The day started with an elegant breakfast provided by our wonderful hotel, the Burnside Hotel, near Windermere. At 9:00 a.m. the Fighting Automatons met with Corey to set the ground rules for the day, and a day it would be, a free day to explore the Lake District. As soon as all was said and done the Fighting Automatons scattered like quail to hike, boat, or even mountain climb in the beautiful scenery of Lake Winderemere.
My group for the day decided to go on the hunt for a waterfall. In particular the Stockghyll Force in Ambleside located about five miles on the other side of the lake. With two modes of transportation available, a bus trip or boat tour, we settled for the scenic lake cruise. Our scenic lake tour took us up the lake crossing over the deepest point at a depth of about 240 feet. The view was absolutely beautiful. From the top of the boat you could see nearly the entire view of the lake; from the mountains seeming to touch the clouds to all the lush green pasture lands. It was breathtaking.
After our 30 minute cruise we landed at the Ambleside Pier and after a 20 minute walk ended up in the town of Ambleside. Once we arrived the search for the foot path to Stockghyll Force began. After about an hour of searching, getting side tracked by a large gem store, and getting turned around we finally found what we were looking for, the path to the falls. The trek up the mountain was steep and difficult but ultimately worth it. The falls were gorgeous and the water nice and cool. The peak even allowed some opportunities for perching.
After taking dozens of pictures and playing in the water at the bottom of the falls we began our hike back towards the pier. We grabbed a late lunch at a small local bakery before our mile walk from the town to the pier. Ready to head back we caught a later cruise back to Windermere. At five, the Fighting Automatons regrouped and those interested in the University of Chicago attended a meeting via Skype afterward with which they again split up for dinner.
Dinner consisted of fish and chips prepared fresh by a local restaurant, Vinegar Jones, whose fish was debated to be better than that of the Magpie in Witby. Dinner was followed by ice cream for dessert and some shopping before the town’s day ended. After a day like today sleep should not be hard to find. For tomorrow, off to Nottingham for the start of the Robin Hood festival. According to Corey, “There will be falconry.”
Unplanned Activities around Harlaxton Manor by Lori Lovell
While the last few days have been fairly unplanned, they have certainly not been uneventful. With beautiful weather outdoors, we have taken to our environment, enjoying the wonderful campus that Harlaxton College has to offer.
Hill-rolling has become a real excitement for us. Scouting out spots to roll has become a favorite among many of my peers. “I’m a hedgehog!” said Nick Zolman describing his experience rolling down one such hill. Providing many laughs and a few headaches, hill-rolling has definitely added some zest to daily life here at the Manor.
Soccer has also been a real outlet. We let our competitive sides shine last night with an epic game of footbol. During the intense game, Jon Warren showed his true determination to dominate, rivaling Gerard Butler’s fortitude in the action-film 300. Reflecting on the game, Jon disclosed, “It was a one sided game throughout, but when it came down to what really matters the most (penalty kicks), our team pulled out the victory.” The game was a real smash.
Shortly afterwards, scheming of a large game of capture the flag began. Exhausted from the intensity of our soccer game, a few of us left before the game’s start; it was time to hit the showers. From those that stayed, I hear the game was quite interesting. With the vastness and interesting terrain of the grounds of Harlaxton Manor, it took great technique and strategy to even enter the other team’s territory.
Worn out from our time outdoors, it was fortunate that this morning held the rare opportunity to sleep in. With a day trip to York and time in the Lake District ahead, today is looking like the perfect chance soak up some sun and revel in relaxation at Harlaxton Manor before continuing with our many adventures across England.
Just Another Evening at Harlaxton by Daylynn Allison
It was a cool, calm night. The grass was slightly damp from the bouts of English rain. The various lighted windows of the manor sent eerie shadows sprawling across no man’s land. All was silent. Ten students, two territories, one objective: capture the flag.
