana and Eugene Ivey; Hannah Pennington, a student at Conner High School whose parents are Jo Anne and Gregory Pennington; Cheyenne Ullrey, a student at Walton Verona High School whose parents are David and Jennifer Hurta and Baird Ullrey; Paige Volpenhein, a student at Boone County High School whose parents are Kelly and Andrew Volpenhein.
From Bourbon County: Erica Plummer, a student at Bourbon County High School whose parents are Elizabeth and Mark Plummer.
From Boyle County: Cecily Allen, a student at Danville High School whose parents are Susan and Mark Allen; Nicholas Fedorka, a student at Boyle County High School whose parents are Suzanne and Thomas Fedorka; Mary Spraggs, a student at Danville High School whose parents are Linda and Richard Spraggs.
From Breckinridge County: William Hawley, a student at Frederick Fraize High School whose parents are Lisa and William Hawley Jr.
From Bullitt County: Erica Johnson, a student at North Bullitt High School whose parents are Sheila and Nathan Johnson; Justin Johnson, a student at North Bullitt High School whose parents are Karen and Robert Johnson.
From Butler County: Alonna Ballinger, a student at Butler County High School whose parents are Denise and Thomas Ballinger.
From Carroll County: Linda Cruz, a student at Carroll County High School whose parents are Luz Maria Cruz and Guillermo Tepetate.
From Carter County: John Anthony Biechele-Speziale, a student at East Carter County High School whose parents are Sherri Speziale and Jennifer Biechele.
From Christian County: Tyler Powell, a student at Christian County High School whose parents are Melissa and Donald Powell; Kathleen Bell, a home school student whose parents are Annette and David Bell.
From Cumberland County: Gabriel Smith, a student at Cumberland County High School whose parents are Fran and Greg Smith.
From Daviess County: Dixa Patel, a student at Daviess County High School whose parents are Jyotsana and Harish Patel; Madison Preece, a student at Daviess County High School whose parents are Denise and Kevin Preece.
From Elliott County: Barry Blair, a student at Elliott County High School whose parents are Melanie and Barry Blair.
From Estill County: Natascha Richardson, a student at Estill County High School whose parents are Antje and Carlos Ray Richardson II; Matthew Ruffner, a student at Madison Southern High School whose parents are Gwen Heffner and Robert Ruffner.
From Fayette County: Samuel Dong, a student at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School whose parents are Lin Qiong Fan and Mao Fei Dong; Lauren Shields, a student at Tates Creek High School whose parents are Stacy and Anthony Shields; Ethan Smith, a student at Tates Creek High School whose parents are Trish and Mike Smith; Alexandra Sunnenberg, a student at Henry Clay High School whose parent is Janet Sunnenberg.
From Floyd County: Wade Vierheller, a student at Piarist School whose parents are Chenzhao and Thomas Vierheller.
From Franklin County: Garrett Barnes, a student at Franklin County High School whose parents are Anita and Rodney Barnes; Sibi Rajendran, a student at Franklin County High School whose parents are Preetha and Narayanan Rajendran.
From Greenup County: Catherine Sloas, a student at East Carter County High School whose parents are Kitty and Larry Sloas; Henry Uradu, a student at Russell High School whose parents are Rose Uradu and Onyemauche Opara.
From Hardin County: Katherine Corcoran, a student at Bethlehem High School whose parents are Donna Wilson and Thomas Corcoran; Nathaniel Serpico, a student at Elizabethtown High School whose parents Pam and Ralph Serpico.
From Hart County: Riley Askins, a student at Hart County High School whose parents are Deborah Flint and Wayne Askins; Leslie Wilson, a student at Hart County High School whose parents are Patricia and Paul Wilson.
From Henderson County: Ellen Green, a student at Henderson County Senior High School whose parents are Michelle and Todd Green; Alison Jones, a student at Henderson County Senior High School whose parent is Dana Jones.
