Corey Alderdice – Page 17 – The Gatton Academy News

Gatton Academy’s First College Graduates Plan Exciting Futures

July 22, 2010 | Academics, Alumni, News, People, Student Success, WKU | No Comments

Even though the Gatton Academy will enter its fourth year this fall, the advanced high school continues to celebrate a series of firsts. This spring, four former students became the program’s first alumni to earn bachelor’s degrees.

Through a combination of Advanced Placement courses in high school, diligence in their time at the Gatton Academy, and hard work (including summer classes) as they continued their undergraduate studies, these individuals finished their undergraduate experience in a total of three years. All four will enter graduate or professional programs this fall.

Ellen Boswell Duke (’08) earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religious Studies from WKU, where she also minored in Mathematics. Duke will attend Case Western Law School this fall. She married fellow Academy alumnus Seth Duke this summer – the first marriage of two Gatton graduates.

Tyler Clark (’08) earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from WKU. Tyler also minored in Religious Studies. Tyler will begin a Master’s program in Mathematics at WKU, with plans to pursue doctoral study thereafter.

Emily Peeler (’08) earned a Bachelor of Social Work degree from the University of Louisville. Emily has deferred admission to the University of Louisville’s Brandeis Law School and will complete a Master’s of Social Work at Boston University.

Christopher Obermeyer (’09) earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and a Bachelor’s of Arts in Religious Studies from WKU. Chris will begin work toward a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences at the George Washington University this fall.

The time since graduating from the Academy has been filled with a variety of academic and social pursuits. Even amid busy academic schedules, students sought involvement in their campus communities.

Clark encouraged students to continue their involvement in research and make presentations at state and national conferences. His work with two WKU professors prepared him to study uncommon topics for his honor’s thesis. “My thesis, titled Counting Locally Convex Topologies on a Totally Ordered Finite Set allowed me to do different research involving point-set topology, set theory, combinatorics, and various other mathematical topics that are not normally covered at the undergraduate level,” he said.

As students begin to explore their post-Academy and undergraduate options, Obermeyer encourages them to aim high and stay off the beaten path. “Be different!” he said. “I have no doubt that I would not have been accepted into graduate school had I just majored in Biology. Picking up a major like Religious Studies in the fine arts made me stick out. If you want to go into medicine, don’t just major in Chemistry and Biology. Everyone has those degrees, and you want to be different to avoid being looked over.” Obermeyer’s unique experiences earned him a graduate assistantship valued at over $300,000.

Looking back on her Academy experience, Peeler noted the program provided her with a strong foundation not only for academic success but also personal growth. “The Academy prepared me academically, in that I knew what to expect in my college classes not only content level but also the structure of them,” she said. “I also knew how far I could push myself, which after the Academy I knew was quite a bit.”

By Corey Alderdice

Summer 5Q: Ben Howard Studies Mathematical Modeling at WKU

July 21, 2010 | 5Q, News, People, Research, Students, WKU | No Comments

While most Gatton Academy students are spending time away from WKU’s campus this summer, Benjamin Howard (Rowan, ‘11) is still walking up the Hill each morning.

As a rising high school senior, Howard is performing mathematical and biological modeling research with Dr. Richard Schugart of WKU’s Department of Mathematics and Computer Science.

Howard was one of eleven students from the Gatton Academy’s Class of 2011 who received a Research Internship Grant from the Academy for this summer. The Research Internship Grants are available to Gatton Academy students in the summer between their junior and senior years to support students during summer research experiences.

Howard’s research builds upon a mathematical model that Dr. Schugart formulated. Ben is examining five differential equations that are a part of Schugart’s model and is analyzing the sub-model by conducting a steady-state analysis on it, estimating parameters within it, and using Mathematica to conduct simulations of the model.

Howard recently paused for a few minutes to answer questions about his summer research is going.

1. Tell us a little about the project or program in which you are participating this summer that the Research Internship Grant is funding.

I am helping Dr. Schugart with a wound healing project. We are using mathematical models (equations) in order to try and predict if a wound will heal completely, heal partially, or not heal at all. Some of the different variables that we are using in our models are bacteria, macrophages, neutrophils, and oxygen.

2. What is the part of the summer experience you are enjoying most?

The part that I am enjoying the most is actually getting to participate in a real life application of mathematics.

3. How is this different from the way you think most high school students spend their summers?

Most of my friends are spending their summer hanging out with each other, practicing whatever extra-curricular they like the most, working a job at a fast food restaurant, or doing GSP. While all of this is perfectly fine, none of it compares to being on your own for 8 or 9 weeks waking up every morning knowing that your task that day is performing mathematics. I don’t mean 50 algebra problems or 10 calc

problems. I mean research that could potentially benefit people’s lives.

