The William T. Nallia Award honors an education leader who reflects the spirit of innovation and cutting edge leadership while bringing higher levels of success and learning to children. The award is named in honor of William T. Nallia, a KASA executive director from 1975-1986. Under Nallia’s leadership, the organization experienced tremendous growth and has since remained at the forefront of innovation in public education in Kentucky.
Dr. Roberts, the Mahurin Professor of Gifted Studies, is an influential figure in gifted education on a state, national and international level. She was awarded the 2011 Acorn Award at the Annual Governor’s Conference on Postsecondary Education Trusteeship, was named one of the 100 gifts WKU has given to the world, received the very first David W. Berlin Advocacy Award from the National Association for Gifted Children, and was named one of the 55 most influential people in the field of gifted education in Profiles of Influence in Gifted Education. She serves as treasurer of the World Council for Gifted and Talented Children and president of the Council for Exceptional Children—The Association for the Gifted. She has authored numerous articles, chapters, and books, including the Legacy Award-winningStrategies for Differentiating Instruction: Best Practices for the Classroom co-authored with Tracy Inman in 2009.
Dr. Roberts is also responsible for opening a state-funded residential high school for students gifted in science and math, The Gatton Academy. After 10 years of advocacy work, Dr. Roberts was able to open the doors and has welcomed her fifth class this fall. The academy was recently recognized in Newsweek as one of the nation’s top five high schools.
“Dr. Roberts is a servant leader who keeps her eye on the prize. She is an extremely talented individual who has been a force in helping many students in Kentucky succeed,” Wayne Young, executive director of KASA, said.
“Julia’s passion for gifted children drives her leadership vision. She communicates this vision gently, but persistently, with all she does and with everyone she meets. The kids come first,” Lynette Baldwin, executive director of the Kentucky Association for Gifted Education, said.
Representing nearly 3,000 education leaders, KASA has members in every school district in the commonwealth. KASA has been connecting education leaders to policymakers, legislators and other interest groups in addition to providing numerous benefits and services to Kentucky’s school administrators for over 40 years.
For more information, contact Abigale Piper at (502) 875-3411
Thanks to generous support from The Berta Excellence in Education Fund, Dr. Tom Hébert, author of Understanding the Social and Emotional Lives of Gifted Students and nationally recognized expert in gifted education from the University of Georgia, will share his expertise Oct. 24-25 in Bowling Green.
The Center for Gifted Studies at WKU will host two presentations by Dr. Hébert at the Carroll Knicely Conference Center, an evening seminar and a daylong workshop.
The evening session, from 6:30 to 8 Oct. 24, is designed for parents and others interested in the social and emotional development of gifted children. Dr. Hébert will focus on the search for meaningful friendships, heightened sensitivity and empathy in children, managing stress, moderating perfectionism and maintaining healthy motivation. Discussion will focus on how parents must take good care of themselves in order to celebrate the social and emotional lives of their children.
The six-hour workshop, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Oct. 25, is titled Understanding the Social and Emotional Lives of Gifted Students and is designed for parents, educators, counselors and school administrators. This seminar presents a comprehensive treatment of social and emotional development in gifted students. Topics include theories that guide our understanding of the lived experiences of gifted students, social and emotional characteristics and behaviors evidenced in gifted learners, friendships and family relationships that supports them, identity development, and contextual influences that shape their social and emotional lives. In addition, participants learn strategies for designing a supportive classroom environment for social and emotional development. Through case studies, activities and media, educators gain a better understanding of their students and learn methods to address their social and emotional needs. EILA credit is available.
Both events are free and open to the public. For information and to RSVP, contact The Center for Gifted Studies at (270) 745-6323 or email gifted@wku.edu.
Tim and Ellen Gott and their children have been named WKU’s 2011 Family of the Year.
The Gotts of Bowling Green will be recognized during Parent & Family Weekend activities and will be honored at halftime of Saturday’s WKU vs. Indiana State football game.
“We are deeply honored to be selected as the WKU Family of the Year,” Tim Gott said. “WKU is truly an integrated thread in our lives. Our relationship started here, our degrees are from here, we work here, and all of our children are attending here now.”
