Like a good chess match, the admissions game for the Class of 2013 is afoot.
by Corey Alderdice, Assistant Director for Admissions and Public Relations
Activity is picking back up here in Schneider Hall as the full staff returns this morning for the start of a new year. Things are also picking up in the admissions office (read: my office) as well. Every year we seem to get a little faster with our work of admitting the next group of students. Even though the Class of 2012 has yet to arrive on campus, I’m excited to officially announce the availability of the admissions application for the Gatton Academy Class of 2013!
Step-by-step instructions for applying are available via the Admissions page of the Gatton Academy website. The page will walk you through each part of the admissions application and process. For the moment, though, I’d like to call your attention to five updates and changes for the Class of 2013.
1. The deadline for submission of all admissions materials is February 1, 2011.
With an earlier start this year, we have decided to roll the calendar back two weeks for the admissions deadline. The new deadline will provide our admissions committee with the necessary time to devote to each student’s application. Notifications for the interview phase will still be sent by email no later than March 1, 2011.
2. We have revised our policy to allow students with a minimum ACT-Math score of 22 or SAT-Math score of 520 to apply.
The average ACT-Math and Composite scores for incoming students at the Gatton Academy remains 29. Our research shows that 26 is a competitive score that greatly increases the likelihood of a student’s success in the program. However, we have also witnessed students with scores between 22 and 24 be highly successful in the program. The difference is the commitment and work ethic these students possess. Because many students will be in the midst of Algebra II when taking this ACT later this year, we certainly want to account for that with our minimum test score.
3. Essay question four is brand new.
I’m most excited about this change. The University of Chicago is famous for the questions on their “Uncommon App.” What’s great about their questions is that it provides students with an opportunity to be creative, think outside the box, and write on something beyond very traditional admissions questions. We think question four provides a variety of opportunities for exploration while allowing the admissions comittee to see students’ thought processes in a very different way. Check out the question below.
The Center for Disease Control has reported a zombie outbreak with a confirmed Patient Zero in the city of Bowling Green, Kentucky. From the position of Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, base commander at Fort Knox, or Chief of Medicine at the Bowling Green Medical Center, develop an immediate action plan to deal with the outbreak.
4. We’ve added an optional “Video Essay” to the application.
Maturity, personality, and individuality are traits that are common among all Gatton Academy students. Grades, essays, and letters of recommendation do not always demonstrate the level of creativity, ingenuity, and talent among our student body. In order to better appreciate applicants as individuals, candidates are invited to submit a video of no more than two minutes in length for the Admissions Committee to review. Videos may be either edited or unedited. For students who do not have access to the technology to do this, we will have stations set up on Interview Day. We hope that you’ll really wow us with your entries.
5. Students now must submit a minimum of two and no more than four letters of recommendation.
Over the last few years, we’ve realized the most fruitful information comes from the letters of recommendation from your math or science teacher as well the counselor, principal, or community leader. Acquiring these letters of recommendation can often be a challenge for sophomores as they have yet to establish a connection a rapport with a variety of teachers. With that in mind, students only must submit the two required letters, though you have the opportunity to provide us with up to two more letters from the persons of your choice.
Excited? We sure are!
Don’t forget to RSVP to attend a Preview Weekend this fall on campus. Preview Weekends are great opportunity to get to know the students, parents, and staff who truly make the Gatton Academy an “Atypical High School.” We’ll also conduct a series of Information Sessions throughout the state later this fall. We’ll share more details as those dates become available.
Until then, feel free to contact us with any questions you may have about the admissions process or the Gatton Academy!
Geographic distribution for students applying to the Gatton Academy Class of 2012.
The Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky at Western Kentucky University has selected 61 students for its Class of 2012.
The students in this year’s class span 38 counties from across the Commonwealth. This gifted group of high school sophomores brings with them to the Gatton Academy an average ACT score almost 10 points higher than the statewide average for graduating seniors.
Last fall, 275 students began the admissions process with 125 students qualifying for review. Students were reviewed based on ACT/SAT scores, high school grades, awards, extracurricular activities, responses to essay questions, and letters of recommendation. Earlier this month, 85 candidates were invited for interviews with Academy staff members and representatives from across Kentucky. In the end, 61 dynamic applicants emerged from the review process.
When faced with the talented pool of applicants, Tim Gott, the Academy’s director, knew the program needed to find a way to meet the needs of a greater number of students. Consulting with Academy staff members, a decision was made to expand the student body to 128 students beginning in fall 2010, an increase of nearly 7 percent.