4. Will you be using this research experience as a launching point for any particular applications, competitions, or scholarships?

I’m planning on presenting at a math and biology seminar in Tennessee in the fall, applying for the Siemens competition, and possibly presenting at WKU in the spring.

5. How does this research experience or internship fit into your educational and professional goals?

I am planning on going into the medical field in the future. Since this research is dealing with wound healing it could benefit me when I apply to medical school in a few years.

6. What are you looking forward to the most about your second year at the Academy?

I am looking forward to spending time with my friends. The bonds made at the Academy truly are incredible. I am also looking forward to taking more sciences and getting away from the math a little. While I do like math, science is my favorite subject. I can’t wait to see what the upper level sciences have to offer.

By Corey Alderdice

Alumnus Tyler Jury, FIJIs Team Complete Bike Rides across US for Alzheimers

July 16, 2010 | Alumni, News, People, Student Success, WKU | No Comments

via WKU News

The Fijis Across America cross country bike ride for Alzheimer’s research concluded Friday afternoon (June 16) in Yorktown, Va.

The group, which includes five WKU students, began their 3,200-mile journey through nine states May 25 in Oceanside, Calif. Riders from WKU are Tyler Jury of Elizabethtown, Chaz Vittitow of Louisville, Mitchell White of Bowling Green, Justin Cave of Glendale and Wade Haga of Lexington.

“It’s been a great adventure,” Jury said Friday afternoon. “We were doing it for a cause that is close to our hearts and one that’s close to the hearts of many people we’ve met along the way who gave us great motivation to get through the journey.

“We’ve inspired people and we’ve been inspired by many others as well.”

Jury organized the ride and fundraiser in memory of his grandfather, Barrett Cummings who died in July 2009. The group has raised nearly $40,000 toward a goal of $75,000 to benefit the Greater Kentucky/Southern Indiana Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association.

“Our ride is over but the fight against this disease isn’t so we’ll continue our efforts to raise funds and awareness,” he said.

Along the way through California, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky and Virginia, the riders participated in numerous fundraising events and were interviewed by various media outlets to increase local, state and national awareness about Alzheimer’s.

The group collected stories of Alzheimer’s impact on families and dedicated each day’s ride to a family. They posted those videos and others on the Fijis Across America website as well as on YouTube and Facebook.

Additional information about the trip is available on the Fijis Across America website and Facebook page.

Contact: Tyler Jury, (270) 766-7121.

By Corey Alderdice

Summer 5Q: McChensey Conducts Horticulture Research at UK Agriculture Science Center

July 11, 2010 | News, Research, Students, Summer | No Comments

David McChesney

David McChesney (Boyle, ’11) is currently wrapping up an eight week summer research experience at the University of Kentucky’s Agriculture Science Center North. McChesney has been performing full-time research since the summer break began in mid-May with Dr. Seth DeBolt from UK’s Department of Horticulture.

DeBolt said that McChesney’s project seeks to explain how regulation of cellulose synthase occurs by phophorylation in the primary cell wall, opening the door to discovery of processes that may regulate the dynamics of assembly, turnover, activation or stoichiometry of this important yet difficult to study protein.

McChesney received a Gatton Academy Research Internship Grant, which is a grant available to Gatton Academy students in the summer between their junior and senior years to support students during research experiences.

David recently took a break from his research to answer some questions about how his summer experience has been going:

1. Tell us a little about the project or program in which you are participating this summer that the Research Internship Grant is funding.

I am assisting the DeBolt lab in sequencing an important part of the DNA of plants including Sorghum, and the Arabidopsis plant, a common weed that is being investigated as an alternative to corn as a biofuel. We are working on identifying the parts of the DNA that allow the most amount of cellulose to grow, therefore increasing the amount of biofuel that can be produced per plant.

2. What is the part of the summer experience you are enjoying most?

I think that it is really neat that I can be a part of the search for alternative fuels. There is great potential for the results that we get. I can’t help but think that there is the chance that we will have an answer to help the energy crisis.

3. How is this different from the way you think most high school students spend their summers?

I know that if I were not doing research I would be probably be bored wasting my time at home or spending time with friends. It’s helpful to have something to look forward to every day, and I enjoy staying busy.

4. Will you be using this research experience as a launching point for any particular applications, competitions, or scholarships?

I would like to enter my results into the Siemens Competition, and this is an excellent opportunity to be searching for a potential job in the future.