The Gotts graduated from WKU in 1985 and received their master’s degrees from WKU. Tim is director of the Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky and is pursuing his doctorate in educational leadership; Ellen is teacher certification officer in the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences.
Their three children attend WKU — Andrew, a member of the Gatton Academy’s first graduating class, will complete his bachelor’s degree in physics and math in December; Emily is a sophomore in the Honors College majoring in entrepreneurship; and Ryan is a student at the Gatton Academy.
“With such an influence on our lives, we are eternally grateful for all that WKU has contributed to each of us,” Tim Gott said. “It is certainly our hope that we take what we have been given from the university and represent WKU as true ambassadors in all that we do. Go Big Red!”
Emily Gott nominated her family for the award, citing their WKU spirit and their impact on her college experience.
“A word that best describes my family would be dedicated,” she said in her nomination letter. “No matter what we are involved in, whether it be toward schoolwork, our weekly dinners at Fresh Foods or attending football and basketball games, we give 100 percent of ourselves. We work hard, enjoy our time together and embrace the Hilltopper spirit with everything we have.”
It is Academy tradition to celebrate the beginning of an exciting new year with an informal evening picnic at the President’s house just off campus.
“We hope we can help make these next two years be everything you dreamed they would be. Welcome to the WKU family, and the food’s up that way,” WKU President Gary Ransdell proudly declared as the catering staff ceremoniously unveiled a veritable feast of plump hot dogs, juicy hamburgers, and assorted bowls of delicious backyard barbecue favorites.
An impressive showing, to be sure, and all in honor of the Gatton Academy Class of 2013, of which Dr. Ransdell could not speak highly enough. Of course, there were more people in attendance than the Academy neophytes in question. Various Academy staff members, Community Leaders, university professors, and department heads also gathered around the round white tables for an hour of intriguing discussion.
One of the more interesting characters wandering about was Dr. Gordon Emslie, WKU’s Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. A triple major in Physics, Math, and Astronomy with extensive research and travel experience, Dr. Emslie regaled Academy students with logic puzzles and existential crises. From “How many post offices are in the US?” (there are less than 100000 because of 5-digit zip codes) to “Share with us something you believe to be an irrefutably true statement. Now, you have thirty seconds to convince us all that it is false,” to a broad assortment of pseudo-random facts and opinions about science, life, and the universe, the Scottish provost certainly knew how to appeal to Academy students.
Of course, the focal points of the party were Dr. Ransdell and his wife Julie Ransdell, who flitted from table to table engaging students in casual conversation about science, WKU, and adjustment to life at the Academy. After three years’ experience in holding this event, the beloved president and his wife had much to share with students new and old alike, and Dr. Ransdell’s speeches were as inspiring as ever.
“You have the whole campus at your disposal; as far as we’re concerned, you’re freshmen at WKU. You’re part of the university family now,” Ransdell said.
As Adventure Week continues, juniors were exposed to even more aspects of the Academy, in particular, research.
On Monday afternoon, faculty from many academic departments at WKU including Psychology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology, and Physics, joined together in Florence Schneider Hall for the annual research fair. During this time, professors set up boards about their research on the second and fourth floor common areas so that students could not only learn more about what they are doing but also become involved in it.
Junior Erica Plummer said that she found the research fair “very helpful, and it assisted in motivating me to want to participate in research this semester at the Gatton Academy.”
She also commented on the wide diversity of the fields of study represented and how well professors explained their respective fields. In fact, there are not very many places where one can find a professor discussing his work on knot theory alongside one that is displaying his dung beetle collection.
Attending the fair also allowed students to talk to professors face to face about their research and ask any questions that they might have. Henry Uradu, a junior, commented that being able to have those conversations in person gave him a better idea about professors’ personalities and the meaning of their research. He also added that those connections are superior to just reading about research because he could “see exactly what they were working on and how many hours I would be required to put in weekly.”
While Henry found the diversity in the biology department which ranged from ecology to cancer research to nanobiology, Shane Masuda found the geology research and physics research to be particularly fascinating. Other students, such as Plummer found mathematics research to be where their interests lie.
