Student Success – The Gatton Academy News

9 Tips to Survive the Academy

August 17, 2013 | Academics, Student Life, Student Success, Students | No Comments

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1. Running on “E”: While working on the cure for cancer or becoming the next Bill Gates, don’t forget to get some sleep. You’ll have long nights working on computer science or studying for Anatomy but without sleep your mind won’t be at its best. We suggest a consistent sleep routine.

2. Be Healthy : The Gatton Academy offers many opportunities to get outside and be active, but being healthy is more than just exercise. It’s important to eat regular meals and relax, as well.

3. Hit the Books: This is the part that you knew was coming. Part of the Gatton experience is studying for your classes. If you don’t know how to study, talk to Mallory or form a study group. Don’t procrastinate, it just delays the problem.

4. Get Involved: The Gatton Academy and Western Kentucky University provide students with tons of opportunities and things to do. And the best part about being here is you can try them all!

5. Find a Routine: Getting into a healthy rhythm is crucial. Keeping your mind organized is one of the best things to do. So acquire anything and everything you think will help you stay on track i.e. a calendar, weekly planner, alarm clock(or MULTIPLE alarm clocks….), a watch, to-do lists, post-it notes, or tons of reminders on your smart phone.

6. Use your Resources : The Academy can sometimes be stressful. Never fear! Here, we have a number of useful “academic amenities” that can help pave your way like skilled tutors, community developers, residential counselors, and friendly staff all at your disposal.

7. Take Time to “De-stress”: In the middle of a busy week, take time to get out and have some fun. You’ll come back more productive than you were before.

8. Try New Things:Open yourself up to anything new that you find whether it be food, classes, or activities. Don’t be afraid to try new things. Steve Jobs left Apple and look what he did.

9. Don’t be Afraid to Ask for Help:Your professors, the Academy staff,and peers want to see you do well just as much as you do. Take advantage of this and ask for help. Office hours can be your friend.

By Gatton Academy

Fleischmann Receives National Scholarship to Study in Morocco

May 4, 2012 | Academics, International, News, People, Student Success, Students, WKU | No Comments

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A student at the Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky at WKU has received a national scholarship to study in Morocco this summer.

Paul Fleischmann of Crestwood has received theNational Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) scholarship. The NSLI-Y, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, offers scholarships to high-achieving high school students to learn critical languages in overseas immersion programs. Scholarships include all program fees, travel to and from the program site, housing and activity fees for six weeks during the summer.

Fleischmann, the son of Maria and Randall Fleischmann, is a second-year student at the Gatton Academy. He has studied Arabic for three semesters with Khaldoun Almousily, instructor of Arabic in WKU’s Department of Modern Languages. Through the NSLI-Y award, he expects to gain an additional year’s worth of language proficiency this summer.

“I am so grateful to have been awarded this scholarship,” he said. “It is a unique opportunity, and will give me both knowledge and experience to help with my future.”

Fleischmann aspires to become a research scientist in chemistry and to use his Arabic skills to study environmental issues concerning fossil fuels in a region that has some of the largest oil reserves in the world.

“Paul is a bright student and overall genuine individual,” Almousily said. “The NSLI-Y scholarship will assist him in achieving his ambitious professional goals and learning the Arabic language and culture. I look forward to seeing what the future holds for him.”

Fleischmann spent several weeks working on his application for the NSLI-Y scholarship with Dr. Melinda Grimsley-Smith, Coordinator of International Scholarships in the Office of Scholar Development.

“Many meetings to revise my essays with Dr. Grimsley-Smith both strengthened my application and made the process a great experience,” Fleischmann said.

“It is a real pleasure to work with students like Paul. There’s a good amount of ambition hiding under his laid-back exterior,” Dr. Grimsley-Smith said. “He brings all of his academic and personal interests together in a compelling way, and clearly conveys a strong sense of purpose in his writing. In short, he demonstrates the recipe for success in competitions like NSLI-Y.”

This will be the second international experience for Fleischmann. Over the 2012 winter term, he traveled to Costa Rica to conduct research at the Cloudbridge Nature Reserve with WKU Biology Professor Keith Philips, as well as another Gatton Academy student and a Gatton Academy alumnus to investigate the Gunnera-Nostoc Symbiosis. Students identified populations of Gunnera on the reserve, harvested samples and dissected portions to determine if bacterial symbionts were present. He has also been involved with research under the direction of Dr. Ouida Meier of the Department of Biology investigating local wastewater as a source for cave and karst and groundwater pollution.