5. How does this research experience or internship fit into your educational and professional goals?

It is really neat to be able to apply everything that I have learned in class to a real world experience. It is nice to be able to understand exactly what everyone is talking about, and I am sure that I will get excellent recommendations for college, since I have been in a college/work environment.

6. What are you looking forward to the most about your second year at the Academy?

I’m excited about going on in science and math and being able to take a wider variety of courses. It will be nice to get out of the general education classes.

By Corey Alderdice

[Video Blog] Academy Alumni Mentor Gifted Youth as VAMPY Camp Counselors

July 9, 2010 | Alumni, News, People, Student Life, Video, WKU | No Comments

The Center for Gifted Studies at WKU is currently hosting the 27th annual installment of the Summer Program for Verbally and Mathematically Precocious Youth, better known as VAMPY. Students spend three weeks during the summer taking one of sixteen in-depth courses on campus. 10 of the incoming members of the Gatton Academy’s Class of 2012 are among the nearly 240 students attending VAMPY. In this video blog, alumni George Johnson, Alex Boswell, and John Max Wilson share their thoughts on camp, the Academy experience, and working alongside students who are gifted and talented.

More information about VAMPY can be found online at VAMPYblog.org.

By Corey Alderdice

Academy Alumni Among Students Honored at HOSA Conference

July 9, 2010 | Alumni, News, People, Student Success, WKU | No Comments

via WKU News

Three students in WKU’s Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) program earned honors at the 2010 HOSA National Leadership Conference in Orlando, Fla.

WKU students Matthew Kirk (’09) of Livermore and Victoria Bertke (’09) of Reynolds Station finished first in the nation in Post-Secondary CPR/First Aid. DeAnn Wright of Franklin placed in the top 10 in Post-Secondary Nutrition.

Emily Hall (’10) of Nicholasville was also a participant.

HOSA is a national student organization endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education. The purpose of HOSA is to promote career opportunities in health care and to prepare students to successfully pursue a health career.

Since its inception in 1976, HOSA has grown steadily reaching nearly 107,000 members through 47 chartered HOSA State Associations and approximately 3,000 secondary and postsecondary/collegiate chapters in 2008-2009.

The HOSA National Leadership Conference includes educational and social learning activities, the national competitive events program, and an opportunity to meet people from across the U.S. and Puerto Rico with similar career goals.

Contact: Amy Wininger, (270) 745-6265 or amy.wininger@wku.edu.

By Corey Alderdice

Courtney Howard Represents WKU at HHMI Science Education Alliance Symposium

July 9, 2010 | News, People, Students, Summer, WKU | No Comments

Courtney Howard (Hardin, ‘11) recently returned from the 2nd Annual Science Education Alliance Symposium at the Janelia Farm campus of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) in Ashburn, Virginia. There, she presented her research work and the research work of the inaugural class of WKU’s HHMI’s Science Education Alliance National Genomics Research Initiative course.

After a full-year experience in the nationally-sponsored research program that is overseen at WKU by Drs. Rodney King and Claire Rinehart from WKU’s Department of Biology, Howard was asked by her instructors to represent WKU, since it was her virus that was completely sequenced and annotated.

Last fall semester, Howard isolated a novel bacterial virus from a soil sample she collected from her home in Radcliff, KY, naming the virus “Backyardigan” after a television show she used to watch as a kid.

Dr. King described the research work Howard undertook during the fall semester after this initial collection. “She grew large numbers of the virus in the lab and examined its structure using an electron microscope. She then isolated the DNA from the virus and characterized it by cutting it with special enzymes called restriction endonucleases. The pattern of DNA fragments generated from this treatment was then examined and compared to other viruses isolated by her classmates and by other NGRI participants located throughout the country. Courtney’s viral DNA preparation passed rigorous quality control tests and it was chosen to have its DNA sequence determined,” he said.

During the spring semester, the WKU Genome Discovery class identified all the genes contained in the DNA sequence of the virus.

Howard is already looking forward to what may happen next. “I had a wonderful experience at the conference. It renewed my interest in research. As a matter of fact Dr. Rinehart and I are currently discussing ways to extend my phage research. Listening to the presentations opened our eyes to other possibilities and things we can do to learn more about my phage,” she said.

The slides from Howard’s talk, titled 007: A Lysin to Kill in my Backyardigan, are available at the following weblink: http://www.hhmi.org/seawiki/download/attachments/11993294/23_WEKU.pdf

For more information, contact Derick Strode at (270) 745-6565.