Derick Strode, Coordinator for Research, Internships, and Scholarships, was the staff member behind this gathering twenty-five faculty members for the fair. He and Residential Counselor Sue Meador began organizing the fair in early July.
Strode spoke to the “display of their commitment that we had so many faculty join us on Monday.”
He also commented on the importance of the experience for both students and staff: “For Gatton Academy students, I want research to be a means of career exploration–a way to confirm what they’ve always wondered if they would enjoy. I want our students to find the thing that they love studying. Students who find this passion have fun with their research. It becomes an outlet, like a hobby. For the faculty who work them, it’s an awesome feeling to mentor a student who shares their same passions. In fact, many faculty say that having a Gatton Academy student work with them is like having a graduate student researcher.”
All in all, the research fair was a success for both faculty and students. Both were able to make meaningful connections with each other and many doors were opened for the possibility to do research this semester.
WKU Honors College student Clarice Esch, a Gatton Academy graduate, has been awarded an EPA fellowship.
WKU student Clarice Esch, a rising junior in the Honors College at WKU and a recent graduate of the Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky, has been awarded a Greater Research Opportunity Fellowship by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The daughter of Carol and Joseph Esch of Somerset, Esch is one of many successful scholars whose research at WKU has led to national recognition.
For the next two years Esch will receive nearly $50,000 in financial support, including a stipend, tuition payment, and an allowance for educational expenses, from the EPA as she completes her degree. As one of almost 40 students from around the country to receive this prestigious award, Esch will also receive funding for an internship between her junior and senior years. This fellowship, offered to promote careers in research, is open to undergraduate students who are pursuing degrees in an environmental field.
“I recognized that this was an excellent opportunity. I knew that if I received the fellowship it would fund my education, my research, and open many doors,” Esch said. “There was no reason for me not to apply.”
Research is central to Esch’s plans. An agriculture major with a concentration in horticulture, Esch plans to earn a Ph.D. and serve as a university faculty member or researcher in a government facility, like the EPA. This fellowship will allow her to travel to out-of-state conferences and meet other experts in her field across the country as she continues her research endeavors and begins to consider graduate programs.
While a student in the Gatton Academy, Esch began searching for a solution for the excess nitrogen from fertilizer that disrupts the flow of waterways. She is attempting to use nitrogen-fixing lichens as a solution.
“The lichens I work with are an excellent option because they are organic and potentially provide a sustainable supplemental source of fertilizer,” she said.
Even before her success in the EPA GRO competition, Esch’s research had received national recognition. This spring, she received an Honorable Mentionfrom the highly competitive and prestigious Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship Program.
Esch offers thanks to the staff of the Office of Scholar Development for their guidance, assistance and willingness to help. She is also grateful to her research mentor, Dr. Martin Stone, Leichardt Professor of Horticulture, for his support in the lab and classroom.
“Clarice Esch has distinguished herself academically, both in the classroom and in her research here at WKU,” Dr. Stone said. “Agriculture is at the center of sustainable food production and its impact on the environment. Clarice is passionate about the intersection of these two critical areas, and she represents the next generation of scientists that will tackle these important issues. We are proud of her and congratulate her on this most prestigious award. It is well deserved.”
Esch said she was “absolutely elated” when she heard the news that she had been selected as an EPA GRO Fellow. “Four walls could hardly contain me,” she said.
For Sarah Schrader, a student at WKU’s Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Sciencein Kentucky, her senior year of high school has been marked by significant accomplishments. Along with graduation invitations, college decisions and prom, Schrader has been continuing research, studying abroad and mastering a second language. When Schrader receives her diploma from the Gatton Academy on Saturday, she will do so with an added achievement to celebrate.
The Bowling Green student is among 141 outstanding high school seniors recently named2011 U.S. Presidential Scholars. Students selected for the honor have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, artistic excellence, leadership, citizenship, service and contribution to school and community. U.S. Presidential Scholars will be honored for their accomplishments in Washington, D.C., from June 18-21.
“Receiving this honor means that something more is expected of me from this point on,” Schrader said. “It means that I must continue to strive for excellence, work toward achieving my dreams and, most importantly, use my successes to contribute something significant to the world. This journey is not one to be traveled alone.”
