Tag Archive : Class of 2011

/ Class of 2011

11 Gatton Academy Seniors Named National Merit Semifinalists

September 15, 2010 | Academics, News, Student Success | No Comments

Nearly 20% of Gatton Academy seniors have been recognized as semifinalists in the 2011 National Merit Scholarship Program, an honor which potentially opens the door college scholarship opportunities.  In all, 11 members of the Class of 2011 will go on to the next round of the competition.

Over 1.5 million students in about 22,000 high schools entered the 2011 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2009 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.  Students are tested in math, critical reasoning, and writing.  The 16,000 Semifinalists honored are the highest-scoring entrants in their state and represent less than 1 percent of each state’s high school seniors.

For these Gatton Academy seniors, it’s a great way to begin their final year of high school even as they focus on the college admissions process ahead.  According to Gatton Academy Director Tim Gott, this is just the beginning of a busy—and rewarding—year.

“With this recognition, these students have earned a key that will open tremendous educational opportunities,” Gott said. “We look forward to seeing what these students will accomplish in the days ahead.”

To be considered in the rigorous competition for National Merit Scholarships, Semifinalists must advance to the Finalist level of the competition by meeting additional standard and fulfilling several requirements.  These include having a record of very high academic performance of college preparatory course work, submitting SAT scores that confirm PSAT performance, and being fully endorsed and recommended by a high school official.

Gatton Academy students honored in the program are recognized through their sending high school.  Since students take the qualifying PSAT exam in October of their junior year of high school, much of the preparation stems from learning opportunities during their freshman and sophomore years of high school.  The Gatton Academy builds on those experiences to provide students with a robust application and preparation for the SAT, a critical component in becoming a finalist.

“It is an incredible honor to be named a National Merit semifinalist,” Gott said. “These remarkable young people have been strongly prepared by their home high schools and the Gatton Academy is privileged to be able to contribute to the ongoing education of these outstanding students.”

2011 Gatton Academy National Merit Semifinalists:
Michael Bowie  (Paul Laurence Dunbar High School, Fayette County)
Katherine Goebel  (Shelby County High School, Shelby County)
Justine Missik  (Boyle County High School, Boyle County)
Tejas Sangoi  (Daviess County High School, Daviess County)
Tyler Scaff  (Oldham County High School, Oldham County)
Natalie Schieber  (Elizabethtown High School, Hardin County)
Sarah Schrader  (Greenwood High School, Warren County)
Jonathan Serpico  (Elizabethtown High School, Hardin County)
Josh Song  (Bowling Green High School, Warren County)
Paras Vora  (Daviess County High School, Daviess County)
Kelsey Wagner  (Bullitt East High School, Bullitt County)

Finalists will be named in winter 2011.

For more information, contact Corey Alderdice at (270) 745-2971.

Read More
By Corey Alderdice

Fall Break Brings Excitement, First Rest of the Semester

October 6, 2009 | News, Student Life | No Comments

WKU Photo by Clinton Lewis
WKU Photo by Clinton Lewis

by Brandon Kerr (Metcalfe Co., ’11)

The leaves at Western Kentucky University are already starting to fall from the trees, and the weather is steadily become more like that of winter.  Students across campus are soaking up the last bit of warm weather, sprawled on the grass reading and enjoying a day free of classes. Fall break is fast approaching, and no one is more eager than the students here at the Gatton Academy for those days of rest to arrive.

Even though the Gatton Academy is unlike any other high school in the state of Kentucky, the atmosphere at Gatton is much like that of any other high school in regards to fall break. One can feel the excitement growing as students and staff members start counting down the days and begin making plans.

Students recently faced their first wave of tests, and there is still studying to do before fall break finally arrives. Lots of students are eager to be able to take a break, and go back home for a while.

Leah Hayden (Henderson Co., ’11) plans to spend some time with friends and family back at home. “It’ll be nice to catch a break from all of the course work,” Hayden noted.  “Once I get all of my work out of the way for the beginning of fall break, it will be great to just hang out and not have to worry about school for a few days.”

This seems to be the common trend amongst academy students. Everyone’s eager to go back home and tell their friends and family about all that they’ve missed.

