2016-2017 – Page 3 – The Gatton Academy News

2016-2017 Avatar Intro: Emma Reed

August 16, 2016 | 2016-2017, Avatars, Emma Reed | No Comments

Whenever I post a picture to social media about Gatton I use the hashtag #tggadventure. This stands for The Great Gatton Adventure. It’s true to call our time here at Gatton an adventure. From figuring out how to grocery shop for the first time to surviving the infamous CPS, we experience plenty of ups and downs here. Despite every down, I wouldn’t trade this place for the world. As someone who went to a large high school, the community at Gatton was a big adjustment. Living in a place full of unique and enigmatic people. It was great to meet people who wanted to know your name and life story.

Speaking of life stories **wink wink**, my name is Emma Reed. I attended Highlands High School in Fort Thomas, Kentucky. At Gatton, I have taken the infinite possibilities motto very seriously. From participating in Speech and Debate and Yearbook, to traveling abroad in Italy, I have filled my days with a variety of activities both academic and nonacademic alike. I also fill my days with STEM+ Chinese and other academic classes. In my first semester, I discovered that I like computer science and now am developing a game that encourages young girls to pursue coding. I also enjoy biology and medicine. For me Gatton is a place to explore my passions to the greatest extent. I am excited to share with you about the goings on at Gatton as we kick off what is sure to be the best year yet.

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2016-2017 Avatar Intro: Amber Carroll

August 16, 2016 | 2016-2017, Amber Carroll, Avatars | No Comments

If you would have asked me what my name was a year ago, I would have answered “Amber.” To be honest, if you would have asked me this same question even last month, my answer would have been the same. I, now, however, am occasionally referred to as “Sparky” due to a mishap in Harlaxton with an electrical outlet and an Emergency Room visit. The outlets in England are no joke, let me tell you.

I am from Logan County, home of the cougars. Back at my home high school, I played varsity volleyball and basketball, and I also played club volleyball for a team named BRAVO out of Bowling Green. I, of course, also participated in the usual clubs like BETA, Student Council, and FCCLA. While at Gatton, however, I have been exposed to opportunities not available at my home high school. I participated in Genome, which includes Bioinformatics, my first year as an Academy student. This was one of the best decisions of my life. This experience introduced me to my Research Internship Grant (RIG) professor, Dr. King. I completed a RIG this past summer with Dr. King researching E. coli. Research in an actual college lab has been a large part of my experience here at Gatton that I never would have had the opportunity to pursue at Logan County.

Besides research, study abroad has also been another huge part of my experience here at the Academy. I was able to travel to not only England as I mentioned before, but also to Costa Rica, both of which are not offered at my home high school. In all actuality, my home high school does not offer any study abroad. I am blessed to have received these opportunities at Gatton.

In the coming months, I plan to continue my research with Dr. King, if possible. I also plan to go on the trip with Gatton to Greece this coming up winter. I love traveling and The Gatton Academy has given me the opportunity to fulfill my dream of doing so. Not only has The Gatton Academy went above and beyond with study abroad opportunities, they have been above and beyond with every aspect involved. Going to school here is truly a dream come true.

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2016-2017 Avatar Intro: Amanda Zahn

August 15, 2016 | 2016-2017, Amanda Zahn, Avatars | No Comments

When I was in the 7^th grade, a family friend introduced me to the idea of spending the last two years of my high school career living and studying at The Gatton Academy. Immediately I was fixated on the idea. Just about five years later, here I am transitioning into my senior year at Gatton with the same enthusiasm I held upon first learning about this amazing opportunity.

My name is Amanda Zahn, and I come to Gatton from Ryle High School in Boone County. At my sending school I played for the women’s soccer team for three years, as well as acted as an assistant coach for the middle school girls’ team. In the off season I spent my time playing for a club soccer team so, as you can probably tell, soccer has really been my life outside of the academic setting. Here at Gatton, I haven’t been able to devote as much time to soccer, but I’ve actually enjoyed taking a step back from it and having the time to really look into other interests of mine. However, this past spring I did play on Gatton’s intramural co-ed team which was a great way to revisit the sport I enjoy.

Surprisingly, soccer is not what I’m most passionate about. My real passion is travel. My freshman year of high school, I participated in my school’s German exchange program, spending about a month living with a host family in Wermelskirchen, Germany. Ever since, I have been obsessed with seeing the world and travelling. This is one area Gatton has provided me opportunities that a traditional high school could not. In just one year at Gatton, I was able to spend about a week and a half of my winter break travelling across Italy as well as spend three weeks studying in England this past summer. Both experiences were what I would call once-in-a-lifetime, and have encouraged me (though I didn’t need much encouragement) to sign up to spend another week and a half of my winter break travelling with the Academy, but this time to Greece!

Since I can’t spend my life leisurely travelling the world, I’ve decided I want to be a pharmacist. The field not only interests me on the conceptual side, but also on the social side. I am a people person at heart, and I have found that pharmacology is a great way to incorporate my love of people and social interaction into a STEM career. This past semester I did some research involving potential chemotherapeutic drugs on campus with a professor, and it really convinced me that a degree in pharmacy is really what I want to pursue.