Schrader is in good company in the honor. The 141 U.S. Presidential Scholars include one young man and one young woman from each state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and from U.S. families living abroad, as well as 15 chosen at-large and 20 Presidential Scholars in the Arts. The White House Commission on Presidential Scholars, appointed by the president, makes the selections.
Schrader becomes the first Gatton Academy student to be named a U.S. Presidential Scholar. She believes the traits needed to become a scholar were cultivated not only by her experience at the Gatton Academy, but also the people who have surrounded her during her high school experience.
“The support from staff and peers that I received at the Academy has allowed me to develop more confidence, and experiencing living away from home has molded me into a more independent person,” Schrader added. “Most importantly, the courses I have taken and people I have met during my time at the Academy have given me the chance to discover and begin to explore my interests and passions, from Chinese to chemistry to biological research; having a good idea of what I am passionate about will allow me to select the path that best suits my interests and steer myself towards a successful future.”
For the past 47 years, this prestigious program has honored more than 6,000 of the nation’s top-performing students. Of the three million students expected to graduate from high school this year, more than 3,000 candidates qualified on the basis of outstanding performance on the College Board SAT and ACT exams.
Each Presidential Scholar has invited his or her most inspiring and challenging teacher to travel to Washington, D.C., to receive a Teacher Recognition Award from the U.S. Department of Education and to participate in the recognition events. Schrader selected Dr. Liping Chen, an assistant professor of Chinese language and linguistics at WKU. Even as an experienced educator, Dr. Chen believes Schrader stands out among the many students with whom she has worked.
“Chinese, a difficult language for the thousands of American students I have taught over the years, seems so easy for her,” Dr. Chen said. “She has completely changed my view of language teaching and learning and forced me to rethink and reevaluate what I believe students can achieve with the language after one or two years.”
Dr. Chen isn’t the only person kept on their toes by Schrader’s talents. Tim Gott, director of the Gatton Academy, noted that even though he has grown accustomed to working with some of the nation’s best and brightest minds, Schrader is a rarity because of her strengths beyond the classroom.
“In 26 years of working with high school students, Sarah ranks as the strongest student I have ever encountered,” Gott said. “Her academic prowess, her work ethic, her passion for learning, her diverse interests, and her genuine humility mark her as a true role model of excellence.”
Schrader will continue her studies at WKU this fall, the first U.S. Presidential Scholar to do so. One of the main factors in her decision to continue at WKU was the Chinese Flagship Program, in which she will work toward superior-level proficiency over the next two years. Next spring, she will travel to Nanjing University for a semester abroad followed by a research internship at a Chinese university or company over the summer.
“These unique opportunities will allow me to continue to develop linguistic and cultural competence as well as gain experience working in a vastly different research environment, providing me with knowledge and skills that will prepare me for my future career,” Schrader said.
While her immediate future path is set, Schrader took time to reflect on the combined efforts of the Gatton Academy and WKU to help chart that course.
“I have been fortunate to have the continuous support and encouragement of outstanding faculty and amazingly talented peers,” she said. “Without these things, I would not have been able to achieve this recognition. So, I will continue on my journey with a thankful heart, always keeping in mind the tremendous efforts of those who work selflessly to help shape my future, while striving to live up to the high expectations that come with being recognized as a Presidential Scholar.”
Brittany Morgan of Glasgow, a junior in the WKU Honors College, and Sarah Schrader of Bowling Green, a student in the Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky, have been awarded prestigious Goldwater Scholarships. Clarice Esch of Somerset, also a student in the Gatton Academy, received an honorable mention in the highly competitive, national program.
“These awards show the emphasis we place on applied, practical research at the undergraduate level, from the Gatton Academy through our Honors College,” WKU President Gary Ransdell said. “The experience these students gain through research activity and interaction with faculty mentors will serve them well as they continue their academic careers and graduate to make a positive impact on the quality of life in our region.”
This success grows out of the efforts of both individual research mentors and WKU’s Goldwater faculty representative Kevin Williams. Dr. Williams, associate professor of chemistry and former Goldwater Scholarship recipient, took on the role of faculty representative in 2006. Additionally, the Gatton Academy, the Honors College and the Office of Scholar Development work to promote research endeavors and preparation for scholarship competitions.