With a quick exchange of “Pip pip, Cheerio”s between the captains, the game began. Suddenly there was a flurry of motion at one end of our border. Our sentry reacted quickly to take down the man sprinting across our turf, just barely catching him before he reached the edges of our boundary. He was our first prisoner. He was quickly joined by another who was caught in an attempt to rescue him. I stood by and snickered while they searched their prison for the flag, all the while keeping an eye out for their other three teammates who might come searching for the flag or attempt to release them. I knew it would never be found. We were too well prepared for them. We had two who had succeeded in sneaking across the border and were searching their territory for theirs, but the remaining three of us were well positioned to take out those who attempted to do the same. Over and over the opponent sent men and we pushed them back to no man’s land. Too soon, the game ended with the bell in the clock tower ringing out, signaling to us that curfew quickly approached. As neither side had even located the other’s flag, we called it a truce. Collecting our flags and discussing just how close we had respectively come to reaching our goal, we returned to the manor.
So went the events of last night. Some of us, or at least I, woke up sore this morning. Despite this, I believe, every moment I am allowed to spend with these people I have come to love is worth it. Living, working, playing, and travelling with others who understand me and are going through similar experiences is something I wouldn’t give up for the world. Just another evening with academy students? You decide.
Today, Academy students went on a day trip to Haworth to delight in the literary history that accompanies the West Yorkshire Moors. A silvery mist only heightened the supernatural sensitivity that goes hand in hand with an expedition to the West Yorkshire Moors. Stepping off the coach, we were met with a slight sprinkle of rain and hint of sunshine. As we made our way up and down the cobblestoned streets of Haworth Village, we took the chance to appreciate the quiet serenity so different from our recent experience in Bath. The streets were decorated in homey, quaint shops and intimate pubs. It’s easy to get caught up in the sights because not long after disembarking from our coach, we effortlessly managed to pass up our first destination, the Bronte Parsonage Museum. After a quick about-face, we trudged up the hill where we came to a place that was once home to three of the most critically acclaimed authors of all time.
Upon entering the Bronte household some, such as myself, we’re required to take a deep breath in order to soak it all in. After regaining our composure, the first wave of Fighting Automatons descended upon the rooms of the house and the secrets they hold. We were able to immerse ourselves in a world in which timeless literature had been woven into the fabric of time. The family parlor which lay immediately to our left still contained original letters and even the couch on which the infamous Emily Bronte passed away. It was in this room where classics such as Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyre, and The Tennant of Wildfell Hall had been written discussed and rewritten until they were finally the novels we know and love today. Stepping lightly up the groaning staircase, we eventually came upon a room containing first editions volumes of Jane Eyre and original poetry by Anne Bronte. Timeless pieces preserved in glass encasings so that many generations may enjoy them for years to come.
As the Bronte house faded into the landscape, though never fading from our memories, the group sectioned off and went about exploring the hillside village. Several students took a daring leap into a local candy store, Mrs. Leighton’s Sweet Shop, where they indulged in what Lori Lovell claims to be “the sourest candy she had ever tasted.” A word to the wise, take caution when treating one’s self to a ploom.
A handful of students ventured off to a local tea shop where they partook in the ancient ritual of tea and scones. The Earl Grey kept you warm and the scones decorated in rich cream and strawberry preserves provided a light meal. After gathering the troop, the automatons made their way back to their bus where the driver promptly whisked us off to the West Yorkshire Moors.
The moors are one of the few places in the world where serenity conspires with superstition to create a place in which fantasy and fiction possess the potential to become reality. Listen closely and you can hear the faint howl of The Hound of the Baskervilles. Traipsing up and down the narrow, rocky footpaths some began to lose their sense of surroundings. We easily began to understand how some get lost in the ups and downs of the Haworth Moors. But as the gloom faded into the horizon, students were dazzled by the cheerful sunlight and the breathtakingly blue skies. You could say that we got to experience the best of both worlds. After a couple of hours of frolicking in the heather bells and perching on jutting rocks, we said goodbye to the moors as we made our way back to Harlaxton Manor.
The day ended in a return trip back to Harlaxton where we enjoyed a traditional English meal of Mexican cuisine and banana tacos coated in powdered sugar. Dinner was followed by a private viewing of the 2011 Sherlock Holmes television series where students and Dr. Langdon discussed how the tale of the great detective has changed through time and in some ways, remained the same. But when the adults go away, the children must play. So while Dr. Langdon retired for the night, many students stayed behind to watch the “classic” B-movie, Orcs! After many good laughs, students retired to their rooms anticipating what the next week and half would have in store for them.
