2016-2017 – Page 2 – The Gatton Academy News

Ping Pong at Gatton

October 3, 2016 | 2016-2017, Avatars, Benjamin Luckett | No Comments

By: Ben Luckett

The new Florence Schneider Hall has a lot of great areas that Bates Runner Hall never could offer this year’s seniors. We now have an amazing fourth floor common area that houses one of the most important pieces of furniture in the Academy: the ping pong table. Last year in Bates, all we had for a ping pong area was a small room on first floor that barely could fit the table.

Pong was important to me last year as I would use it as a cool off after studying. It was a good break, but it was hard to ever find another student to play a match against. Our new space allows both players to step as far away from the table as they wish and still have excess room. Also there is a large group of ping pong players this year. Many students are very talented at ping pong and will play heated matches for fourth floor audiences.

This year I have used ping pong as a cool off just like last year, but now I can always find someone to play against. If there is not an avid ping pong enthusiast on fourth floor at any given time, they are just a text away. A sure time to find a lot of ping pong players on fourth is about 9:30 every school night. At about this time, a group of students surrounding the table will have formed along with a long list of people who have called “next game”.

By Gatton Academy

Campus Recitals at The Gatton Academy

September 29, 2016 | 2016-2017, Avatars, Jonathan Kinnard | No Comments

By: Jonathan Kinnard

In the midst of classes, food, and other essentials of a Gatton student’s life there is a strange plethora of campus opportunities that usually go without notice. One such example is campus recitals. WKU has a strong music department with concentrated talent, so it would seem natural that concerts are held on an almost weekly basis, but unless a flyer is put up in the building, it can be difficult for anyone to ever hear about smaller recitals or short concerts that are done on a weekday.

Well, times have changed here at The Gatton Academy, and students are quickly realizing the faculty, student, and seasonal recitals are within reach each week. Larger, annual events like the Prism Concert are obvious favorites, while smaller performances done by individual WKU music groups are a more convenient way for Gatton students to explore the musical variety WKU has to offer. This variety may include the WKU symphonic band, jazz band, steel drum band, wind ensemble, and many more. There are even Gatton students that are involved in these groups.

Most performances are free and now quickly advertised through the grapevine here at Gatton. Just this Sunday (9/25) there was a wonderful Faculty Chamber Recital at the Fine Arts Center, just a minute’s walk from Florence Schneider Hall. On Friday (9/30) there is a concert in Van Meter Hall with the University Band. All this, in just one week!

By Gatton Academy

A Busy Week at The Gatton Academy

September 29, 2016 | 2016-2017, Avatars, Sherafghan Khan | No Comments

By: Sherafghan Khan

“Should I study for my tests?”

“What if I watched an episode of the Office?”

Questions like these are what many seniors, including myself, are asking every day. Even though we have almost completed four years of high school, many of us are still not professionals at managing our time proficiently. We have heard from multiple sources that there is a deadly disease that spreads among seniors: senioritis.

With four tests, a paper, and a research meeting last week, I definitely had to manage my time. It felt as if as soon as I was done with one test, I would have to study all day for the next. But honestly, the feeling I felt on Friday when I completed my final test was one of pure joy. A group of friends and I took the bus to the mall and the movies and just had a good, relaxing time. It was a break, a break from a tiresome week of monotonous tests and quizzes. That is what I love about Gatton, how after a long week of tests, you can just have a good time with some of the nicest people ever.

Also, last Friday I had the treat of attending a lecture by my Neuroscience professor and a WKU art professor on combining the arts with neuroscience. She showed us many of her pieces, including a giant neuron cloud located in Snell Hall. Not only did I receive bonus points for attending, but I had a wonderful time.

By Gatton Academy

Studying Abroad in Costa Rica

September 29, 2016 | 2016-2017, Avatars, Study Abroad, Veronica Johnson | No Comments

By Veronica Johnson

On my Interview Day, the Gatton staff and some current students lead a panel about coursework and Study Abroad at the Academy. At this point, I already knew that I wanted to go to Gatton, but this was the icing on the cake. I applied to the Costa Rica trip because I thought that I would enjoy traveling around and taking a Biodiversity course. That was the understatement of a lifetime.

I had the time of my life in Costa Rica. Every location housed a new set of thrills. At the Goldring-Gund Field Station, I got to hold baby leatherback sea turtles as soon as they hatched from their nest and release them into the ocean in the hopes that they will grow to maturity and return to the same beach to make their own nest.

