People – Page 3 – The Gatton Academy News

Alumni 5Q: Emily Peeler

February 1, 2013 | 5Q, Alumni, News, People | No Comments

[fblike]Can you describe your experience at the Gatton Academy?
My experience at the Gatton Academy was wonderful. It gave me a chance to grow socially and academically. I was presented with opportunities that wouldn’t have otherwise been available to me such as research, weekend excursions, and unique friendships. I am still recounting my Academy experiences with people today, everything from my physics days to adventures in the dorm.

How have your experiences at the Gatton Academy helped you in your adult life?
At the Academy I began to develop my networking skills, something very essential in the “professional” world. Also, it was the first place I really needed to manage my time, a skill that has improved with time but the fundamentals of it started during my time at the Academy. And of course, many of my dearest friends today were my Academy classmates.

Since the Academy, what have you been up to?
Since graduating from the Gatton Academy in 2008 I graduated from the University of Louisville with a Bachelors of Social Work (BSW), have earned my Master’s of Social Work (MSW) from Boston University, and am currently in my 2nd year at the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law. Last summer, I worked for a non-profit in Boston.

What do you aspire to achieve in the next ten years?
I will graduate from law school in May 2014 and then I hope to be living on the east coast and work for a non-profit. I hope to be working on policy issues in either juvenile criminal law or general legal issues facing children.

What was your favorite memory from your time at the Gatton Academy?
J-term was a great month of time full of memories and learning. I was in a physics research class and they brought computers into the computer lab for about 4 of us. Being done at noon everyday and in such a small class, there was a lot of time to get to know my classmates in and out of class through walks, meals, and trips.

We would like to thank Emily for taking time out of her schedule to be interviewed. Next week, we will spotlight Ms. Rebecca Morgan who is currently a senior at Western Kentucky University.

By Gatton Academy

Alumni 5Q: Samantha Hawtrey (Class of 2012)

January 25, 2013 | 5Q, Alumni | No Comments

[fblike]
Can you describe your experience at the Gatton Academy?
The two years I spent at Gatton were definitely the most challenging years of my life. Living three hours away from home and being faced with classes that were seemingly way out of my league was tough. But these two years were also filled with countless joys and opportunities. I got to do “real research” discovering and naming a new bacteriophage virus, studying cancer-related mutations in fruit flies, and analyzing beetle populations in Costa Rica. Along with the research came opportunities to present at professional conferences. I presented my research findings on campus (WKU), at the US Naval Academy, and even at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s research facilities in Virginia! Living with 120 friends and classmates was definitely an adjustment, but I ended up developing some of the closest friendships I’ve had. Honestly, on a few occasions the Academy almost pushed me to my breaking point, but by God’s grace and with the help of some amazing staff and friends, the pressure and high expectations allowed me to grow into a stronger person. It was an incredible opportunity, and I am so thankful to have had it.

How have your experiences at the Gatton Academy helped you in your adult life?
I am much better at asking for help! Recognizing the need to admit my weaknesses and look for assistance in overcoming them was one huge lesson that will stick with me for the rest of my life. Also, the Academy has helped me get a head start on school. Lord willing, I plan to graduate in two years. Many of the friendships that I made while at Gatton have continued even after we have gone our separate ways, and I am so thankful for them! Lastly, the staff did a wonderful job of teaching me key life skills, like how to write a good resume or application essay, how to keep track of deadlines, and how to maintain a balanced life.

Since the Academy, what have you been up to?
After graduating from Gatton, I spent a summer working at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, doing research on Lupus. While I was there, I got to watch a 7-hour long surgery, visited a cadaver lab, and learned more about the process of applying to medical school. I am continuing to pursue a double major in Biology and Chemistry at Western Kentucky University. This fall, I got to donate bone marrow (through a non-related match) to a patient with Leukemia! Last I heard, the cells worked and the patient is out of the hospital. Hopefully, I’ll get to meet her within the next year!

What do you aspire to achieve in the next ten years?
I would love to get into medical school and possibly become a pediatrician. My goal is to be able to provide care to people who do not have access to help, possibly travelling overseas to be a medical missionary in a third world country. Aside from that, I would love to get married, to keep serving at my church, and to be an encouragement to everyone I interact with!