The weekend’s excursions were a hodgepodge of fascinating architecture, ancient history, and cultural immersion. Awaking from our slumber early on Saturday morning before boarding a bus, we later entered the quaint but bustling town of Salisbury, not at all expecting it to be the location of such a massive feat of architecture–Salisbury Cathedral. Complete with a garden, courtyard, chapter house, and the church proper, this exhibit kept us thoroughly busy. Our guide expertly merged history with architecture, telling us all about the unique aspects of the building, such as the mere four foot foundation supporting the massive structure. It was also a pleasant surprise for the history gurus in our group to come face to face with the original manuscript of the Magna Carta written in Latin. By the end of the tour, batteries were wearing down from all of the brilliant pictures we took.
Hopping back on our lovely tour bus, the Fighting Automations traveled to none other but the legendary monument–Stonehenge. Exploring this ancient monument provided insight into the skill and cleverness of a past civilization, and some of us began to realize the fascination the world holds for Stonehenge may not lie in its physical appearance, but its ability to directly connect us with ancient cultures. The reasons as to why this monument this built, how they possibly carried the stones and arranged them into their present resting places, and what significance this structure held in the past are all questions that pique our interest.
Finishing up our journey, we arrived at the University of Bath to place our belongings in our lodgings for later that night. Then, taking a public bus into the center of Bath, we were given instructions to wander about and not cause shenanigans till check-in at the University at 10:30 pm. Some of us ate dinner at the Cozy Club and reported a classy British dining experience, others munched goodies from the curiously named Boston Tea Party, and still others experimented with classic Thai at the restaurant Mai Thai.
Drastically different from the easy going atmosphere of the harbor town Whitby, it was easy to see how the elite, exclusive vibe of Bath has remained from past to present. The lunch receptions in the Pump Room and country dances in the Lower and Upper Rooms that Catherine from Northanger Abbey would have experienced in an earlier version of Bath has given way to posh restaurants, fashionable clubs and expensive shopping districts. Depending on whether you prefer finding fabulous clothing, searching for tasty eats, or celebrating life in the many energetic clubs, the city of Bath is another dimension of the England we are all beginning to know and love.
Yesterday, students brought you a look at the many opportunities for adventure available on their first excursion. Today, temperatures may have been only near 70 degrees in Whitby, but that didn’t stop Academy students from hitting the beach.
In order to connect sites in England to the books we have read, Academy students studying abroad in England embarked on a trip to Whitby, the site of Dracula’s arrival in Bram Stoker’s same-named novel. Throughout our day, we came to know the city quite well and fell in love with the combination of old and new.
After a quick breakfast at the Harlaxton Manor, we ventured north to Whitby. Upon arrival, we quickly dispersed to explore the town. All of us were immediately captured by the port’s charm and lovely old world architecture like Whitby Abbey and the many Victorian structures. Some of us opted to explore the streets and roam around the plethora of stores that Whitby offered. Popular spots included gift shops, curio stores, antique shops, and the Gutsy Ginger, an eclectic store full of odds and ends. Many returned with purchases such as trinkets, hats, traditional Whitby jet jewelry, and even a raptor tooth! Others decided to journey to other parts of town, to enjoy parks, museums, a Dracula themed haunted house, and live music on the streets. We all really enjoyed the morning’s excursion. The people were friendly, as were the dogs that went about the town with their owners. The only thing that may take a while getting used to is the traffic patterns! Whitby was full of roundabouts and clogged streets that made navigating difficult.
After thrift shopping and sightseeing in Whitby, we were shuttled off to our residence for our stay in the small, yet beautiful bed and breakfast: the Mallyan-Spout Hotel. Upon arrival, we were given the chance to explore the beautiful surrounding landscape. Many of us chose to view the Mallyan-Spout, for which their residence is aptly named for, while others chose to seek the train station down the street. The Goatheland train station actually served as the Hogsmeade train station in the first Harry Potter movie. One of the staffers actually got to play a Slytherin in the film when he was thirteen.