About the Office of Scholar Development: The Office of Scholar Development is committed to helping WKU students 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 National Security Language Institute for Youth or other similar opportunities. Contact: Dr. Melinda Grimsley-Smith, (270) 745-5043.

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 advanced careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Approximately 60 students each year are admitted to the program through a competitive selection 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 that offers advanced educational opportunities and to prepare them for leadership roles in Kentucky. At the end of two years, Gatton Academy students earn at least 60 college credit hours in addition to completing high school. Contact: Corey Alderdice, (270) 745-6565.

Contact: Melinda Grimsley-Smith, (270) 745-5043.

By Corey Alderdice

Sekora Receives National Merit Stalnaker Scholarship

April 27, 2012 | News, People, Student Success, Students | No Comments

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David Sekora, a second-year student from Franklin at the Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky, has been named the recipient of the 2012 National Merit John M. Stalnaker Memorial Scholarship.

The award is a four-year scholarship underwritten by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation as a tribute to its founding President and Chief Executive Officer.

“I’d like to thank the National Merit Corporation for awarding me the Stalnaker Memorial Scholarship,” Sekora said. “This is truly a high honor, and I am certain that it can do nothing but help to propel me forward along the path of achievement.”

Sekora, who is dually enrolled in the Gatton Academy and Franklin-Simpson High School, was among approximately 1,000 distinguished high school seniors who have won corporate-sponsored National Merit Scholarship awards ﬁnanced by about 200 corporations, company foundations and other business organizations. Recipients were selected from a pool of some 15,000 Finalists nationwide.

About 1.5 million juniors in some 22,000 high schools entered the 2012 National Merit Scholarship competition when they took the 2010 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®), which served as an initial screen of program entrants.

Dr. Tim Gott, director for the Gatton Academy and member of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation’s advisory council, described Sekora as both an emerging scholar and outstanding young adult.

“We are thrilled to celebrate this incredible honor with David,” Gott said. “Not only does this recognize him as one of the top academic students in the nation, it also reveals his depth and balance that allows him to be considered such an outstanding young man. He has made a huge impact while he has attended the Gatton Academy and we look forward to seeing his accomplishments in the years to come.”

Sekora was selected from the 2012 pool of National Merit Finalists who are planning to pursue majors and careers in science or mathematics. Beginning this fall, Sekora will pursue degrees in mathematics and computer science at the University of Chicago. He would like to eventually become a mathematics professor and independent software developer.

During his time at the Gatton Academy, Sekora already has a jump start on his pursuits. Sekora researched geometric knot theory under guidance of Dr. Claus Ernst. The ultimate goal of the project was to learn about viral DNA, as in some cases viral DNA displays a knotted structure inside the capsid, which prevents the DNA from being threaded into a host organism for reproduction. To better understand their behavior, they developed software to generate random knots in confinement spheres, simplify knots through various transformational schemes, and identify knots given a suitably simplified polygonal representation.

“Overall, I would say that my time at the Academy has been a very positive experience in my life,” Sekora said. “The opportunities available to me–particularly research and scholarly opportunities alone– would have been enough to make the experience worthwhile. I am confident that the Gatton Academy has prepared me for life to a degree that few other programs can claim, and am thankful a million times over that I could be a part of something so wonderful.”

Additional National Merit Scholarship winners will be announced by the corporation in May.

Contact: Corey Alderdice, (270) 745-6565.

By Corey Alderdice

Gatton Academy Named Intel Schools of Distinction Finalist

April 18, 2012 | Academics, News, People, Staff, STEM Discussions, Student Success, WKU | No Comments

The Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky at Western Kentucky University was named a finalist in Intel Corporation’s 2012 Schools of Distinction Awards in the high school category for its excellence in science.

The Intel Schools of Distinction program recognized The Gatton Academy for its achievement in science, providing a rich curriculum incorporating hands-on investigative experiences that prepare students for 21^st century jobs. The Gatton Academy’s program encourages student achievement in sciences and engineering, while simultaneously helping students become knowledgeable consumers of news and data in order to grow as engaged leaders and informed citizens.

The Gatton Academy is the first Kentucky school to become a finalist in the program since Intel introduced the program in 2006. The other finalists in the high school science category are Boston Latin School in Boston, Mass., and Ossining High School in Ossining, N.Y.

“The schools selected as Intel Schools of Distinction are leaders in preparing their students to become America’s next generation of thinkers and doers,” said Shelly Esque, vice president of Intel’s Corporate Affairs Group and president of the Intel Foundation. “Intel is recognizing these schools as exemplary models of what can be achieved through hard work and innovation in the areas of math and science.”