Ben Neal (Estill Co., ’11) plans to go home and relax with his parents as well, but he is also going to be giving a presentation about the Academy, to help spread the word and get others involved. “The Academy still isn’t that well known, since it’s only been around for a few years,” Neal added. “So I offered to tell other students at my school about it to help get the word out and encourage them to apply.”

The seniors at the Academy have been busy as well. Not only have they been duteously studying for tests, but they’ve also spent a lot of time filling out applications for colleges and scholarships.

Justin Jatczak (Christian Co., ’10) says that he plans on taking a few of them home, so that he can finish the required essays without having to worry about classes and other distractions.

The summer won’t be all about relaxation for everyone though. Several students are going to be traveling to visit college campuses across the state and country, and many also plan on taking standardized tests such as the ACT or SAT.

Anna Walter (Boone Co., ’10) says that she’ll be taking the SAT during fall break, “I really want to do better, just to prove to myself that I can,” Walter noted. “It’s also a big consideration in a lot of scholarships, I’m hoping to get around a 2250 (out of 2400).”

There’s a lot of excitement building up as fall break comes closer. Whether students are going to home to vedge or plan on taking school home for a bit, the Gatton Academy wishes students, staff, and parents a safe and happy fall break.

Read More
By Corey Alderdice

Students Find Comfort During Academy Transition in Family at Home, Schneider Hall

August 28, 2009 | News, Parents, Student Life | No Comments

Howard Twins

by Elaine Flynn, Academy Avatar

With Adventure Week, a new class enters the halls of Gatton Academy. Within this group of students, some may feel like they packed too much, others are still finding their place, and then there are a handful of students who were prepared by an older sibling.

The 2008-09 school year marked the first occasion in which siblings attended the Gatton Academy: Jenny and Jason Ludden.  Jenny, a 2009 alumna, noted having a brother in the program did not significantly alter her experience.  “Jason and I have always gotten along really well so being at the academy with him wasn’t a big deal,” she said.  “I encouraged him to apply.”

She went on to mention how they attended a few classes together and how useful it was to be able to study with each other.  No matter how unusual for the second year of the program, no one expected what was to come next.

The entering Class of 2011 features three students with siblings that have graduated from the Academy:  Michael Bowie, Corban Coffman, and Josh “Moose” Song. This year has also taken another step or two in family relationships at the Academy by having cousins, Tejas Sangoi and Paras Vora.

Perhaps most unique of all are twins Brittany and Courtney Howard.

These sisters have both chosen to attend the Academy out of their love for math and science. Between sharing a room, class schedule, friends, and talents they love, Brittany and Courtney have an interesting year ahead of them.

Yet, it didn’t just start this week, it started during the application process. Brittany and Courtney knew that there was a possibility that only one of them would make it into the Academy. However, they hung onto hope that they wouldn’t have to deal with that situation.  They did know that if it happened they would remain supportive of each other.  When the mail finally arrived after interview weekend, Brittany’s and Courtney’s hope was rewarded with both receiving letters of acceptance.

They will now experience the challenge facing all first-year Academy students: having a roommate.  However, when asked about sharing a room this year, Brittany commented, “When we were little we shared a room, but when our older sister left for college I got her room.”

They may even fight from time to time but, “We are just like any other siblings,” Courtney expressed.

When asked about the effectiveness of familiar support from siblings, Tim Gott, the Academy’s director, believes having a family member around can provide a special, additional layer of support in the transition to life in Schneider Hall. “The biggest factor is that having prior experiences eliminates some of the fear factor,” he said.  “Parents are much more comfortable and siblings have the inside stories to help make them comfortable. Not to mention having some textbooks and materials.”

As the semester begins, all Academy students will find themselves working hard, yet having the tight relationships will continue to keep them together and strong. Whether it is a twin, a sibling, a cousin, a friend from a home school, or friends made here, if any student wishes to succeed in this atypical high school, then they will need each other.

Read More
By Corey Alderdice

Class of 2011 Welcomed to WKU at Picnic with the President

August 26, 2009 | News, Student Life | No Comments

Picnic with the President

by Ryne Weiss, Academy Avatar

“You will have all the benefits of a high level private school and all the intimacy of a family at Schneider Hall,” greets university president, Gary Ransdell. On Monday, Gatton Academy Class of 2011 members and returning Community Leaders met on the president’s lawn to share an intimate dinner to celebrate the closing of the first full day at the Academy.