After a few hours of exploration, we all headed back to Whitby for dinner. In downtown Whitby, we were exposed to excellent dining and service at the Magpie Restaurant. Everyone experienced British cuisine at its finest. From Shepard’s Pie, to beef casserole, to a variety of England’s classic, fish and chips. Some of us also experienced firsthand some customary differences that they were not necessarily expecting. When we asked for water, a couple of us were handed a large glass bottle of spring water instead of free water from the tap (and if you were not careful, you could end up with Sparkling Water, a much more bubbly twist). Others learned that “lemonade” in England is not the same adored, lemon-flavored, sugary drink we had as children, but instead, a carbonated drink that resembled a lemon-lime soda, such as Sprite or 7-UP.
Dinner at the Magpie was followed by a tour through Whitby and an eerie recounting of some of the city’s most gruesome tales. We were led by a sinister-appearing, though quite jovial, man identifying himself as Harry, who was well-versed in the lore and legend of the seaside town. We saw the spot where Count Dracula himself was reported to have come ashore in the shape of a large, black wolf from a beached Russian ship. We heard tell of the spirits professed to haunt the houses and pubs of the area; those unfortunate souls chained to the world after ghastly deaths by hanging, beheading, and yet more grisly mutilation. We were told about two mischievous cats severely wounded after an encounter with two irate townspeople, whose injuries were later noticed to be remarkably similar to those of two laborers then assumed to possess powers beyond the natural world. We learned the secrets the Hand of Glory, an aid to thieves wishing to creep through houses without attracting the notice of the sleeping inhabitants. We also came to know about a one-armed lighthouse keeper who died of a heart attack many years ago, but whose body still appears on occasion to this day on the seventy-first stair of his tower. We finally broke up and headed back to our bed and breakfast for the night, left with much to ponder as we retired to our own rooms.
Tomorrow we will discover more of the city and in particular the Whitby Abbey, but for now the day has left us all with tired feet and a belly full of fish and chips.
After flying over 5,000 miles, we arrived in England on Monday. Though experiencing the symptoms of jetlag, we all have been exploring Harlaxton Manor, its surrounding grounds, and the nearby city of Grantham. On Monday night, “Zyggy,” our tour guide, took us around the manor. There is no doubt about it: Harlaxton is HUGE. In this video we give you a quick glimpse of the manor.
Six rising seniors recently participated in the NCSSSMST Student Research Conference in Maryland.At the Gatton Academy, students spend the months of the traditional academic year engaged in a variety of learning opportunities that both mirror and differ from traditional high school experiences.
Students at Western Kentucky University’s Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science find their academic year is often very different from that of traditional high school students. A full slate of college coursework, living away from home, and a host of research and non-traditional learning experiences fill the month of September to May. Perhaps even more unique, though, are the exploits of Academy students during the summer months in Kentucky and at locations across the globe.
Three out of five of the current Academy students and recent alumni have current plans to participate in an academic or career exploration during the months of June, July, and August that will take place across the world. More impressively, 85% of rising seniors are participating in a summer experience. Derick Strode, the Academy’s coordinator for research, internships, and scholarships expressed both the geography and educational experiences of these students will be wide-ranging.
“These summer experiences represent the broad scope of STEM interests that our students enjoy,” Strode said. “Gatton Academy students are performing research this summer in medical, chemical, national security, and computer science settings—just to name a few—that will shed positive effects on human lives in the not-so-distant future.”
A new emphasis of the summer learning experience, is a study abroad component. For the first time, seventeen Gatton Academy students will travel to the United Kingdom for an Honors English 200 course. The Introduction to Literature course, based at Harlaxton College in Grantham, will be taught by Dr. Alison Langdon of the WKU Department of English. The experiences do not stop there. Eight Gatton Academy students will participate in the Chinese Bridge Summer Camp sponsored by the Confucius Institute at WKU, Hanban, and the North China Electric Power University. This two week camp will give the following students a chance to visit China, learning the language and culture along the way:
“I am also happy to note the increase in Gatton Academy students learning abroad this summer,” Strode added. “Gatton Academy students will be on four continents for educational programs over these next few months.”