The Gatton Academy, along with the 17 other finalist schools at the elementary, middle, and high school level nationwide, will receive a $5,000 award from the Intel Foundation and a trip to Washington, D.C., in September, when six schools will be named Intel Schools of Distinction. These six schools will each win an additional $5,000 from the Intel Foundation and a package of goods and services with a total value of approximately $500,000 split among the schools.

Dr. Tim Gott, director of The Gatton Academy, noted that it is an incredible honor for the school to be selected as an Intel Schools of Distinction finalist.

“It is a major affirmation of the work our students have accomplished over the past five years,” Gott said. “Our partnership with WKU has opened exceptional opportunities. From exploring the micro-world of genomes to the macro-world of dark matter in the universe, the classroom and research experiences here have allowed students the chance to enrich their education in powerful ways. This environment continues to equip our students to be the future leaders in STEM fields.”

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The recognition by Intel is part of a growing portfolio of honors for The Gatton Academy. Each year since 2009, the school has been recognized among “Public Elites” American high schools by Washington Post education columnist Jay Matthews. In 2011, the Academy ranked fifth among all U.S. high schools in Newsweek’s annual survey of “America’s Best High Schools.”

Intel Schools of Distinction serve as outstanding examples of leaders in preparing tomorrow’s innovators, noted Corey Alderdice, the assistant director for admissions and public relations at The Gatton Academy. Alderdice served as the lead author on the school’s application for the award.

“One of the unique elements of The Gatton Academy’s application was that our program serves as an extension of each of the commonwealth’s public high schools,” Alderdice said. “We are proud to offer an innovative curriculum within a residential program for many of Kentucky’s brightest young minds. We take equal pride in continuing the good work of the educators from students’ sending schools, who have already done so much to challenge, inspire, and engage them.”

One of the six schools will also be selected as “Star Innovator,” will receive $25,000 from the Intel Foundation, and additional prizes and services from sponsors.

Intel’s sponsorship of the Schools of Distinction Awards is part of the Intel® Education Initiative, a sustained public-private partnership with governments in more than 50 countries. Through this $100 million a year initiative, Intel delivers programs which improve the effective use of technology to enhance 21^st century skills and encourages excellence in mathematics, science and engineering. For more information, visit: www.intel.com/education.

For more information on the Intel Schools of Distinctions Awards visit: www.intel.com/education/schoolsofdistinction.

By Corey Alderdice

Sample Performances from Poetry Out Loud 2012 State Champion Curtlyn Kramer

April 12, 2012 | News, People, Student Success, Students, Video | No Comments

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Curtlyn Kramer, a senior from Ashland attending The Gatton Academy at Western Kentucky University, emerged as the winner among the 21 high school champions from across the Commonwealth who competed in the seventh annual Poetry Out Loud state finals in Frankfort.

The Poetry Out Loud state finals are presented by the Kentucky Arts Council in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation, as part of the Poetry Out Loud National Recitation Contest, a program that encourages high school students to learn about great poetry through memorization, performance and competition.

By Corey Alderdice

Gatton Academy Students, Alumna Honored in Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship Program

April 12, 2012 | Academics, Alumni, News, People, Research, Student Success, Students, WKU | No Comments

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Since 2006, WKU has led the state in recognition by the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program. This year, WKU placed among the top producers of Goldwater Scholars in the nation.

Michael Crocker, a second-year student in the Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science from Bowling Green,; and Clarice Esch, an agriculture major and Gatton Academy alumna from Somerset, received scholarships to continue original research.

Lukas Missik, also a second-year student in the Gatton Academy from Danville, received an Honorable Mention in the national competition. Charles “Chadd” Coomer, a biology and chemistry double-major from Louisville, was WKU’s third award winner this year. Universities may nominate up to four students each year.

The students’ success stems from the emphasis placed on undergraduate research at WKU and in the Gatton Academy. Goldwater Scholars are selected based on their academic performance and potential for a research career.

“These students should be commended for demonstrating their future potential effectively through their outstanding research essays and research productivity to date,” said Dr. Kevin Williams, Goldwater faculty representative and associate professor of chemistry.

Each of the students worked closely with their mentors and the Office of Scholar Development to develop cogent applications, submitting numerous drafts over the course of several weeks. “The faculty who have effectively mentored these students in research and the classroom should be applauded for their efforts,” Dr. Williams said.

Established by the U.S. Congress in 1986 to recognize the former senator from Arizona, the scholarship program identifies and honors students who excel in and are pursuing research careers in the sciences, mathematics and engineering. Winners receive $7,500 annually with which they can pay for undergraduate tuition, fees, books and room and board.