I’m excited to continue blogging this upcoming year and sharing with you all what life at Gatton is like. This opportunity has been invaluable to me thus far, and I can’t wait to see what this year will bring!

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2016-2017 Avatar Intro: Sara Saeed

August 15, 2016 | 2016-2017, Avatars, Sara Saeed | No Comments

Our first move-in day at Schneider Hall brought back memories of walking into Bates Runner Hall for the first time a year ago. This time around, we had more space to explore and were greeted by familiar faces. It didn’t take long to get comfortable with the building, as the new renovations and 101 newcomers have made us hopeful and excited for the year to get going.

I am a senior from Louisville and attended duPont Manual High School. Since coming to Gatton, I have been taking classes and pursuing research in finance and computer science, topics I wouldn’t otherwise be able to explore until college. Outside of STEM, I enjoy studying economics, politics, and languages. I speak Arabic at home and self-study Spanish. Additionally, I have been able to collaborate with professors at the WKU Department of Economics. In the past year at the Academy, I have had the opportunity to travel to Italy, study abroad in England, and complete a summer research project with the WKU Department of Computer Science.

Although my junior year was packed with new academic endeavors, I still had plenty of time to form friendships at the Academy. Being able to knock on a friend’s door at midnight for help on a calculus problem or a chemistry concept is one of my favorite parts of being at a residential high school. Living with your friends creates the strong sense of unity here at the Academy. I am eager to start senior year, serve as an avatar, and get to know our 101 new juniors!

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2016-2017 Avatar Intro: Dylan Daugherty

August 15, 2016 | 2016-2017, Avatars, Dylan Daugherty | No Comments

Hey there! My name is Dylan Daugherty and I am an avatar for The Gatton Academy’s Class of 2017. I can remember reading these blogs when I was just starting to learning about Gatton, and it is crazy to think that I am actually writing them this year. I am from Madisonville and went to high school at Madisonville North Hopkins High School. I played drums in my school’s band and was active in several other clubs. I wanted to go to Gatton so I could take more advanced courses and start research in the subjects I liked. I was super nervous my first couple of weeks here but coming to Gatton is undoubtedly one of the greatest decisions of my life.

At the Academy, I play Frisbee with my friends at least once a day (yeah, we REALLY like Frisbee here ;)). I also play basketball on the intramural team. Last year, we won our school’s first ever basketball game. I also tried playing soccer for the first time here. I was really awful, but I still had loads of fun attempting to not kick people in the shins. I also do research here at the Academy. Last year I did Economic research on Right-to-Work laws. This summer I was accepted for a Research Internship Grants (RIG) where I studied mutual fund fees and costs. This upcoming year I will be working on a financial literacy research project. I am really excited for this next school year and hope you guys enjoy reading my blog posts!

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2016-2017 Avatar Intro: Sherafghan Khan

August 15, 2016 | 2016-2017, Avatars, Sherafghan Khan | No Comments

Hi everyone! My name is Sherafghan Khan and I am senior at The Gatton Academy. I am honored to be selected as an Avatar. Before The Gatton Academy I attended University Heights Academy in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. Research has been, by far, the highlight of my Gatton experience. I started off first semester in the Genome Discovery Exploration and was completely immersed with different laboratory techniques. These techniques gave me the skills to pursue future research endeavors. In my second semester at the Academy I was involved in two different chemistry projects that broadened my interests further. All of these experiences prepared me incredibly for the upcoming summer. During summer, I was involved in a Research Internship Grant offered by Gatton for students to pursue summer research. I worked with a structural biologist at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Another important part of my Gatton experience has to be the study abroad opportunities offered to us. My winter term during junior year was filled with adventure in Costa Rica. Costa Rica was full of beautiful beaches, amazing hiking trips, and unfortunately, giant spiders. Also, receiving course credit for a biology course was a great deal. Harlaxton, England was the second study abroad I attended at The Gatton Academy. Seeing all of the historical sites in London and Grantham was beyond breathtaking. Overall, the incredible friendships I have made, amazing opportunities I have received, and a superb experience I have received through The Gatton Academy has been a dream come true. I would like to use the valuable knowledge and skills I have learned at the Academy to pursue a future career as a neurosurgeon.

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2016-2017 Avatar Intro: Tyler Smith

August 15, 2016 | 2016-2017, Avatars, Tyler Smith | No Comments

Hello, my name is Tyler Smith, and I’m a Gatton Academy senior from Lexington, Kentucky. I attended the Liberal Arts Academy at Henry Clay High School for my freshman and sophomore year, and although I was offered many great opportunities while at that school, I have enjoyed my time at Gatton much more.