While some high school students may consider research, internships, or study abroad programs less preferable than time at the beach, Gatton Academy students see these opportunities as a way to build on their learning and interests.
“Flexibly structured so that students can remain learning over summer while exploring career and educational interests, our internship program offers options for the motivated Gatton Academy student body. We have students who have chosen to pursue advanced research or shadowing work in STEM fields of their interest right in their own backyards across the Commonwealth this summer. Other students are further investigating their interests across the United States and the globe,” Strode said.
Keep checking back with the Gatton Academy website this summer as we further spotlight these students explorations and adventures.
For more information, contact Derick Strode at (270) 745-6565.
Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs):
Three Gatton Academy students will be participating in the REU titled Mammoth Cave/Upper Green River Watershed Project at Western Kentucky University. REUs are funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and offer students full-summer research opportunity with travel, food, and lodging provided as well as a generous stipend. REUs are one of the most prestigious and selective of summertime opportunities.
Logan Eckler (’12) of Covington (Mentor: Dr. Matthew Nee)
Brandon Farmer (’12) of Lexington (Mentor: Dr. Matthew Nee)
Natalie Schieber (’11) of Elizabethtown (Mentor: Dr. Bangbo Yan)
International Research Experiences for Scientists:
Two students have been selected to participate in an NSF International Research Experiences for Scientists program at the National Chung Hsing University in Taichung, Taiwan. This program, on the same level as an REU, offers students fully paid travel to Taiwan, food, lodging, and a stipend.
Michael Crocker (’12) of Bowling Green (Mentors: Dr. Ru-Jong Jeng and Dr. Rong-Ho Lee)
Ellis Shelley (’12) of Albany (Mentor: Shing-Yi Suen)
Crocker will be studying dendrimer synthesis and immobilization onto a silica or membrane support and dendrimer membrane on ITO glass. Shelley will be studying protein purification by IMAM.
Research Science Institute (RSI) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Lukas Missik (’12) of Danville is one of only 80 rising high school seniors from across the globe to be admitted to this prestigious, cost-free high school STEM program to conduct research at MIT for six weeks. Lukas will be conducting research in Artificial Intelligence or Game Theory.
Undergraduate Research Program in Molecular Biology at Princeton University
Sarah Schrader (’11) of Bowling Green has been admitted from a nationwide pool into the Undergraduate Research Program in Molecular Biology at Princeton University. In this nine week program, Schrader will be studying in Molecular and Quantitative & Computational Biology. Travel, housing, and a generous stipend are provided.
EarthWatch Student Challenge Awards Program:
Erin Walch (’12) of Alexandria has been accepted into the prestigious EarthWatch Institute’s Student Challenge Awards Program. She will be a part of a research team traveling to the San Jacinto and Santa Rosa Mountains in Riverside California to study Plant Life of California’s Mountains for two and a half weeks. Walch’s award includes full travel expenses, food, and lodging for her trip to California.
Kentucky Professional Education Preparation Program (PEPP)
Three Gatton Academy students will participate this summer in the Commonwealth’s PEPP programs. Lori Lovell (’12) of Florence and Erin Walch (’12) of Alexandria have been admitted to the Pikeville College School of Osteopathic Medicine’s PEPP program. Shelby Martin (’11) of Mt. Washington has been admitted to the University of Kentucky’s PEPP Step II. These residential programs offer a variety of educational experiences targeted to enhance students’ personal interest in a medical or dental career, add to their understanding of the elements of a medical/dental education, and expand their awareness of how medicine/dentistry is practiced in a rural setting.
Gatton Academy Research Internship Grant recipients:
Twelve rising seniors were chosen to receive Gatton Academy Research Internship Grants (RIG) from the Gatton Academy to support research work this summer. The 2011 RIG recipients, their research locations, mentors, and projects are listed below:
William Bickett (’12) of Owensboro will conduct research with Dr. Phillip Womble at WKU’s Applied Physics Institute. His study is on Gamma-ray Spectra in Neutron-Based Explosives Detection Systems.
Rebecca Brown (’12) of Boston will be working with Dr. Michael Carini of the WKU Department of Physics and Astronomy. Brown will study Optical Monitoring of TeV Candidate Blazars.