Gott expects these students to continue the level of academic and personal engagement Academy students have demonstrated over the last three years.
“As we begin planning for our fourth year at the Gatton Academy, I am amazed and honored to work with such outstanding students,” Gott said. “The incoming Class of 2012 once again demonstrates the incredible caliber of students from across the Commonwealth. The depth of academic strength and emerging leadership among this group reveals that the state is making a major contribution toward meeting the demand for more professionals in the STEM fields.”
The selected students scored an average composite of 29.2 on the ACT and 29.5 on the math portion of the exam. The highest possible score is 36. The 2009 state average ACT score for graduating Kentucky high school seniors was a composite of 19.4.
“The members of the Gatton Academy’s Class of 2012 have demonstrated they are ready for a greater academic challenge,” said Corey Alderdice, the Academy assistant director for admissions and public relations. “They will bring to WKU a variety of passions and abilities. Our goal will be to sharpen those skills as they grow and mature both academically and socially. Their experiences will be the flagstone in their pursuit to lead Kentucky in the 21st century.”
The incoming class includes students from the following counties: Boone, Bourbon, Boyd, Boyle, Breathitt, Bullitt, Calloway, Campbell, Carroll, Carter, Christian, Clay, Clinton, Daviess, Graves, Hancock, Hardin, Henderson, Henry, Jefferson, Jessamine, Kenton, Larue, Laurel, Logan, Madison, Mercer, Montgomery, Nelson, Oldham, Pulaski, Rockcastle, Russell, Simpson, Todd, Warren, Wayne and Whitley.
Students from eight new counties were admitted to the Gatton Academy this year.
This year, eight counties had students admitted to the Gatton Academy for the first time: Breathitt, Carroll, Clay, Clinton, Montgomery, Rockcastle, Russell and Todd.
To date, the Gatton Academy has admitted students from 95 of Kentucky’s 120 counties.
The goals of the Gatton Academy are to enable Kentucky’s exceptional young scientists and mathematicians to learn in an environment which offers advanced educational opportunities, preparing them for leadership roles in Kentucky. Moreover, the Gatton Academy assists in preparing Kentucky to compete in a knowledge-based economy by increasing the number of scientists and engineers who live and work in the state.
Students will finish their junior and senior years of high school living in Schneider Hall and taking courses offered by WKU. At the end of their two-year course of study, they will graduate from high school and have earned at least 60 college credit hours.
The Academy provides a rich living/learning environment designed specifically for academically talented adolescent students that features clubs, organizations and community service. Additionally students are able to participate in advanced research with WKU faculty members. Research conducted during students’ time at the Gatton Academy has been honored in the nationally competitive Siemens Competition, Intel Science Talent Search, Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program, and the Department of Defense Science, Math, and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship Program.
The Gatton Academy is Kentucky’s only state-supported, residential program for high school students with interests in advanced science and math careers and one of sixteen such programs in the nation. In 2009, Newsweek magazine honored the Academy as one of 16 “Public Elite” American high schools.
More information about the Gatton Academy is available online at http://www.wku.edu/academy/.
Students selected for the Gatton Academy Class of 2012
From Boone County:John Ferguson, a student at Cooper High School whose parents are Martha Ferguson and Philip Ferguson; Samantha Hawtrey, a student at Ryle High School whose parents are Claire Hawtrey and Thomas Hawtrey; Lori Lovell, a student at Boone County High School whose parents are Sarah Lovell and Joseph Lovell; and Daniel Dilger, a student at Ryle High School whose parents are Tonya Dilger and Johannes Dilger.
From Bourbon County: Brandon Farmer, a student at Bourbon County High School whose parents are Lisa Farmer and Charles Farmer.
From Boyd County: Curtlyn Kramer, a student at Paul G. Blazer High School whose parents are Betty Rice-Kramer and Curtis Kramer; and Jessica Farrell, a student at Boyd County High School whose parents are Annette Farrell and David Farrell.
From Boyle County: Lukas Missik, a student at Boyle County High School whose parents are Christine Missik and John Missik.
From Breathitt County: Hunter Noble, a student at Breathitt County High School whose parents are Cindy Noble and Gregory Noble.
From Bullitt County: Layne Webb, a student at Bullitt East High School whose parents are Judith Webb and Kevin Webb; Alex Gutierrez, a student at Bullitt East High School whose parents are Bobbi Gutierrez and Leroy Gutierrez; and Anthony Gutierrez, a student at Bullitt East High School whose parents are Bobbi Gutierrez and Leroy Gutierrez.