What was your favorite memory from your time at the Gatton Academy?
During my first finals week, we were on 23 hour quiet hours. Right before 10:00 (the end of “loud hour”), Beth Hawke came onto our wing and said “Hey, it’s the end of loud hour- make the most of it!” So we all yelled, hollered, clapped and stomped for the remaining few minutes until we were blue in the face. It was great to de-stress and share a moment of fun with students and staff.

We would like to thank Samantha for taking time out of her schedule to be interviewed. Next week, we will spotlight Ms. Emily Peeler (Class of 2008) who is currently a law student at the University of Louisville.

By Gatton Academy

5Q: Luke Akridge (Class of 2008)

January 17, 2013 | 5Q, Alumni, News | No Comments

[fblike]By: Academy Staff
Can you describe your experience at the Gatton Academy?
In one word, unique. The Academy became my home, and I grew closer to my Academy peers than I had to any others throughout my school career. And still, 5 years later, many of those close “Academy” friendships exist today. I also enjoyed the many opportunities afforded to me by the Academy such as my research with Rachel Bowman (fellow Academy student) and Drs. Bruce Kessler and Peter Hamburger. My research allowed me to travel to Canada to present at an international conference. But honestly without the supporting nature of other students and the staff (both Academy and WKU), my Academy experience wouldn’t have been the same.

How have your experiences at the Gatton Academy helped you in your adult life?
The Academy has made me who I am, for better or worse. Sometimes, I try to imagine my life had I not applied for the Academy. If my Pre-Calculus teacher never held onto an article about the Academy and given it to me the day I came back to school from being sick, my life would be drastically different. But other than that single moment, and the acknowledgement that things wouldn’t have been the same from then on, I can’t imagine what my life “might have” been like today.
Because I went to the Academy, I made friends that I cared for deeply and started on my college carrier a year earlier than I would have otherwise. Because I formed those relationships and gained the college experience I did, I stayed at WKU to finish out my degree. Because I got so much out of the Academy, I decided to give back a little and tutor new Academy students in Computer Science. Because I stuck around the Academy a few more years, I made more friends and my relationships with my professors and existing friendships grew stronger.
Today, I now work at WKU as an IT Consultant for Academic Technology, helping support and maintain many of the campus’s open and departmental lab computers, as well as the computers in classrooms around WKU. But it was all due to a series of events that Academy set in motion.

Since the Academy, what have you been up to?
What have I been up to? Life.
Since the Academy I have graduated with my Bachelor’s in Computer Science (minoring in Mathematics). I have cultivated a love for American Sign Language (ASL) and Deaf culture and have even joined WKU’s American Sign Language Organization (ASLO), where I use my computer talents to help promote the growing American Sign Language Studies (ASLS) program and the ASLO organization itself. I have obtained a full-time position at WKU as an IT Consultant for Academic Technology, helping support and maintain many of the campus’s open and departmental lab computers, as well as the computers in classrooms around WKU.
On a personal note, I have bought my first house (I am struggling to pick out paint colors).

What do you aspire to achieve in the next ten years?
In the next ten years? I have no clue. If you asked me that question ten years ago, I would never have imagined my life as it is today. Hopefully, in the future, I’ll still be doing something I enjoy – probably combining my love of technology and ASL as I am today. Maybe, I’ll be a little wiser and more settled into this new life that I’m starting – and maybe I’ll even be sharing it with someone.

What was your favorite memory from your time at the Gatton Academy?
The Yellow Couch? The J-Term ski trip? The crazy adventures my friends and I had around campus? The Ultimate Frisbee games in the Colonnades? It’s hard to pick. In general, I enjoy the memory I have of the Academy as a whole. But I’d have to say the most satisfying memory I have was changing non-Academy students’ perspectives on who we were and what we were like.
Some people saw us as a bunch of “privileged,” “immature,” high school kids, but in reality, we were just like everyone else (mostly). In fact, I remember enjoying the astonishment on non-Academy students’ faces when they would ask which dorm I lived in and I would mention Florence Schneider Hall. It was my personal goal then, and now, to change their views about who we were/are really like.