John “Jack” Ferguson (’12) of Union will be working with Dr. Hemali Rathnayake of the WKU Department of Chemistry on his project titled Fluorescein and FITC Derivatives Functionalized Silsesquioxane/Bridged Silsesquioxane Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Characterization, and Particle Morphology.
Alex Gutierrez (’12) of Mt. Washington will be doing research with Dr. Kathryn Saatman at the University of Kentucky’s Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center. Gutierrez will be researching mild (concussive) brain injuries.
Anthony Gutierrez (’12) of Mount Washington will perform research with Dr. Alexander Rabchevsk of the University of Kentucky’s Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, studying locomotor dysfunction after spinal cord injuries.
Charlotte Humes (’12) of Bardstown will conduct research Dr. Matthew Nee of the WKU Department of Chemistry where she will design, construct, and use a time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectrometer for the purpose of measuring energy and charge transfer in alternative energy materials.
Christian Jolly (’12) of Henderson will be working on research with Dr. Steven Gibson of the WKU Department of Physics and Astronomy to analyze radio telescope data to investigate galaxy structure.
Tennessee “Tucker” Joyce (’12) of Harrodsburg will be working with Dr. Richard Schugart of the WKU Department of Mathematics and Computer Science to continue his mathematical analysis of wound healing models.
Benjamin Rice (’12) of Somerset will be developing a gamma ray spectroscopy system to estimate elemental intensities of neutron interrogated samples under the direction of Dr. Phillip Womble of the WKU Applied Physics Institute.
David Sekora (’12) of Franklin is researching in knot theory to study DNA with Dr. Claus Ernst of the WKU Department of Mathematics and Computer Science.
Keaton Smith (’12) of Alexandria will be doing computer science research with Drs. Richard Fox and Jeff Ward of the Northern Kentucky University Department of Computer Science. Smith will be using artificial intelligence to plan algorithms and genetic algorithms to produce computer-generated music.
Nicholas Zolman (’12) of Mount Sterling is working with Dr. Tim Gorringe of the University of Kentucky’s Department of Physic and Astronomy to analyze periodic and chaotic motion using a double pendulum.
NCSSSMST Student Research Conference:
Six Gatton Academy students will be presenting research this summer at the National Consortium for Specialized Secondary Schools of Math, Science, and Technology (NCSSSMST) Student Research Conference at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD. From June 1-4, these students will join 109 other students from across the country to share their research work through oral and poster presentations. Gatton Academy representatives and their presentation titles are:
Andrea Eastes (’12) of Mayfield will give an oral presentation titled “Isolation of the Bacteriophage Liberi”
Jack Ferguson (’12) of Union will present a poster titled “Synthesis of Fluorescein Isothiocyanate Functionalized Nanoparticles”
Samantha Hawtrey (’12) of Union will present a poster titled “Isolation, Characterization, and Annotation: the Acquisition of a Novel Bacteriophage Genome”
Lori Lovell (’12) of Florence will do an oral presentation titled “Isolation of Novus, a Novel Bacteriophage Isolated from Florence, Kentucky”
Benjamin Rice (’12) of Somerset will present a poster titled “Gamma-ray Spectra in Neutron-Based Explosives Detection Systems”
Nicholas Zolman (’12) of Mount Sterling will give an oral presentation titled “A Light in the Darkness: Finding Type Ia Supernovae in the CANDELS Hubble Space Telescope Survey”
National Youth Policy Summit:
Four Gatton Academy students will be participating in the National Youth Policy Summit at the Keystone Science Center in Keystone, CO. This year’s summit on Energy Innovation will take place from June 11 – 18 and will bring together 40 of the brightest students from across the nation to come up with a proposal of policy solutions to the world’s energy needs. The following Gatton Academy students will participate:
Laura Claytor (’11) of Berea
Melanie Hurst (’11) of Bronston
Samantha McKean (’11) of Cecilia
Rachel Metcalfe (’11) of Eminence
Experiences Abroad:
This summer, 28 Gatton Academy students will travel internationally for research, language acquisition, credit-based study abroad, and education and cultural travel. Students will be in China, England, Morocco, Switzerland, and Taiwan. International research experiences are listed in the former section; other international experiences are:
National Security Language Initiative-for Youth (NSLI-Y):
Two Gatton Academy students have accepted an NSLI-Y scholarship which covers all program costs, travel to the student’s destination, tuition, housing, activities, and more for six weeks. These merit-based scholarships are for high school students studying less commonly taught languages.