President Ransdell was aglow with praise for the Academy, himself having worked hard to make it happen. Ransdell also noted his belief in the program as a way to enrich the state and continue WKU’s missions of becoming a leading American university with international reach: “We build the intellectual heartbeat of Kentucky, and you all are the lifeblood. I am honored you would give these two years of your life to the Gatton Academy, WKU, and most importantly, to yourselves.”

Dinner was catered by WKU Dining and accented by set-ups for the popular games of cornhole and Bocce ball. “Who here thinks they’re the best cornhole player at the Academy?” asked President Ransdell. A hand goes up and is quickly retracted, realizing that the president is not kidding.

At dinner, Cass of 2010 Community Leaders, including Community Developers, Academy Avatars, and Student Government Representatives split up and sat at tables with new juniors, answering questions about the year ahead. The Community Leaders were more than happy to share, and just to get to know their new classmates a little better.

Class of 2011 member Chandler Santos intoned her feelings about the Academy: “The academy is such a fantastic opportunity, and children around the state should be honored to have such an opportunity available to them.”

Natalie Schieber had things to say along the same lines: “I’m excited for the unique research opportunities that the Academy offers.”

However, things weren’t all on such a formal note. There were discussions of a wide range of other topics, including where everyone was from, music people listen to, movies playing in theaters, and how much everyone hates their pictures on their ID cards.

Read More
By Corey Alderdice

Academy Juniors, Community Leaders Tackle Challenge Course

August 25, 2009 | News, Student Life | No Comments

A Human Knotby Rohith Palli, Academy Avatar

Laughter rang out across the forest this morning as The Gatton Academy’s newly-arrived juniors and Community Leaders converged upon the low ropes challenge course of Western Kentucky University.

The course is designed to improve teamwork and leadership; it consists of a wide variety of team-building exercises.  From lifting people up walls to putting themselves in line by their birthday, the training worked to mold the class into a functioning team.  In the words of Whitney, a coordinator at the challenge course, “Communication is the key to every exercise. It’s what we try to promote. Teamwork. We want people to really keep others in mind and effective communication is what works.”

“I think experience activities, metaphor activities as I call them, are the best way to learn group dynamics,” said Tim Gott, the director of the Gatton Academy, when asked what he hoped the juniors would gain from this experience.

Students took that message to heart.  Anthony Bates, a quick learner, answered speedily in his group that “teamwork and communication are key.” Later, when asked to describe what he gained from this experience, he noted lessons from the day are an important part of the Adventure Week experience. “I think I learned a lot,” Bates said.  “It really reinforced Pokey’s [ Bowen, assistant director of counseling services] ideas about how we have to work together to succeed and that if one person only thinks about themselves there is no way the team can succeed.”

The Wall

Each activity was designed with a purpose.  In one activity, a favorite according to the coordinators, students allow themselves to fall backwards into the waiting arms of their peers.  This exercise teaches the students to trust each other.  Students are not, however, required to participate in any activity.  This “challenge by choice” creates an environment in which all the students are enjoying themselves and working together.

As the day went on, and groups got closer together, there was more and more joking around and laughter within the juniors, and between the classes.  Hunter Smith put it best in saying “I found that this challenge course is a very effective resource to help with the junior’s interclass trust and friendliness.” He went on to mention the skills that the seniors learned in the previous year.

One group that has clearly learned these lessons already is the community leaders; the difference in their demeanor from only a year ago is very apparent.  These students, many of whom were very shy and anxious a year ago–similar feelings to this year’s juniors–have become amazingly comfortable with themselves.

“There’s definitely a greater confidence and less hesitance and doubt, better vision of what it’s supposed to be,”  Gott said of the difference in how the community leaders approached this year’s challenge course.  He elaborated with a specific example; “Ballard [Metcalfe] was very quiet last year, and was a major force this year; he talked and he helped and guided.”

At the end of the course, students left better leaders, and everyone was very excited about the new year.  In the wise words of Gott : “I’m incredibly excited about this group and the mixture of the first and second years to see the synergy that develops.”