From Calloway County: Hannah Miller, a student at Murray High School whose parents are Diane Miller and Jeff Miller; and Hannalore Clause, a student at Calloway County High School whose parents are Joyce Clause and Robert Clause.
From Campbell County: Lydia Clark, a student at Campbell County High School whose parents are Dawn Clark and Troy Clark.
From Carroll County: Luke Yap, a student at Carroll County High School whose parents are Tracey Yap and Winston Yap.
From Carter County: Jaymi Porter, a student at West Carter High School whose parent is Jay Porter.
From Christian County: Breck Turner, a student at Hopkinsville High School whose parents are Wendy Turner and William Turner; and Amelia Winters, a student at Christian County High School whose parents are Patrice Johnson-Winters and Tommy Winters.
From Clay County: Caroline Stivers, a student at Clay County High School whose parents are Nancy Stivers and Robert Stivers.
From Clinton County: Ellis Shelley; a student at Clinton County High School whose parent is Charlotte Shelley Bernard.
From Daviess County: William Bickett, a student at Owensboro Catholic High School whose parents are Karen Bickett and Gary Bickett; Leah Wilson, a student at Daviess County High School whose parents are Jean Wilson and Jeff Wilson; and Gabrielle Canant, a student at Daviess County High School whose parents are Paula Canant and Kenneth Canant.
From Graves County: Andrea Eastes, a student at Paducah-Tilghman High School whose parents are Chrissy Eastes and Jeff Eastes; and Daylynn Allison, a student from Graves County High School whose parents are Carrie Burnett and Douglas Allison.
From Hancock County: Jon Warren, a student at Hancock County High School whose parent is DiAnn Warren.
From Hardin County: Matthew Mattingly, a student from Elizabethtown High School whose parents are Jennifer Mattingly and James Mattingly; Samantha McKean, a student at Central Hardin High School whose parents are Julie McKean and John McKean; Landon Wilcox, a student from Elizabethtown High School whose parents are Angela Wilcox and Dale Wilcox; and Cameron Kispert, a student from John Hardin High School whose parents are Jeanine and Kenneth Kispert.
From Henderson County: Christian Jolly, a student from Henderson County High School whose parents are Michelle Jolly and Scott Jolly.
From Henry County: Rachel Metcalfe, a student from Eminence High School whose parents are Tina Stambaugh and Steve Metcalfe.
From Jefferson County: Taylor Leet, a student from Louisville Male High School whose parents are Tila Leet and Allen Leet.
From Jessamine County: Jesse Matherly, a student from West Jessamine High School whose parents are Cindy Matherly and Steve Matherly.
From Kenton County: Logan Eckler, a student from Ludlow High School whose parent is Donna Eckler.
From Larue County: Mary Greenwell, a student from Central Hardin High School whose parents are Neda Greenwell and Paul Greenwell.
From Laurel County: Alexandra DeCarlo, a student from South Laurel High School whose parents are Karen DeCarlo and Anthony DeCarlo.
From Logan County: Victoria Allen, a student from Logan County High School whose parent is Jennifer Allen.
From Madison County: Laura Claytor, a student from Berea Community High School whose parents are Kim Claytor and Joe Claytor.
From Mercer County: Tennesse Joyce, a student from Mercer County High School whose parents are Chantal Joyce and Tim Joyce.
From Montgomery County: Nicholas Zolman, a student from Montgomery County High School whose parents are Katherine Zolman and Mitchell Zolman.
From Nelson County: Rebecca Brown, a student at Nelson County High School whose parents are Susan Brown and Brian Brown; Charlotte Humes, a student at Nelson County High School whose parents are Suzanne Coombs and Louis Humes; and Barbara Still, a student at Nelson County High School whose parent is Arneida Harrise.
From Oldham County: Paul Fleischmann, a student at South Oldham High School whose parents are Maria Fleischmann and Randall Fleischmann.
From Pulaski County: Benjamin Rice, a student at Somerset Christian School whose parents are Jessie Rice and Richard Rice; Melanie Hurst, a student at Southwestern High School whose parents are Treba Hurst and David Hurst; and Aaron Stolze, a student Southwestern High School whose parents are Lisa Stolze and Jason Stolze.
From Rockcastle County: Caroline Green, a student at Rockcastle County High School whose parent is Christie Green.
From Russell County: William Brown, a student at Russell County High School whose parents are Karen Brown and James Brown.
From Simpson County: David Sekora, a student at Franklin-Simpson High School whose parents are Marschelle Sekora and Peter Sekora; and Joseph Tutor, a student at Franklin-Simpson High School whose parents are Tiffany Wilson and Scott Wilson.