We would like to thank Mr. Luke Akridge for taking time out of his busy schedule to be interviewed. Next week, the Gatton Academy will be spotlighting Ms. Sammi Hawtry who is currently pursuing a double major in chemistry and biology at Western Kentucky University.

By Gatton Academy

Alumni 5Q: Kaitlin Hartley

January 10, 2013 | 5Q, Alumni, News | No Comments

[fblike]Can you describe your experience at the Gatton Academy?
Being among the first group of students to enter the Gatton Academy, I felt extremely grateful for the opportunity. The Gatton Academy allowed me to grow both intellectually and personally putting me on a path of success as I furthered my education. I am so pleased with my decision to attend the Gatton Academy! It was challenging, but definitely worth it.

How have your experiences at the Gatton Academy helped you in your adult life?
As an Academy student, there were a number of opportunities that presented themselves that would not have been possible otherwise. My first international experience was the J-term trip to Italy in 2008. This opportunity sparked my passion for international education and since then I have studied abroad four times and visited over thirty countries. Due to these experiences and others that I had in the Academy, my professional goal is to work at a university encouraging students to engage in activities outside of classroom and around the world.

Since the Academy, what have you been up to?
After graduating from the Academy, I continued pursuing my bachelor’s degree in biology at WKU and graduated in December 2011. Currently, I am attending The University of Alabama (Roll Tide!) where I am getting my master’s degree in higher education administration and working as a graduate assistant in student affairs.

What do you aspire to achieve in the next ten years?
In one year, I will complete my master’s degree and will hopefully enter my career as a coordinator of international programs or study abroad at a university. If the opportunity presents itself, I might consider obtaining my doctorate. As I get settled into a career, I am not sure where it will take me, but I am excited to see. Throughout it all, it is my hope that I can help students learn and encounter new experiences during college, as many faculty and staff at the Academy and WKU inspired me to do. My aspirations to continue traveling never cease, I would love to have the chance to visit Australia and Antarctica, the two continents I have yet to explore!

What was your favorite memory from your time at the Gatton Academy?
I will never forget the feeling I had during my first twenty-four hours in the Academy. From moving in and meeting my peers to attending the ceremony where Dr. Julia Roberts and Mr. Gatton shared words of encouragement, I felt so humbled to call myself a student in this fantastic program!

We would like to thank Ms. Kaitlin Hartley for taking time out of her busy schedule to be interviewed. Next week, the Gatton Academy will be spotlighting Luke Akridge who currently works as an IT consultant at Western Kentucky University.

By Gatton Academy

Gatton Academy Team Named National Champions (Division I) in Knowledge Masters Open Competition

December 12, 2012 | Academics, News, Students | No Comments

A team of juniors and seniors from the Gatton Academy was named National Champions in the Knowledge Master Open for Division I (enrollment under two hundred) High Schools.

Thousands of students throughout the country and in many foreign countries competed on December 5 in the 59th Knowledge Master Open academic competition. During the competition, high school teams competed via computers to answer two hundred questions from a variety of subject areas ranging from American history to biology to the fine arts.

The Gatton Academy team was comprised of Noah Dixon, Ben Koehler, Vishnuteja Tirumala, Natasha Richardson, Grace Babbs, Nitin Krishna, Ajit Deshpande, Austin Smith, Joseph Crafton, and Nathaniel Clause and answered one hundred and eighty-five questions correctly out of the two hundred. In addition to the team being named National Champion amongst Division I schools, the Gatton Academy placed third in the state of Kentucky.

Chad Phillips, assistant director for admissions and public relations, stated that Gatton Academy students excel in a variety of academic areas in addition to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines.

“Since the Gatton Academy emphasizes mathematics and science, many individuals are surprised to learn that our students are equally strong in other academic areas such as the economics and geography,” Phillips said. “While our students intend to pursue advanced careers that require substantial study in mathematics and science, we are pleased to know that our students are becoming well rounded problem solvers that can handle the challenges of a 21st century economy.”