By Corey Alderdice

Summer 5Q: Torey Gilkison Researches with the KY Department of Fish and Wildlife

June 22, 2010 | 5Q, People, Research, Students, Summer | No Comments

Victoria “Torey” Gilkison (Anderson County, ‘11) is spending the summer before her senior year near the water, but not in the same way most teens do.

As a rising high school senior, she is performing research with aquatic plants at the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources Center for Mollusk Conservation in Frankfort, KY under the direction of Dr. Monte McGregor, a biologist and researcher there.

Gilkison was one of eleven students from the Gatton Academy’s class of 2011 who received a Research Internship Grant from the Academy for this summer. The Research Internship Grants are available to Gatton Academy students in the summer between their junior and senior years to support students during summer research experiences.

Gilkison’s summer research builds upon the botanical research she did with Dr. Albert Meier of WKU’s Department of Biology during her first year at the Academy. Torey recently took some time away from her summer research with Dr. McGregor to answer some questions.

1. Tell us a little about the project or program in which you are participating this summer that the Research Internship Grant is funding.

I am designing and building three separate aquaponic systems as a basis for my research. An aquaponic system is a way to use plant filtration to help improve the water quality for other organisms, in my case mussels, to live in. On top of noting the effect of the plant growth or presence on the mussel I will also be testing an all organic fertilizer to a regular fertilizer to see if this affects the mussel growth in any way.

2. What is the part of the summer experience you are enjoying most?

The part that I am most excited about this summer is the fact that I get to take part in hands-on research that could help Dr. McGregor in his research later on. I am also enjoying learning about all the different aquatic organisms including mussels and plants. There may be a point this summer when I will be able to go out into the field and assist Dr. McGregor in gathering plant or mussel species for his research.

3. How is this different from the way you think most high school students spend their summers?

Most high school students either spend their time at home or out with their friends, they don’t get the opportunity to participate in research. Research is something that benefits a person for the rest of their life because it develops problem-solving skills. So the fact that I get to partake in research really prepares me for work that I am going to be doing in the future.

4. Will you be using this research experience as a launching point for any particular applications, competitions, or scholarships?

I am going to use my research work to enter into the Siemens Competition.

5. How does this research experience or internship fit into your educational and professional goals?

I hope to major in Botany. By doing this research it allows me to work with plants and to get a hands-on feel for whether this is really the area I want to be working in or not.

6. What are you looking forward to the most about your second year at the Academy?

I am looking forward to taking more specific classes that will get me closer to my major in Botany and choosing classes that will benefit me specifically for where I want to be in life.

By Corey Alderdice

Gatton Academy Named to Newsweek’s “Public Elites” for the Second Consecutive Year

June 14, 2010 | News, Student Success, WKU | No Comments

The Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky at Western Kentucky University has been named to Newsweek’s list of “Public Elite” American high schools for the second consecutive year.

Each spring, Newsweek recognizes the top 6 percent of public schools as measured by the Challenge Index ratio devised by Washington Post Education Columnist Jay Mathews. 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, Newsweek recognized 1,600 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.

Though 16 Kentucky high schools appear on Newsweek’s traditional list of top-performing high schools, Dr. Julia Roberts, executive director of the Gatton Academy, noted the Gatton Academy is the only Kentucky high school to have been recognized as a member of The Public Elites. Roberts also added the Gatton Academy is one of the youngest institutions to appear on the list.

“How outstanding for a program as young as the Gatton Academy to make the Newsweek list of the Public Elites among public high school schools in America for a second year,” Roberts said. “This recognition reflects entirely upon the dedication of the staff at the Gatton Academy and the outstanding students from across the Commonwealth who participate in research and advanced classes as well as international experiences and service learning opportunities. People across the Commonwealth and beyond can share pride in this wonderful recognition for the Gatton Academy.”

The Gatton Academy once again finds itself among the nation’s 20 most distinguished high schools. Schools such as the Bergen County Academies (New Jersey), 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 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. “This incredible network of over 200 schools and affiliates creates a strong professional community that provides a collective wisdom on STEM education that cannot be duplicated. Serving on the board and co-hosting the most recent professional conference has provided us the opportunity to participate and contribute on a national stage. This experience has been invaluable in guiding our work at Gatton Academy.”

Newsweek’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.

“One of the reasons for our early success is the outstanding partnership we have with WKU,” Gott said. “Integrating into the college curriculum available on campus allows our students to have a rigorous and relevant learning environment with professors and instructors who are experts in their disciplines and leaders in a vast array of research fields. WKU, across the board, has made every resource available so Gatton Academy students can truly expand and enrich their educational experience while making significant contributions to academic and student life on campus.”