During my junior year I was exposed to computer science, and now, as far as academics go, I am a math and CS oriented kid. Like many other students my age, I’m not quite sure what I want to do with my life yet, but as of right now, I am fairly certain I’ll go into some field of engineering. Aside from academics, my interests include: reading, basketball, ultimate frisbee (the staple of Gatton athletics), lacrosse, hiking, volleyball, kayaking, and canoeing. I am also an avid listener of rap music, and enjoy listening to a diverse group of styles, ranging from east coast underground to west coast realism.

I am looking forward to the upcoming year as I get some exposure into the fields of physics and discrete mathematics. It’s crazy to look back and think about how I was in the exact same situation, except for housing of course, that our very own juniors are experiencing at this moment. I remember how nervous I was, entering the whole new world that was the “Gatton Academy,” and I remember our class’s own GROWeek (although we knew it as Adventure Week) and how quickly we all seemed to get adjusted to life at the Academy. As we move forward in the year, I am excited to get to know more and more of our dauntingly large junior class. Overall, I am excited for the new year and all of the new experiences it may bring.

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2016-2017 Avatar Intro: Benjamin Luckett

August 15, 2016 | 2016-2017, Avatars, Benjamin Luckett | No Comments

Hello, I am Benjamin Luckett from the small town of Versailles in Woodford County, Kentucky. My home high school is Woodford County High School. I thoroughly enjoyed my junior year at The Gatton Academy. After I heard about the STEM+ Critical Language program offered here, I jumped at the opportunity to learn Chinese on the mandarin track. I am also part of the Chinese Flagship program that teaches the language at a very quick pace.

Out of the variety of clubs Gatton offers, I am a part of GALE (Gatton Academy Leadership in Education) and SPAC (Sierpinski Performing Arts Club). With GALE, we spent an afternoon a week playing games with and teaching a group of fourth and fifth graders at a local elementary school, while SPAC is a preforming arts club. So far the only study abroad trip I have attended was the spring break excursion to China with many of the other STEM+Chinese students. I thought it was an amazing educational and cultural experience and am looking forward to going on another study abroad trip as a senior. I am an Avatar this year and will work the preview days and happily talk to anyone interested in The Gatton Academy. One of my favorite things about my junior year was the nightly frisbee games. The Academy has really allowed me to explore more possibilities than I had considered. Upon entering, I thought programming was not an interest of mine, but after java and CPS, I see that it is very useful and a good use of time.

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2016-2017 Avatar Intro: Jonathan Kinnard

August 15, 2016 | 2016-2017, Avatars, Jonathan Kinnard | No Comments

By: Jonathan Kinnard (Hopkinsville, Ky/University Heights Academy)

I was one of those rare kids that heard about Gatton way back in middle school and knew without a doubt that I needed to go to this nerdy wonderland. My mother, a school secretary at the time, and my father, a retired veteran, were both fond of the idea. So I applied and received that glorious acceptance letter in the mail. Orientation, Moving in, and learning the campus were all a blur.

Starting at Gatton, I think, is like eating jello for the first time. You’re a little amazed and a little unsure of what you are doing. Nevertheless, the first day of class went on without a hitch. I actually showed up to the wrong class twice. The second time there was a Gatton student in the class to tell me that I was in the wrong building. “All academics, all the time” was the motto I thought I would adopt. This past year slapped me in the face, grabbed me by the shoulders, and screamed in my ears that I was wrong. I presented on research I did at WKU’s Engineering Manufacturing Commercialization Center. Next was Italy in the winter. Then there was the RIG (Research Internship Grant) during the summer. Study abroad in England was last on the list before my senior year started. I’ve gotten lost in Rome, London, and Bowling Green all within a year. I can’t imagine what the next year will bring me, all thanks to The Gatton Academy.

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2016 Gatton Move-In Day

August 15, 2016 | 2016-2017, Avatars, Emma Reed | No Comments

By: Emma Reed

The decorations were set and the commons rooms were spotless for probably the last time this year. All thirty senior leaders were sitting on the wall outside of Florence Schneider Hall eagerly awaiting the arrival of the new juniors. We had already received a lecture about not swarming the car, but our excitement overtook us as the first car pulled up. Within minutes the student’s stuff was in their room and ready to be unpacked. As more cars pulled up we treated them much the same way, eagerly greeting each one wanting to find wing-mates and friends alike.

With the exception of waiting for lunch, most of us kept this enthusiasm about our new friends for the whole day. Soon as we could blink, every student was moved into Florence Schneider Hall. Then the magic began as we watched the juniors turn their blank walls into expressions of themselves. From the nerdy but beloved posters and the traditional signatures from friends back home to even the unique goose, we watched in awe at the creativity and imagination.

After a crash course on being a Gatton resident for the juniors and well-earned nap for the seniors, the bustle began with floor meetings, meal swipe tutorials, and more bonding. It’s finally beginning to feel like home again. With chatter and laughter in every room and a potential friend around the corner, Florence Schneider has become as much of a home as Bates Runner was to us. I for one can’t wait for the adventures all of us have in store.

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Category: 2016-2017