At Cloudbridge Nature Reserve, I got to do research on butterfly diversity. I loved spending my days wandering the rainforest looking for butterflies. The beauty of these butterflies is unparalleled by those we have in Kentucky. At Poor Man’s Paradise, I got to go snorkeling where I saw whole schools of fish swimming together, tiny jellyfish, and even a sea turtle. We would step outside our cabins only to see a family of Capuchin monkeys swinging through the trees.

I became passionate about the environment and very interested in studying Biodiversity and Environment. Studying abroad in Costa Rica probably changed the course of my life because it gave me the opportunity to find something that I love doing. It opened my eyes to the possibility of a career that I had never considered before.

By Gatton Academy

First Week of Classes

August 29, 2016 | 2016-2017, Avatars, Tricia Thompson | No Comments

By: Tricia Thompson

First week of classes: 0, Academy students: 160. The first week of classes is over, and from the looks of things, everyone’s having a great week. From syllabus days (that cover much more than just the syllabus sometimes) to starting new subjects, and from first trickles of homework to initial club meetings, the first week of classes is always a hectic, stressful, but exciting time. Many of the juniors have now written their first lines of code; many others are learning new alphabets or quizzing over chapter 1. While classwork tends not to be as heavy right at the beginning of the semester, the feel of our school has changed to just what it is: a school. While there will always be people playing ping-pong and foosball, study groups and homework sessions have also started to take root in the common spaces. A dumpling party and presentations about Chinese culture organized by some of the STEM+Chinese seniors melded with groups figuring out their first calculus homework this past Wednesday. This weekend brings the cherished chance to sleep in and catch up on homework while also allowing for laundry, a bowling and laser tag trip, a movie night, and other free time activities.

While GROWeek is always an exciting adventure, there’s something to be said for the freedom that comes with not having scheduled sessions with your whole class every day. The seniors are working to get back into the swing of things while the juniors are taking their first steps on their own. We’re all looking forward to the coming semester with the nervous, but excited, anticipation. After all, it’s already off to a great start.

By Gatton Academy

Hands Up for the Weekend

August 22, 2016 | 2016-2017, Avatars, Emma Reed | No Comments

By: Emma Reed

Saturday began as most Saturdays at the Academy do, a quiet sleepiness blanketing the Academy. The only difference was that this week instead of recovering from classes, we were exhausted from the endless tasks of GROWeek (Gatton Residential Orientation Week). The juniors were ready for some sleep after a week of constant information including Beth’s famous handbook talk, a research fair, and many other events. For the seniors, the sleep was more in preparation of the college apps and the challenging classes of the coming semester.

Around noon the Academy began to awake and by three, the vibrant sounds of laughter and fun were floating down the hall. Despite the rain, some ventured out to the mall and other shopping destinations. As evening grew near, the camaraderie only grew stronger with music and ping pong in the fourth floor commons, conversations throughout the building, and the ever present piano in the lobby. As we closed the day with the ever popular karaoke, I thought back to my own adventure week (GROWeek).

It’s hard not to have fun in a place like this. I remember the endless lectures of adventure week that left little time for free time. I remember as the weekend came, we finally got the chance to explore the world around us. While the first weekend is a rush to finish errands and prepare for the returning seniors, I have enjoyed watching each junior grow into their freedom even in this short time. I can only hope that I get the pleasure to watch as the semester goes on.

By Gatton Academy

2016-2017 Avatar Intro: Logan Parker

August 19, 2016 | 2016-2017, Avatars, Logan Parker | No Comments

Hello, my name is Logan Parker. Before Gatton, I went to Oldham County High School. I’m from LaGrange, Kentucky, which is just north of Louisville. Back home, I spent most of my time running with my cross country team or participating in various clubs. Outside of running, I’ve been able to travel the world, research in areas I’m interested in, and expand my interest for Chinese and studying abroad. I’ve been able to travel to Costa Rice, China, and England. Going to Costa Rica was my first time leaving the country; it was even the first time I flew in a plane. These trips sparked my interest in going abroad so much that I joined a group on campus called SAGL (Study Abroad and Global Learning) student reps. Our job is to provide advising and outreach to students on studying abroad. I’m in STEM+ Chinese; my interest in Chinese peaked after going to China. I joined a club called Project Pengyou, which is a group dedicated to strengthening US-China relations and people-to-people connections. I patriciate in other various clubs, including Key club, Y-club, and GALE (Gatton Academy Leaders in Education). Over the summer I received a RIG (Research Internship Grant) and did research in chemical engineering.