Though particular attention is given to the academy, Corey Alderdice, assistant director for admissions and public relations, said the Gatton Academy is an educational partnership encompassing districts across the state.

“We are humbled to find ourselves among the nation’s most prestigious high schools once more,” Alderdice said. “However, it’s not an accomplishment we celebrate alone. Such recognition is born out of previous and present commitment and dedication of parents, educators and administrators in our students’ local districts.”

Since the program’s inception in 2007, students have been admitted from 95 of Kentucky’s 120 counties. In all, students from over 100 public high schools across the state have enrolled in the program.

“We believe this program and accomplishment is something all Kentucky educators have ownership in and can celebrate,” Alderdice said.

More WKU news is available at http://www.wku.edu/news/index.html and http://wkunews.wordpress.com/.

For more information, contact Corey Alderdice at (270) 745-6565.

By Corey Alderdice

Summer 5Q: Tina Stottman Studies Brain Trauma at UK Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center

June 8, 2010 | 5Q, People, Research, Students, Summer | No Comments

This summer, rising Gatton Academy senior Tina Stottman (’11, Bullitt County) is spending ten weeks exploring a research interest. Working full time at the University of Kentucky’s Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center with Dr. Kathryn Saatman, Stottman is studying experimental models of traumatic brain injury using rodent models of brain trauma to investigate cellular mechanisms of damage to neurons in the brain and evaluating treatments aimed at lessening cell damage.

Stottman received a Gatton Academy Research Internship Grant, which is a grant available to Gatton Academy students in the summer between their junior and senior years to support students during research experiences.

Stottman learned about the opportunity at the Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center from 2010 Gatton Academy graduate Emily Hall, who spent the summer of 2009 working in Dr. Saatman’s lab. Emily too will return to Dr. Saatman’s lab this summer along with Justin Jatczak, also a recent graduate from the Gatton Academy’s class of 2010. The three Gatton Academy students will work alongside University of Kentucky scientists and researchers for the summer, gaining valuable laboratory and research skills.

Tina recently took a break from her research to answer some questions about how her summer experience was going so far.

1. Tell us a little about the project or program in which you are participating this summer that the Research Internship Grant is funding.

This summer I’ve been working in the Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Lab. Our lab focuses on different aspects of brain cell death and axonal damage caused by traumatic injuries. We perform surgeries on mice in order to learn about what occurs in the brain after head trauma. So far, my tasks have included things such as cutting and mounting brain tissue, staining tissue to detect brain cell degeneration, and learning about the procedures performed on the mice.

2. What is the part of the summer experience you are enjoying most?

I’ve really enjoyed working in a lab setting. This past year, I only had one course that required a lab, so at first I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to keep up with everyone during research. Luckily, the people that I work with have been great at explaining different techniques and answering all of my questions. I’m doing something that I’ve never done before, so every day is a chance to learn something new! Now that I’ve been here for almost two weeks, I’ve actually come to love working on research in the lab, and the work day always seems to fly by.

3. How is this different from the way you think most high school students spend their summers?

Whenever I was at my home high school, summer was a time for me to just sit back and relax. For the most part, I can’t say that I did anything productive with my break. This summer, the situation is completely different. Every day, I get to spend time researching what I’m most passionate about. I’m walking away from this with an experience that will make me a competitive college applicant. Living on my own in Lexington has also helped me prepare myself for life after graduation, and as an added bonus, the people that I work with are amazing! How many high school students can say that they spent their summer getting paid to do what they love every single day?

4. Will you be using this research experience as a launching point for any particular applications, competitions, or scholarships?

Currently, I’m still looking for competitions and scholarships to enter with my research. I’ve had a few setbacks because I’m working with live vertebrae. I’m going to continue my search, and hopefully I’ll find some great competitions to enter this fall!

5. How does this research experience or internship fit into your educational and professional goals?

I haven’t chosen a specific career or major yet, so this research experience has given me a lot of insight into the physiology and neurosurgery field. Working in the lab will give me a head start for future research experiences during and after college. It will also look great on my college applications. Right now, I’m just trying to find a specific area to focus on, and this research experience is definitely leading me in the right direction.

6. What are you looking forward to the most about your second year at the Academy?

More than anything, I’m looking forward to meeting all of the new juniors. Last year, as I’m sure it is every year, we all formed a little family. I was sad to see the class of 2010 leave us, but I know that we’ll always share the bonds that we’ve made over the past year. I can’t wait to see what this new group of students will bring to the Academy. I met quite a few of them on interview day, and they all seem to be such amazing people with a wide variety of personalities and interests. I know that this new addition to our family will make it another great year to remember!

By Corey Alderdice

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Author: Corey Alderdice