The Knowledge Master Open was designed to stimulate enthusiasm for learning and recognition for academic accomplishment. The contest runs on classroom computers to all students the opportunity to compete in a large academic event without the expense of traveling to a central site. Results of the contest are tabulated into overall, state, and enrollment-size rankings by Academic Hallmarks, a Colorado publishing firm that hosts the event.

By Gatton Academy

Alumni 5Q: Joseph Groom

November 27, 2012 | 5Q, Alumni, News | No Comments

[fblike]Can you describe your experience at the Gatton Academy?
I was a member of the first class to graduate from the Academy in 2008. I’m sure that things were a lot different when I was enrolled, but I personally had a great time being a “guinea pig”. I struggled through Computational Problem Solving but enjoyed my Biology and Chemistry classes. The research I was able to do with Dr. Jacobshagen prepared me for later research projects and internships. I made a number of great friends that year with whom I still keep in regular contact—in fact, I went on a road trip with four of them just this summer.

How have your experiences at the Gatton Academy helped you in your adult life?
Attending the Academy prepared me to succeed in college and graduate school, but it also did wonders for my social development. Living 24/7 with three people in my suite, twenty on my hall and one hundred and twenty in the whole building was an intensive course in human behavior and sociology. I learned how to treat people well and to rationalize issues rather than blowing up about them. Sometimes I learned these things the hard way, but I’m glad I learned them. On another note, I learned very quickly that all-nighters are not the way to do well on tests or to learn material.

Since the Academy, what have you been up to?
I majored in Molecular Biology and German at Vanderbilt University studying abroad in Germany my junior year. Now I’m in my first semester of a Ph.D. program in Genetics at the University of Georgia. Recently, I submitted a National Science Foundation grant for a project on plant biomass breakdown by thermophilic bacteria, a process which has applications for the development of plants as a bioenergy source.

What do you aspire to achieve in the next ten years?
I hope to receive a Ph.D. in about 5 years and to continue doing research in a bioenergy-focused laboratory. Eventually I want to lead a research team either at a university or a research institute.

What was your favorite memory from your time at the Gatton Academy?
The “Pop, Lock & Drop It” song was pretty popular at the time, and I distinctly remember participating in a few lobby dance parties at night before curfew. Also, lunches and dinners with friends at Garrett and DUC were always a lot of fun.

We would like to thank Joseph for taking time out of his busy semester to be interviewed.
If you are alumni or know of an alumni that would make a great spotlight please contact Chad Phillips, Asst. Director of Admissions and External Relations, at chad.phillips@wku.edu. We look forward to spotlighting even more alumni in the Spring term.

By Gatton Academy

Gatton Academy Alumni Survey

November 26, 2012 | Alumni | No Comments

Every semester, the Gatton Academy updates its Alumni files. If you are an academy alumni, please take the time to fill out the form below. The information collected from this survey helps the Gatton Academy stay connected with its alumni.

By Gatton Academy

Alumni 5Q: Michael Phillips

November 13, 2012 | 5Q, Alumni | No Comments

[fblike]
Can you describe your experience at the Gatton Academy?
The Academy was a life changing experience that allowed me to grow both academically and professionally. Specifically, living with passionate and scientifically minded peers allowed me to develop a new appreciation for science and mathematics. Attending the Gatton Academy was a once in a life time opportunity. It helped me shape and define my future career as a scientist.

How have your experiences at the Gatton Academy helped you in your adult life?
While at the Gatton Academy I learned skills that I will utilize throughout my life. I learned to write code, integrate and differentiate functions, work in a lab, create deadlines, manage resources, present my work at scientific conferences, and more importantly ask for help. I use these skills everyday as an aspiring physicist.

Since the Academy, what have you been up to?
Currently, I am attending Auburn University pursuing a dual degree in Wireless Engineering and Physics. Along with my formal academic studies, I have been working on a research team that is investigating highly energized lithium plasma. Finally, I have become quite active in the Society of Physics Students at Auburn University.

What do you aspire to achieve in the next ten years?
In the next few years, I will be graduating from Auburn University. After I complete my undergraduate studies, I plan on earning doctorate in physics. Eventually, I hope to become a professor/researcher at a university.