Read More
By Corey Alderdice

Schneider Hall Filled with Excitement, Nerves as Adventure Week Begins

August 23, 2009 | News, Parents, Student Life | No Comments

Camille Turner and her mother unpack as the Class of 2011 arrives at Schneider HallYou might say Cate Lauzon has become a pro at helping her daughters head off to college.

If not a pro, at least she’s had practice this week.  Sunday marks the second time in less than seven days that one of her daughters is beginning college—for the first time.  Though the elder is studying at Bellarmine University in Louisville, her youngest daughter Madeline is beginning her first year at the Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky at Western Kentucky University.

Madeline, along with 65 other Class of 2011 members, moved box after box of bedding, clothes, computers, and other items into Schneider Hall today as Adventure Week began on the WKU campus.  The one-week program provides Gatton Academy students with the opportunity to ease into the transition of life on a university campus while getting to know their peers and classmates at the Gatton Academy.

Cate still smiled as she sorted through another box of her daughter’s possessions.  “I’m kind of worn out.  We’re at the end of a long week.  I suppose I’d be more stressed out, but I’m just too tired.”

Though tired, she is very optimistic about the opportunity Madeline has ahead.  “I want her to really expand her academic life,
she noted. “I want her to see what else is out there and possible that she hasn’t seen yet.  I want her to get excited about all the areas she’s never been exposed to.”

Two floors below the Lauzon’s in Schneider hall, Camille Turner and her mother Carmen also continue the work of unpacking.  When asked what she was most nervous about, she replied, “The work. Just going from the transition from high school to college.”

For many Gatton Academy students, they are leaving behind a traditional high school experience in favor of more challenging courses, the opportunity to conduct research, and making the most of being in a university environment.  These are exactly the kind of opportunities Carmen believes her daughter will have as a student at the Gatton Academy.

“She’s always excelled in high school,” she said. “Camille’s always done well.  There’s no apprehension, so I’m okay with it.  I’m excited for her.  Before she only did research, now she’s doing the real thing.  She’s such a great kid, and she’ll be such a great student.”

Madeline Buhr

The academic rigor is the element of the program that makes study at the Gatton Academy so unique.  For Shawn Kelly, father of Kyle Kelly, he believes it’s the kind of challenge his son and other gifted students need most.  “This is what we’ve been waiting for. This will open doors for him that he never, ever would have had. They need to be challenged.”

The mood around Schneider Hall on Sunday seemed to echo that enthusiasm.  Cheryl Buhr, mother of Madeline Buhr, shared that she was not nervous.  Instead, she seemed excited for her daughter and the experiences she’ll have.  “I’m not really nervous,” she said.  “I’m excited for (Madeline).  I think this is a wonderful opportunity.  The possibilities are just endless.  I know that’s (the Academy’s) saying, but it’s true.  The opportunities she’ll have here are nothing like she would have had in high school.”

For Susan Bowie, this marks the third year in a row she has helped a son move into Schneider Hall.  John, her oldest son, was part of the first class of students selected to attend the Gatton Academy.  A 2009 graduate, he will continue undergraduate work at WKU as his brother Michael begins classes at the Academy.  For her, Adventure Week is about getting students into the right mindset for the coming year.  “With this extra week, students have the chance to get prepared and know the expectations,” Bowie said.

Seeing the growth in the program since its inception only increases Bowie’s confidence in her son studying at the Academy.  “I’m comfortable with it.  I know he’ll be in good hands.”

Even as students make this transition, many see the newness of it as a chance to grow.  For Kyle Kelly, it’s a chance to make a fresh start.  “It’s just a blank slate,” he said. “I’m really looking forward to starting over, a new school with new challenges.”

Life at the Gatton Academy provides students the opportunity to become more independent.  Others look to the possibility of making new friends.  In fact, many have been counting down the days since they received admissions letters in the mail.  “I had a countdown on my calendar,” noted Madeline Lauzon.

While there will quickly be work that needs completion and exams for which to study, students on the whole seem keen on what’s ahead.  In the short term, though, sometimes the hardest part is simply realizing there’s not enough space in the room once the unpacking begins.  “I brought too much stuff,” Lauzon said will a laugh.

Read More
By Corey Alderdice