Sarah Schrader
Sarah Schrader, the daughter of Michelle and Steven Schrader, said the process of applying for and receiving the Goldwater Scholarship has solidified her desire to pursue a career in research. In the lab with Dr. Rodney King, associate professor of biology, she has been discovering a new virus that can only infect bacterial cells and is characterizing it based on its DNA and physical properties.
Schrader plans to pursue a Ph.D. in molecular biology or genetics and to become a research scientist in genetics. She attributes much of her success to the Gatton Academy for the many opportunities that the program offers as well as the Office of Scholar Development for helping to refine her Goldwater Scholarship Application.
“I would also like to thank my research mentor, Dr. King, for the immense amount of support and encouragement he has provided me throughout my time working in his lab,” she said.
Dr. King said he was excited to learn that Sarah had won a Goldwater scholarship. “Sarah is one of the most academically gifted students I have encountered in my career,” he said. “She has an insatiable appetite for learning and a remarkable work ethic. She is self motivated and tremendously disciplined. It’s been a privilege to watch Sarah’s potential for scientific research blossom during her time at WKU. I’m very happy for her, and I’m very pleased that she has received such prestigious national recognition.”
Clarice Esch
Clarice Esch, the daughter of Carol and Joseph Esch, has been researching methods to utilize lichens to reduce the need for nitrogen-based fertilizers. Like Morgan and Schrader, she plans to pursue a Ph.D. after she completes her undergraduate career.
According to Esch, her research has shaped her thinking on her future. “Through this project,” she said, “I discovered a passion for conducting research and intend to continue conducting research throughout the rest of my college career and beyond.”
Esch is grateful for the support of her mentor, Dr. Martin Stone, Leichhardt Professor of Horticulture. Dr. Stone said that Esch is the most promising student that he has worked with in his career as a researcher.
“Her work ethic, attention to detail, and ability to grasp the concepts of our joint research over the past two years have been impressive,” he said. “But beyond her intellectual abilities, she is unassuming and a genuinely nice person to know in both the classroom and in the greenhouse. Students like Clarice come along infrequently in the career of a faculty member and I am fortunate to have worked with her.”
The Goldwater Scholarship Program seeks to recognize excellence in the sciences and to encourage talented students to pursue research careers. Dr. Williams said that being honored by the Goldwater Scholarship Program “is a testimony not only to classroom performance but also to potential and passion for a research career.”
For WKU students, he said, “the Goldwater awards are a validation of their potential as scientists”—potential that Dr. Williams believes others will continue to recognize as these students move toward graduate education and research careers.
The numbers support Dr. Williams’ assessment of the award. Colleges and universities must nominate students for consideration, and the program limits four-year institutions to four nominations each year. In 2011, 275 scholarships were awarded from nearly 1,100 nominees. Scholarship recipients receive $7,500 annually to cover undergraduate tuition, fees, books, or room and board.
About the Office of Scholar Development: The Office of Scholar Development is committed to helping students on all WKU campuses and in all majors and degree programs develop the vision, experience and skills to be independent, engaged scholars. OSD welcomes the opportunity to work with students interested in the Goldwater Scholarship Program or other similar opportunities. Call Audra Jennings at (270) 745-5043 to schedule an appointment with the Office of Scholar Development.
About the Honors College at WKU: WKU is home to the only Honors College in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Created in 2007, the Honors College at WKU provides an intimate, highly selective learning environment where college-age gifted and high-achieving students can develop the skills to prepare them for success in the nation’s top academic and career opportunities. Contact: Drew Mitchell, (270) 745-2081
About the Gatton Academy: The Gatton Academy offers a residential program for bright, highly motivated Kentucky high school students who have demonstrated interest in pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Sixty students each year are admitted to the program through a competitive process. Instead of spending their junior and senior years in traditional high schools, students enroll in the Gatton Academy and live in a uniquely dedicated residence hall. 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 and to prepare them for leadership roles in Kentucky. At the end of two years, Gatton Academy students will have earned at least 60 college credit hours in addition to completing high school. Contact: Corey Alderdice, (270) 745-6565