From Todd County: Annie Wheeler, a student at Todd County Central High School whose parents are Makka Wheeler and Gerald Wheeler, III.
From Warren County: Michael Crocker, a student at Bowling Green High School whose parents are Patricia Crocker and Scott Crocker; Austin Taing, a student at Greenwood High School whose parent is Yong Taing; Markus Ernst, a student at Bowling Green High School whose parents are Uta Ziegler and Claus Ernst; Jordan Currie, a student at Warren Central High School whose parents are Tamara O’Nan and Christopher Currie; and Holly Morris, a student at Bowling Green High School whose parents are Cindy Morris and Tim Morris.
From Wayne County: Victoria Pulsifer, a student at Monticello High School whose parent is Kathleen Martin.
From Whitley County: Emily Croley, a student at Williamsburg High School whose parent is Debra Croley.
After seven months of information, reflection, and review, we’re excited to send out admissions notifications to the Gatton Academy’s Class of 2012. The students invited to join the Class of 2012 consist of 61 male and 61 female students. These individuals represent 38 counties across the Commonwealth. We’re particularly excited to share the inclusion of 8 new counties with the Class of 2012. To date, the Gatton Academy has served the needs of students from 95 of Kentucky’s 120 counties.
You’ll see Corey show the map in the video. This represents the initial offers of admission. The map, which is featured below, may change based on any declinations of our offers of admission.
The geographic distribution for the Gatton Academy's Class of 2012.
Today marks a unique celebration for a little known figure in history and science: Ada Lovelace.
Ada Lovelace was born in 1815. Lovelace was one of the world’s first computer programmers, and one of the first people to see computers as more than just a machine for doing sums. She wrote programs for Charles Babbage’s Analytical Engine, a general-purpose computing machine, despite the fact that it was never built. She also wrote the very first description of a computer and of software.
Even though her accomplishments are almost two centuries old, history has often lost sight of the countless women who have contributed to the discoveries and discourse that mark some of the greatest achievements in human thought.
Somewhere around fifty years ago, the closest relationship many people observed between women and technology was the vacuum cleaner. It has often been lamented that STEM subjects (science, technology, mathematics, and engineering) are male-dominated fields that are unwelcoming to women. When talking about the Academy to people across the state, I often hear the assumption that we have more male students in our program than females or that there must be way more young men who apply to the program than women. Of course our program is home to sixty female and female students each year.
Perhaps more interesting is the fact that our applicant pool is extremely balanced in terms of male and female applicants, with each previous year fielding applications from more young women than men.
Those 120 students selected to attend the Gatton Academy are pretty lucky to study under and learn from outstanding female educators and professionals. In preparation for writing this article, Tim and I sat in his office listing off the female faculty members who daily deliver engaging lectures, sponsor students in their labs, involve them in their own pursuits, and serve as mentors for our developing young scholars.
Today, we celebrate the legacy of Ada Lovelace by showing our appreciation for women in STEM and the young women who will one day lead in those fields. Ada Lovelace Day is an international day of blogging to draw attention to the achievements of women in technology and science. Over the last fifty hours, over 2000 individuals from across the world have shared stories about their favorite heroines, mentors, and pioneers. In celebration of Ada Lovelace Day, I asked several female faculty members to weigh in on the role of women in STEM.
Certainly one of the greatest challenges ahead is getting more young women interested in math and science from an early age. This past weekend, Ogden College hosted it’s Girls in Science Day, an event that was featured on the front page of the Sunday edition of the Bowling Green Daily News.
Dr. Uda Ziegler, a professor of computer science at WKU, related some of the major issues that face educators and professionals in cultivating interest in these fields: the examples of STEM (robots, the moon landing, Star Wars, etc.) are geared toward stereotypical male interests; the lack of portrayal of successful women in media in STEM fields; that young women are often more critical of their accomplishments and, as a consequence, often decide they are not “cut out” for STEM; and a substantial attrition of female interest in STEM between grades five and twelve. As these young women enter college and are on the cusp of professional life, they have to juggle the concept of family and perceived social norms.
As Dr. Ziegler so keenly notes, the challenges are many. Dr. Stacy Wilson, a professor of engineering at WKU, added that generating interest requires a balance to “help young women understand that there is great potential for them to have meaningful careers in the STEM disciplines. However, it is also important to equip them with the skills they need to be successful.”