WKU is one of 24 institutions where each scholar nominated was recognized by the program. Out of more than 1,100 applicants nationwide, only 282 were selected as scholars and fewer than 200 others received Honorable Mention recognition.

WKU President Gary A. Ransdell commended the students on their willingness to take on ambitious research projects.

“The success these students demonstrate through this recognition shows what can happen when you pair excellent students with a caring, wonderful faculty and the support system available at WKU,” he said. “This is a tribute to their hard work and determination and the guidance and support of their faculty mentors.”

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By Corey Alderdice

Curtlyn Kramer Wins Poetry Out Loud State Finals Competition

March 27, 2012 | News, People, Student Success, Students | No Comments

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Curtlyn Kramer, a senior from Ashland attending The Gatton Academy at Western Kentucky University, emerged as the winner among the 21 high school champions from across the Commonwealth who competed in the seventh annual Poetry Out Loud state finals today in Frankfort.

“To me, Poetry Out Loud has been an amazing experience,” said Kramer. “I’ve learned so much about poetry that I normally wouldn’t explore or experience. Being able to really delve into the meanings of it is an experience that I wouldn’t have had otherwise and I’m grateful for it. As a senior — I am going to be graduating and going off to college soon and the experience that I’ve had, the public speaking skills, the ability to work with others — I think it’s going to serve me well in my future endeavors.”

As winner of the state finals, Kramer and her chaperone will receive $200 and an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., to compete with other state champions in the national finals May 13-15, 2012. The Gatton Academy will also receive $500 for the purchase of poetry books for its library. The Poetry Out Loud National Recitation Contest will award $50,000 in scholarships and school prizes to winners and top finalists.

Samantha Isbell, Lone Oak High School, Paducah, is the second-place winner. She will receive a $100 cash prize and $200 for her school to purchase library books.

Three other finalists were Jordan Smith, Harlan County High School; Gabby Thompson, Boyd County High School; and Conor Whalen, Ballard High School, Louisville.

The Poetry Out Loud state finals are presented by the Kentucky Arts Council in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation, as part of the Poetry Out Loud National Recitation Contest, a program that encourages high school students to learn about great poetry through memorization, performance and competition.

The Kentucky Arts Council, the state arts agency, creates opportunities for Kentuckians to value, participate in and benefit from the arts. Kentucky Arts Council funding is provided by the Kentucky General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts.

For additional information, contact Corey Alderdice at 270-745-2971.

Photo Credit: Kentucky Arts Council L. to R. Kentucky Arts Council executive director Lori Meadows, Kentucky Poetry Out Loud winner Curtlyn Kramer and Poetry Foundation program assistant Justine Haka.

By Corey Alderdice

Hawtrey Delivers Address at Gifted Education Week Proclamation

February 22, 2012 | Gifted Ed, Gifted Ed Week, News, People, Student Success, Students, WKU | No Comments

sammikage-01 — Sammi Hawtrey, a Gatton Academy senior from Union, spoke about her experiences as a gifted student at the Capitol Rotunda to mark the celebration of Gifted Education Week in Kentucky.

My name is Samantha Hawtrey, and I am a senior at the Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Gifted education is of great importance to me personally, but also to the whole state of Kentucky. By investing in the 17% of school-aged children who are gifted and talented, Kentucky is doing itself a favor. With institutions like the Center for Gifted Studies, Kentucky Association for Gifted Education, and my own Gatton Academy, gifted education in Kentucky is already incredibly advanced. The improvement of Kentucky’s educational system does not merely mean raising standards at the lowest levels of achievement; it can also be greatly affected by removing barriers at the top.

You may wonder who I am to make such claims about Kentucky’s education systems. I am one of the 645,000 students currently enrolled in Kentucky public schools, and more specifically, I am one of the 111,000 gifted and talented students in Kentucky. I can personally vouch for the infinite possibilities created by gifted education programs throughout the state. As a student at the Gatton Academy, I have spent my junior and senior years of high school taking entirely college courses, conducting research, and studying abroad with peers who have a passion for learning. I have had the opportunity to study courses such as Bioinformatics, Organic Chemistry, Physics, Anatomy, and Computer Science. Last year I isolated a bacteriophage virus in a program funded by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. I have presented my work at the US Naval Academy in Maryland, HHMI’s research facilities in Virginia, and Western Kentucky University’s Research Conference in Bowling Green, Kentucky. I also coauthored a research paper that was published in the Journal of Experimental Secondary Science this fall. I am currently using fruit flies to conduct cancer research. I have been able to work with university professors in high-tech laboratories that few undergraduate students have access to. Last January I and fifteen other academy students studied biodiversity at Cloudbridge Nature reserve in Costa Rica. I live on the campus of Western Kentucky University with 124 students who are just as excited about learning as I am. I have access to supportive advisors who push me to make the most of every opportunity and equip me to do so. These two years at the academy have opened my eyes to a world filled with possibilities. There is no limit to what I can pursue except my own motivation. This incredible experience has radically changed my life, giving me the chance to reach my full potential and enabling me to discover my passion for the medical field, which I hope to enter someday.