Charlotte Humes (’12) of Bardstown
Brandon Kerr (’11) of Edmonton
England
For the first time, the Gatton Academy has partnered with Harlaxton College in Grantham, England to offer a three week study abroad course. The following students will study Introduction to Literature under the direction of Dr. Alison Langdon of the WKU Department of English. The following students will study romantic poets in the Lake District, Dracula in Whitby, the Brontës on the famed moors near Haworth, and Shakespeare in London’s Globe Theatre, just to name a few of many stops:
Daylynn Allison (’12) of Mayfield
William Bickett (’12) of Owensboro
Lydia Brothers (’12) of Madisonville
Andrea Eastes (’12) of Mayfield
Nathan Lasley (’12) of Owensboro
Taylor Leet (’12) of Louisville
Lori Lovell (’12) of Florence
David Sekora (’12) of Franklin
Keaton Smith (’12) of Alexandria
Caroline Stivers (’12) of Berea
Aaron Stolze (’12) of Somerset
Erin Walch (’12) of Alexandria
Layne Webb (’12) of Shepherdsville
Nicholas Zolman (’12) of Mt. Sterling
China
Eight Gatton Academy students will participate in the Chinese Bridge Summer Camp sponsored by the Confucius Institute at WKU, Hanban, and the North China Electric Power University. This two week camp will give the following students a chance to visit China, learning the language and culture along the way:
William “Christopher” Brown (’12) of Russell Springs
Curtlyn Kramer (’12) of Ashland
Matthew “Stephen” Mattingly (’12) of Elizabethtown
Samantha McKean (’12) of Cecilia
Rachel Metcalfe (’12) of Eminence
Holly Morris (’12) of Bowling Green
Tyler Parke (’11) of Henderson
Makka “Annie” Wheeler (’12) of Guthrie
Switzerland
Alexandra DeCarlo (’12) of London and Luke Yap (’12) of Carrolton will be studying literature abroad in Switzerland with Dr. Lloyd Davies of the WKU Department of English.
Other Notable Individual Experiences:
Kia Allen, a graduating senior from Georgetown, will be volunteering at Saint Joseph Health System in Lexington.
Claci Ayers, a graduating senior from Bowling Green, will be shadowing pediatrician Dr. Kelly Kriess and volunteering at the Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital.
Anthony Bombik, a graduating senior from Union, will be a Teacher’s Assistant in the Center for Gifted Studies’ camp for Verbally and Mathematically Precocious Youth (VAMPY) at WKU.
Madeline Buhr, a graduating senior from Cecilia, will participate in the Teenage Volunteer Program at Hardin Memorial Hospital in Elizabethtown.
Clarice Esch, a graduating senior from Somerset, is interning at the Baker Arboretum in Bowling Green.
Sean Freeman, a graduating senior from Hebron, is programming iPhone apps.
Katherine Goebel, a graduating senior from Simpsonville, will be shadowing veterinarian Dr. Rocky Oliver of the Shelby Veterinary Clinic.
Madeline Lauzon, a graduating senior from Owensboro, will be volunteering with the Theatre Workshop of Owensboro.
Jae Lee, a graduating senior from Hopkinsville, will be volunteering at a local nursing home in Hopkinsville and shadowing various health care professionals.
Justine Missik, a graduating senior from Danville, is volunteering with the Sierra Club.
Jake Moore, a graduating senior from Crittenden, has been admitted to the highly competitive Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Summer Internship Program for Science Students. Moore will be interning under Dr. John Bissler, studying Nephrology and Biomedical Engineering.
Michael Phillips, a graduating senior from Benton, is conducting research under the direction of Dr. Edward Kintzel at the WKU NOVA Center and will be a teaching assistant at VAMPY.