In many ways, though, the key to increasing female interest in STEM is to cultivate an interest in these subjects in all students, noted Dr. Cheryl Davis, a professor of biology. “We must do a better job of teaching science and math to all children,” she said, “especially at the elementary and middle school levels.”
Some of the greatest examples of high-level learning in math and science are found each year in the Intel Science Talent Search. High school students from across the country demonstrate that innovation is not constrained to the future or advanced degrees. Young women and men are already shaping the discourse that will be important in fashioning the role of America in STEM this century.
In Saturday’s New York Times, columnist Thomas Friedman, a friend of STEM and author of such books as The World is Flat, shared his experiences at this year’s awards ceremony. His passion for these subjects is clear. One passage from the column struck me as quite powerful:
Seriously, ESPN or MTV should broadcast the Intel finals live. All of the 40 finalists are introduced, with little stories about their lives and aspirations. Then the winners of the nine best projects are announced. And finally, with great drama, the overall winner of the $100,000 award for the best project of the 40 is identified. This year it was Erika Alden DeBenedictis of New Mexico for developing a software navigation system that would enable spacecraft to more efficiently “travel through the solar system.” After her name was called, she was swarmed by her fellow competitor-geeks.
Young women like Erika are the future of STEM. At the Gatton Academy, we’re happy to help provide female and male students with the experiences and momentum to change the world through research, inquiry, and innovation in science and math.
I think Ada would be proud of the work we’re doing, our outstanding mentors, and the infinite possibilities ahead.
The iPhone icon for the Gatton to Go mobile app. Click the image to preview the app in iTunes.
by Corey Alderdice
It’s been a crazy busy week at the Gatton Academy.
Monday marked the official deadline for our Class of 2012 applicants. Along the way, we have begun to receive word about some exciting scholarship opportunities for which our Class of 2010 students have been named semifinalists. Summer plans are coming together with a combination of research opportunities and internships. And lest we forget, Academy students got to meet and pick the brain of WKU alumnus and NASA astronaut Terry Wilcutt.
It would be one thing if this was a once-in-a-blue-moon kind of week. At our “atypical high school,” though, it’s just like any other week. Perhaps one of the greatest aspects of the academic and student life at the Academy is that it is the most vibrant learning community available. Both in and out of class, Academy students have the distinct privilege of engaging in awesome learning experiences.
As Assistant Director for Admissions and Public Relations, I joke with friends that I have the easiest job out of all of the staff members at the Academy. Our students week after week do great things. All I have to do is let people know how great they are. The stories on the website, tweets, and Facebook postings write themselves. They really do.
In prepping to write this piece after posting stories, video blogs, and photo albums of the week’s events, I realized something special. Since launching version 2.0 of the Academy website last January, we’ve posted just over 200 news stories, 5Q, video blogs, photo albums, Randon Wanderings, and other features. Since the start of the new school year, it’s been our goal to share the best of academic and student life at the Gatton Academy via the website. As we traveled around Greece during Winter Term, many of you followed us along the way.
I can’t say enough kind words to my Academy Avatars, our Residential Counselors, and other students and staff members who have contributed their thoughts, words, and photos to our posts.
The fact that prospective students, current students, parents, alumni, and hosts of other folks from throughout the country follow our news each day, means this is an exciting place to be. For those who aren’t in Schneider Hall day in and day out, the website and our social media outlets are almost as good as living in Schneider Hall. We’re closing in on 800 fans of our Facebook page. That’s not too shabby.
Keeping up with all this information can be a bit of a challenge even for our most avid follower. That’s why I’m happy to share with you the release of the Gatton to Go mobile phone app. The app is available now as a free download available for both the iPhone (through iTunes) and Google Android OS phone (through Android Market).
The app combines our news, Twitter, Vimeo, YouTube, Flickr, and Eventbrite feeds. Additionally, you catch up on posts from the WKU News Blog and tweets from The Center for Gifted Studies. Rather than combing several sites, the Gatton to Go app combines all this great information into one package.
If a school had a website fifteen years ago, they were pretty cutting edge. Just as our goal for students is to be innovators and creative thinkers, we try to mirror that belief in our work every day at the Academy.
This is just the start. We’re coming up on some of the biggest news of the year. Look for some great stories next week focusing on student acheivement and the WKU Undergraduate Research Conference. In a matter of days, we’ll announce the students who are receiving interview for the Class of 2012 followed by the candidates for admission. Before you know it, graduation and summer opportunities will be on the horizon.
Every day there’s lots to celebrate. Our students, parents, and staff make these great things happen.
Like I say, I have the distinct privilege of getting to share it with you.