What was your favorite memory from your time at the Gatton Academy?
I do not have a single favorite memory from the Gatton Academy. While attending the Academy, I developed new “favorite” memories almost every day. Nevertheless, here are a few of my “most favorite” memories: cooking bacon in every microwave on my wing, winning the scavenger hunt every year, generating random graphs in the lobby, and having my next-semester courses approved by April Gaskey.

By Gatton Academy

Alumni 5Q: Celia Whelan

October 26, 2012 | 5Q, Alumni | No Comments

[fblike]
Can you describe your experience at the Gatton Academy?
My experience at Gatton was phenomenal and life-changing. I was surrounded by other students who were academically focused. Attending a school with like-minded peers allowed me to excel because we all pushed each other to become better students. Simply, my time at Gatton made me much more self-motivated and dedicated student.

How have your experiences at the Gatton Academy helped you in your adult life?
Gatton opened up so many doors for me. I am only 19 and already I’ve been a co-author on a paper published in a scientific journal, participated in a National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates (NSF-REU), and presented my research at national meetings. Being at the Gatton Academy introduced me to the worlds of chemistry and research, and for that I am grateful.

Since the Academy, what have you been up to?
After Gatton, I decided to stay at Western Kentucky to continue my studies. I am majoring in chemistry with minors in both math and music and I’ve been very involved in research. Here at WKU, my research focuses on eliminating the toxicity of the anticancer drug cisplatin and making the drug more effective. To broaden my horizons, this past summer I attended a NSF-REU at Western Washington University where I conducted research on the synthesis of flexible conducting polymer films for use as artificial muscles and brain stimulators. Finally, I have been really involved in chemistry tutoring which has been instrumental in helping me discover my passion for teaching.

What do you aspire to achieve in the next ten years?
In the next ten years, I hope to have my Ph. D. in chemistry and be teaching at the collegiate level. I also hope to be working on the frontier of biomedical research.

What was your favorite memory from your time at the Gatton?
One of my absolute favorite memories from Gatton would have to be the game of “Ultimate Mud Frisbee.” It had just finished raining, so obviously we all thought it would be a great idea to play a game of ultimate frisbee in the mud!

We would like to thank Celia for taking time out of her schedule to be interviewed.

By Gatton Academy

Alumni 5Q: Sam Crocker

October 19, 2012 | 5Q, Alumni, News | No Comments

[fblike] Can you describe your experience at the Gatton Academy?
I had the good fortune to attend the Gatton Academy at a time when the culture of the Academy was in its infancy. As such, my class and the class above us were able to explore just what was possible at the Academy. We were the first students to acquire research positions, and also had the opportunity to join clubs and social organizations on campus. These opportunities allowed us to establish the Gatton Academy as a visible presence on Western Kentucky University’s campus.

How have your experiences at the Gatton Academy helped you in your adult life?
My experience at Gatton was extremely beneficial. I had an incredible opportunity to get a head start on my undergraduate education, as well as a chance to develop and mature as a person. The skills I developed there have allowed me to succeed in both my education and social life in college.

Since the Academy, what have you been up to?
Currently, I am a biochemistry major at Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas. I’ve worked for two years as a researcher in the biochemistry department with a focus on oxidative damage in liver mitochondria. This fall my research was published in Toxicology Letters. I also had the opportunity to present at the spring meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS) this past March. I am currently in the process of applying to medical school.

What do you aspire to achieve in the next ten years?
I hope to have completed medical school and be working on my residency.

What was your favorite memory from your time at the Gatton Academy?
I actually have two. When I was a first year, I joined with several of my fellow 4th floor hall-mates and took the Ping-Pong table into our wing common room after curfew. I procrastinated on a biology lab assignment so that I could participate in our late-night tournament. My other favorite memory is from senior year. The week before spring finals, a group of Academy students and myself dressed as superheroes and went to the “Free Comic Book Day” event at a local comic book store. It was only when we arrived that we realized we were the only ones in costume…Good times.

We would like to thank Mr. Sam Crocker for taking time out of his schedule to be interviewed. Next week we will be spotlighting Ms. Celia Whelan.

By Gatton Academy

Recent News

Category: People