Tag Archive : Community Developers

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Community Leaders Busily Prepare for Arrival of Class of 2013

August 22, 2011 | News, People, Student Life, Students | No Comments

Community Leaders assist RC Laura Huff in preparing door decorations for the arrival of the Class of 2013.
Community Leaders assist RC Laura Huff in preparing door decorations for the arrival of the Class of 2013.

by Sammi Hawtrey, Academy Avatar

Classes don’t begin for another week, but several Gatton Academy students are already hard at work.

With the air brimming in anticipation of the new juniors’ arrival, these select few have arrived four days early to ensure that everything is ready in time. Since Wednesday, the Academy Community Leaders have been participating in a variety of seminars and meetings to prepare for the upcoming year, filling the Schneider Hall with energy and excitement.

Community Developers (CDs) are student mentors who reside on each wing. Their purpose throughout the year is to be leaders in their community who aid in conflict resolution and are available to help fellow students in need of advice. During the past week, they have been involved in numerous seminars on goal-setting, diversity, leadership, effective communication, and resolving conflicts. In addition, they have been decorating the wings according to their various themes in order to make them feel more like home.

“As a CD, I am looking forward to being an exemplary role model to not only my roommate, but also to other juniors on my wing and throughout the building,” noted second floor CD Hannalore Clause.

“Last year, the seniors really helped me manage stress, and I want to support the juniors in the same way,” added third floor CD Paul Fleischmann.

Also participating in many of the diversity and leadership seminars are members of the Student Government Association (SGA). Voted into the position by their peers, SGA representatives are there to voice the opinions of students to the Academy leadership. Their main occupation has been planning the year’s course and learning ways to best represent incoming juniors, who may not feel comfortable speaking up. Throughout the year they will be coordinating more student activities and seeking to play a bigger part in everyday student life.

Another group which has been hard at work is the Academy Avatars. As the student outreach representatives of the Academy, they have been participating in multiple brainstorming sessions, examining current methods of publication to discover how they can be further improved. Learning how to answer questions quickly and efficiently and seeking to build better one-on-one communication with potential applicants have been primary topics of interest.

Michael Crocker, a current Avatar, took the position in order to help others better understand the Academy experience as an opportunity:  “I want to work towards increasing public awareness of this school and let more people know about the incredible opportunity it presents.”

During the year, the Avatars will be primarily assisting with preview weekends and information sessions, as well as writing articles and continuing to communicate with potential applicants. “I am most excited about meeting students who might be here in the years to come,” said Crocker.

This exemplary group of students has been working diligently in eager anticipation of the new juniors’ arrival and the return of existing seniors. It is evident that their hard work has one purpose: to bring about yet another stellar year at the Gatton Academy.

2011-12 Community Leaders

Community Developers

Hannalore Clause, Daylynn Allison, Samantha McKean, Jordan Curie, Lori Lovell, Taylor Leet, Rachel Metcalfe, Jesse Matherly, Layne Webb, Keaton Smith, Nick Zolman, Alex Gutierrez, Paul Fleischmann, Jon Warren, Nathan Lasley

Student Government Association Leadership Team

Holly Morris, Chris Brown, Hannalore Clause, Nick Zolman

Academy Avatars

Andrea Eastes, Erin Walch, Charlotte Humes, Sammi Hawtrey, Rachel Metcalfe, David Sekora, Will Bickett, Michael Crocker, Jon Warren, Logan Eckler

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By Corey Alderdice

Academy Students Engage Peers as Community Leaders

August 23, 2009 | News, Student Success | No Comments

Community LeadersThe transition from life in high school to the Academy can be bumpy.

Prospective students wonder how they will fit into the program both academically and socially.  The first semester and year of study at the Gatton Academy brings with it a host of lessons and learning experiences.  As current students grow and return for their second year, these experiences can be shared with incoming students so that their transition is as smooth and easy as possible.

To create an avenue for peer mentoring, the Gatton Academy Student Life Team established the Community Leaders program.  Students focused on mentoring students in their first year of the Academy are selected to serve as Community Developers (CDs).  CD’s are selected through a process that includes an essay, RC recommendation, and an interview.  In addition, these students must be in good academic and residence life standing.

2009-10 Community Developers include: Jennifer Connelly; Jordan Jones, Ballard Metcalfe; Hunter Smith; Elaine Flynn; Emily Hall; Justin Jatczak; Sean Karlage; Anna Walter; May Stulz; Forrest Simmons; and Stephen King.

Students who wish to connect with prospective students going through the admissions process as well as public stakeholders have the opportunity to serve as Academy Avatars.  Avatars are selected based on interviews, academic performance, and personality.

2009-10 Academy Avatars include:  Elaine Flynn; Zac Forshee; Emily Hall; Ballard Metcalfe; Rohith Palli; Sarah Pritchett; Katie Rush; and Ryne Weiss.

Beth Hawke, the Gatton Academy’s coordinator of residence life, believes these students leaders are an invaluable resource to both their peers and staff as they give back to the community.

“The community developers are an excellent resource for our incoming students,” Hawke said.  “They act as peer mentors and role models to our new students by offering insights based upon their own first year experience at the Academy.  This is a phenomenal group of students and I am very excited to have them in this role.”

Hawke added that the community developers, in addition to an eager Student Life Team, will help to make this a year to remember at the Gatton Academy.

“I am very excited about this new year,” Hawke said.  “Our residential counselor staff has a blend of experience and enthusiasm that will provide students with the environment that they need to be successful in and out of the classroom.  Rose Nash and Scott Wolfe are returning for a third year as residential counselors and bring a lot of experience to the team.  WKU Honors College graduates Emily Burns and Brian Rogers have worked with the Academy during their undergraduate careers and are returning in full time residential counselor roles.  Rachel Stewart, Sean Giddings, and Sue Meador will round out the residential counselor staff.  Our Assistant Residential Life Coordinator, Melissa Schultz, brings a wealth of experience and energy to the team.”

According to Corey Alderdice, the Gatton Academy’s assistant director for admissions and public relations, the Academy Avatars play a crucial role in informing public stakeholders about the program.

“Legislators, educators, business leaders, and other folks from across Kentucky are excited to hear about the level of student engagement at the Gatton Academy,” Alderdice said.  “Avatars are a great means by which individuals can learn about the Gatton Academy from students who are making the most of this experience.”

With a busy year and a growing pool of applicants ahead, Alderdice believes the Avatars will have an important role in helping students choose to pursue study at the Academy.

“The greatest concern from the family of a prospective student is what will life at the Gatton Academy be like,” Alderdice said.  “There are no better individuals to share the possibilities available and the responsibilities of being an Academy student.”

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

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By Corey Alderdice