Tejas Sangoi, a graduating senior from Owensboro, will be volunteering in the Owensboro Medical Health Systems. He will also be attending national conferences for FBLA and HOSA.
Chandler Santos, a graduating senior from LaGrange, will be tutoring with VAMPY.
Suzanne VanArsdall, a graduating senior from Frankfort, will be returning to Cape Town, South Africa to help with the reconstruction of a safe house for women and children.
Paras Vora, a graduating senior from Owensboro will be shadowing cardiologist Dr. Kishor Vora.
Celia Whelan, a graduating senior from Bardstown, will perform in The Stephen Foster Story and The Wizard of Oz with Stephen Foster Productions.
Lydia Brothers, a first-year student from Madisonville, has been admitted to the seven-week Summer Research Program for High School and Undergraduate Students at the University of Tennessee Space Institute in Tullahoma, TN. Brothers will receive travel expenses, room and board, and a stipend.
Jordan Currie, a first-year student from Rockfield, will participate in the Music City Drum Corps.
Daniel Dilger, a first-year student from Union, will be developing a cryptographic analysis infrastructure under Dr. Bruce Kessler of WKU to attempt to decrypt the recently released notes from the Ricky McCormick murder investigation.
Andrea Eastes, a first-year student from Mayfield, will be assisting Dr. Michelle Monje of the Stanford University School of Medicine in a research study on Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG), a lethal pediatric brain tumor.
Samantha Hawtrey, a first-year student of Union, will represent the 2010-11 WKU Genome Discovery and Exploration Program when she presents research findings at the 3rd Annual Science Education Alliance Symposium at the Janelia Farm campus of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute in Ashburn, VA.
Nathan Lasley, a first-year student from Owensboro, will be attending a Boy Scout Summer Camp at Roy C. Manchester Boy Scout Camp.
Jesse Matherly, a first-year student from Nicholasville, will be conducing Alzheimer’s research under the direction of Dr. Linda Van Eldik at the University of Kentucky Sanders-Brown Center on Aging.
Benjamin Rice, a first-year student from Somerset, will be participating in the Naval Academy Summer Seminar in Annapolis, MD.
Aaron Stolze, a first-year student from Somerset, will be participating in the Naval Academy Summer Seminar in Annapolis, MD. He will also be participating in the Christian Leadership Institute in Danville.
Joseph “Joey” Tutor, a first-year student from Franklin, will be interning at Electronic Warfare Associates in Bowling Green.
Layne Webb, a first-year student from Shepherdsville, will be doing astrophysics research under the mentorship of Dr. Lutz Haberzettl of the University of Louisville’s Department of Physic and Astronomy.
by Nathan Lasley
After taking dozens of pictures and playing in the water at the bottom of the falls we began our hike back towards the pier. We grabbed a late lunch at a small local bakery before our mile walk from the town to the pier. Ready to head back we caught a later cruise back to Windermere. At five, the Fighting Automatons regrouped and those interested in the University of Chicago attended a meeting via Skype afterward with which they again split up for dinner.
Dinner at the Magpie was followed by a tour through Whitby and an eerie recounting of some of the city’s most gruesome tales. We were led by a sinister-appearing, though quite jovial, man identifying himself as Harry, who was well-versed in the lore and legend of the seaside town. We saw the spot where Count Dracula himself was reported to have come ashore in the shape of a large, black wolf from a beached Russian ship. We heard tell of the spirits professed to haunt the houses and pubs of the area; those unfortunate souls chained to the world after ghastly deaths by hanging, beheading, and yet more grisly mutilation. We were told about two mischievous cats severely wounded after an encounter with two irate townspeople, whose injuries were later noticed to be remarkably similar to those of two laborers then assumed to possess powers beyond the natural world. We learned the secrets the Hand of Glory, an aid to thieves wishing to creep through houses without attracting the notice of the sleeping inhabitants. We also came to know about a one-armed lighthouse keeper who died of a heart attack many years ago, but whose body still appears on occasion to this day on the seventy-first stair of his tower. We finally broke up and headed back to our bed and breakfast for the night, left with much to ponder as we retired to our own rooms.