I remember moving into Bates as a junior like it was yesterday. So much time has passed and I’ve had experiences that before Gatton, would not have been possible. This year, I’m looking forward to meeting all the new people that have moved in and the possible experiences ahead. The community that is formed at the Academy is like no other, and I’m excited to be an avatar this year.

By Gatton Academy

2016-2016 Avatar Intro: Veronica Johnson

August 19, 2016 | 2016-2017, Avatars, Veronica Johnson | No Comments

Hey guys! I am Veronica Johnson, and I am a senior this year. I have lived in Bowing Green my whole life, and I attended Bowling Green High School for my freshman and sophomore years of high school. Coming to Gatton from Warren County is a unique experience because I was already familiar with campus when I came, I still get to spend a lot of time with my family, and I can easily visit my home school to participate in clubs and see my friends. I have really broad interests, so I kind of want to be a doctor or do medical research, but I also kind of want to be an environmental scientist, and I might just pack up and move to Costa Rica and spend all day running around catching butterflies (I did butterfly research when I studied abroad during winter term and I loved it).

I have always been really involved in choir and I didn’t want to lose that when I came to Gatton, so I have been enrolled in a choir class every semester and plan to continue that when I go to real college. I get to go back to my home high school and sing with the choirs there. I have always loved singing with my friends, so I created a female A Cappella group at Gatton and we sang at Acapalooza, which is an A Cappella concert for high school and college groups in the Bowling Green area. I love that I have been able to stay involved with the clubs/hobbies that I am truly interested in.

I also spend a lot of my free time at my church, and one of the best things about living on campus is that I get to be friends with college students and get to know people who are not Gatton students. Contrary to popular belief, most WKU students don’t care that much that you are a Gatton student and most of them are more curious than hateful about it. After their initial surprise that you are a couple of years younger than they are, they are cool with it. I really enjoy being involved with both Gatton and WKU groups because I get to meet so many people!

If you see me at school or in public, introduce yourself to me because I love meeting new people and I would love to talk to you about Gatton!

By Gatton Academy

2016-2017 Avatar Intro: Tricia Thompson

August 16, 2016 | 2016-2017, Avatars, Tricia Thompson | No Comments

Senior year. New classes, new professors, new juniors, and new responsibilities as an Avatar. I guess I should probably introduce myself. I’m Tricia Thompson, a senior from Owensboro Catholic High School. Coming from Owensboro last year, I still remember move in day. The hectic scramble, the Community Leaders swarming the car, the struggle of making sure no one made a fool of themselves using meal plans for the first time; now, I’m seeing it from the other side. I’ll be the senior watching juniors follow in my footsteps in astronomy and mechanical engineering. I’ll be able to see my enjoyment of writing computer code, something I learned to like, at least, mirrored in the junior class. Maybe I’ll even see my journey of the awkward one who was mostly known as “the smart kid” to someone known for their sarcasm and willingness to eat at any time of the day.

This year brings with it the first year in the renovated Schneider Hall (we’ll see how long the new paint smell lasts), new challenges, a bigger class than ever before, and the passing on of traditions from our senior class on down the line. This year is looking very bright, and I think we all look forward to the coming semester (though maybe exams less so).

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2016-2017 Avatar Intro: Katie Ashley

August 16, 2016 | 2016-2017, Avatars, Katie Ashley | No Comments

Hey y’all! I am Katie Ashley, and I will be an Avatar this year. I am from Corbin, home of THE original Kentucky Fried Chicken and Cumberland Falls. Those are our only claims to fame, therefore I have to mention them. Corbin is a rural town in Southeastern Kentucky which is where I get my southern accent and excessive use of the word “y’all” from. Prior to coming to Gatton, I attended Corbin High School.

My academic interests are chemistry and biology. Other things I enjoy include traveling, reading, and food. I have completed two study abroad trips with the Academy, Harlaxton and Italy, and I have also been abroad with The Center for Gifted Studies. The Italy and Harlaxton trips have been extremely memorable and two highlights of my junior year. When in Italy, I got the chance to visit Venice. I remember waking up before every other student fighting the jet lag to wander around the bright canals of Venice. I know that without Gatton I might not have gotten to experience Venice and I definitely wouldn’t have the opportunity to experience it with my great friends.

Also while at Gatton I have experienced Harlaxton Manor in England. Harlaxton was an amazing trip that combined one of my favorite subjects, English Literature, with an amazing manor house in the English countryside. My favorite experience from Harlaxton has to be sitting in the gardens at dusk drinking tea with my roommate.

All my travels have taught me a lot about the world around me. I am so excited that I get to share the wonderful world of Gatton with all of you readers.

By Gatton Academy

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Category: 2016-2017