From Hopkins County: Roxanne Coburn, a student at Hopkins County Central High School whose parents are Lesley and Charles Coburn Jr.; Chiraag Kapadia, a student at Madisonville North Hopkins High School whose parents are Maya and Deepak Kapadia.
From Jefferson County: Lindsey Burke, a student at Louisville Male High School whose parents are Deborah and William Burke.
From Jessamine County: Noah Dixon, a student at West Jessamine High School whose parents are Karen and Charles Dixon.
From Kenton County: Miranda Cruse, a student at Simon Kenton High School whose parents are Penny and Brian Cruse.
From Lincoln County: Meghan Hall, a student at Lincoln County High School whose parent is Becky Eubanks.
From Logan County: Charvinia Detton Kesi Amira Neblett, a student at Russellville High School whose parents are Marvinia Jetton Benton-Neblett and Charles Delbert Neblett.
From Marion County: Anna Hamilton, a student at Bardstown High School whose parents are Mary and Charles Hamilton Jr.
From Mason County: Duncan Wood, a student at Mason County High School whose parents are Patricia and Stockton Wood.
From McCracken County: Eileen Doan, a student at Lone Oak High School whose parent is Minh Doan; Emily Gordon, a student at Lone Oak High School whose parents are Gina Gordon and Kenneth Gordon.
From Meade County: Leah Cannady, a student at Meade County High School whose parents are Leona and Jeff Cannady; Meaghan Dunn, a student at Meade County High School whose parents are Anita and James Dunn.
From Menifee County: William Roach-Barrette, a student at Menifee County High School whose parents are Rebecca Roach and Randy Barrette.
From Montgomery County: Wayne Schmitt, a student at Montgomery County High School whose parents are Donna Cockrell and Hermann Schmitt.
From Muhlenberg County: David Brown, a student at Muhlenberg County High School whose parents are Paula and Gregory Brown.
From Nelson County: Miranda Parrish, a student at Bardstown High School whose parents are Ramona and Charles Parrish.
From Nicholas County: Lara Johanna van der Heiden, a student at Nicholas County High School whose parents are Kim and Arie van der Heiden.
From Oldham County: Richard Cockerell, a student at Trinity High School whose parents are Susan and Tray Cockerell; Thomas Seibold, a student at South Oldham High School whose parents are Kay and Dave Seibold.
From Shelby County: Matthew Gonazelz, a student at Rockcastle County High School whose parents are Wanda and Stephen Burdine.
From Shelby County: Samuel Saarinen, a student at Shelby County High School whose parents are Anne and Timothy Saarinen.
From Simpson County: Jeet Parekh, a student at Franklin-Simpson High School whose parents are Varsha and Ambarish Parekh.
From Spencer County: Adrian Gregory, a student at Spencer County High School whose parents are Amy and Ronald Gregory.
From Taylor County: Jonathan Bailey, a student at Taylor County High School whose parents are Vicky and Charles Bailey.
From Todd County: William Johnson III, a student at Heritage Christian Academy whose parents are Delinda and William Ejner Johnson Jr.; Melissa Smith, a student at Todd County Central High School whose parents are Rita and James Smith.
From Union County: Elizabeth Gatten, a student at Union County High School whose parents are Meg and Donald Gatten.
From Wolfe County: Mamie Caldwell, a student at Wolfe County High School whose parents are Paula and Omer Caldwell.
From Warren County: Meredith Doughty, a student at Greenwood High School whose parents are Valerie Lyons and Robert Doughty; Ryan Gott, a student at Bowling Green High School whose parents are Ellen and Tim Gott; Eva Gray-Jennings, a student at Bowling Green High School whose parents are Judith Gray and Brian Jennings; Alec Minnicks, a student at Warren Central High School whose parents are Janice and Chris Minnicks; Aaron Tagliaboschi, a student at Bowling Green High School whose parents are Jennifer and Louis Tagliaboschi.
For more information, contact Corey Alderdice at (270) 745-2971 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (270) 745-2971 end_of_the_skype_highlighting.