When the importance of gifted education is properly acknowledged, the whole state of Kentucky will benefit. As young minds are allowed to pursue their passion for learning and maximize their potential early on, they will grow up to become better engineers, doctors, computer programmers, and teachers. By supporting gifted education now, we are ensuring a brighter future for Kentucky in the years to come. And that is something worth looking forward to!

To all the legislators, senators, decision makers and educators who have made gifted education in Kentucky possible, thank you.

By Corey Alderdice

Gatton Academy Takes 2nd, 3rd at DOE Regional Science Bowl

February 10, 2012 | News, Student Success | No Comments

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Lone Oak High School is the U.S. Department of Energy’s Regional High School Science Bowl winner and will compete in the National Science Bowl April 26-30 in Washington, D.C.

The five-student Lone Oak team won the Feb. 10 regional competition in Crounse Hall on the University of Kentucky Extension Campus at West Kentucky Community & Technical College. Two teams from Gatton Academy of Bowling Green finished second and third. Gatton won the contest last year.

Members of the second place team include Michael Crocker, David Sekora, Tucker Joyce, Holly Morris, and Jon Biechele-Speziale. Members of the third place team include Curtlyn Kramer, Jeet Parekh, Jack Ferguson, Sibi Rajendran, and Stephen Mattingly. Corey Alderdice and Sam Earls served as coaches for the team.

Gatton+2 — (at top) The second place team from The Gatton Academy. (above) The third place team from The Gatton Academy.

A fast-paced, question-and-answer format similar to the Jeopardy TV game show tests teams of students in all areas of science and mathematics.

Fifteen high school teams competed, with a few schools having two teams. Other competitors were Livingston Central, Fulton County, Calloway County, St. Mary, Paducah Tilghman, Hickman County, Hopkinsville, Mayfield, and Henderson County.

Regional winners receive expense-paid trips to Washington for DOE’s National Science Bowl, America’s largest and most prestigious science competition for middle and high school students. It is the only educational event and academic competition that is sponsored by a federal agency.

The regional competition is supported by the contributions of local businesses and individuals. The funds are utilized for trophies, T-shirts, and lunch for the participating students. Donations can be sent to The Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce, attention Stacy Thomas.

The regional competition is sponsored by DOE, UK-Paducah Campus, WKCTC, and the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce’s Business Education Partnership.

Contributing businesses are A&K Construction, Computer Services Inc., LATA Environmental Services of Kentucky, EHI Consultants, ISP Chemicals, Performance Results Corp., Radiation Physics Solutions, S&S Mechanical, U.S. Enrichment Corp., and White House Design.

By Corey Alderdice

Gatton Academy to Participate in 3rd Annual DOE Regional Science Bowl at WKCTC

January 31, 2012 | News, People, Student Life, Student Success, Students | No Comments

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From WestKentuckyStar.com

The U.S. Department of Energy will hold its third Regional Science Bowl in February at West Kentucky Community & Technical College.

High school teams will compete Feb. 10, and middle school teams will compete Feb. 24, from 8:30 am until about 3:30 pm on the second floor of Crounse Hall on the University of Kentucky Extension Campus at 4810 Alben Barkley Drive. Competition is open to the public.

Schools are encouraged to register and get more information by visitingwww.science.energy.gov/nsb or contacting Don Dihel at the Department at 270-441-6824. Registration deadline for the event is Jan. 30 for High School and Feb. 13 for Middle School. Winning high school and middle school teams will receive an expense-paid trip to Washington, DC, to compete in the National Science Bowl April 26-30.

The National Science Bowl is America’s largest and most prestigious science competition for middle and high school students. More than 21,600 students from 42 states plus Washington, DC; Puerto Rico; and the U.S. Virgin Islands have competed in regional competitions. It is the only educational event and academic competition that is sponsored by a federal agency. Last year’s competition drew high school teams from Paducah Tilghman, Lone Oak, Reidland, St. Mary, Marshall County, Hopkinsville, Crittenden County, Gatton Academy, West Kentucky Homeschool, and Madisonville-North Hopkins. Gatton Academy of Bowling Green won the regional competition.

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By Corey Alderdice

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