Avatars – Page 23 – The Gatton Academy News

Food at The Gatton Academy

November 10, 2015 | 2015-2016, Avatars, Niven Achenjang | No Comments

By: Niven Achenjang

One of the most dreaded aspects of high school is the school food. At the Academy, this same sentiment does not hold. Being able to live on a university campus for your last two years of high school is great, but not just for the challenging courses. Arguably better than the academic advantages of Gatton are its nourishment advantages.

On WKU’s campus are several places to eat with a variety of foods. Want some pizza? Check out Papa John’s or Da Vinci’s. Looking for a good burger? Try Steak & Shake or Burger Studio. In the mood for chicken? We have Chick Fil-A and Popeye’s. If you are craving something a little bit healthier, then consider Subway, Burrito Bowl, or Fresh Foods. All eating options on campus – not just the ones listed here – offer better food than your typical high school.

To make things better, most of it is essentially free. Every week, as a Gatton student, we get 19 meal swipes. Nearly all places on campus have value meals. These are pre-chosen meals offered by the restaurant that cost a single meal swipe. Most of them are a food item (6-in sub, slice of pizza, chicken sandwich), a side (cookies, breadsticks, fries), and a fountain drink. Some restaurants go a step further and let you pay for items off of the value meal using multiple meal swipes. The value of a meal swipe is $3.45 so I could, for example, get a brownies from Papa John’s – which cost $6.00 – for two meal swipes. In addition to the meal swipes, we also receive 75 meal plan dollars which can be spent on any food item on campus, and roll over between Fall and Spring semesters.

Finally, not all academy dining is done on campus. Gatton students often eat in town, getting to their restaurants via either walking or a suburban driven by an RC. Bowling Green has many more restaurants than most cities of its size, so eating off campus is a great way to try something new or different. The only drawback is you have to use real money. No matter where you are eating though, you will agree that food here trumps food at most high schools.

By Gatton Academy

Fall Break

November 10, 2015 | 2015-2016, Avatars, Jenna Ellis | No Comments

By: Jenna Ellis

Fall break was on October 1^st and 2^nd, marking the first extended break from classes and living at Bates. Juniors got the time to take a break from their new work schedules and spend extra time with family and friends at home for the first time since move in day. Fall break is a convenient time for seniors to put in some extra work on college applications (with creeping deadlines), catch up on work, and relax at least a little.

Others use fall break as an opportunity to travel, both for recreation and/or some school related endeavors. Many seniors go on college visit trips across states, with others travel in close proximity to home for secondary visits, interviews, and extra information sessions. Some may take small vacations to just get away for a while. Regardless of how it’s spent, most Academy students can agree that fall break is a nice mix of productivity and relaxation.

After returning from a four day weekend, the semester definitely starts to pick up for everyone. Second tests start rolling around, some college apps are due, and class work really starts to intensify. All the more reason to appreciate the break while it’s there.

By Gatton Academy

Jackson’s Orchard

November 10, 2015 | 2015-2016, Avatars, Lauren Pedersen | No Comments

A microcosm of autumn in the South, Jackson’s Orchard has it all. An afternoon flew by as we spent time at the orchard sightseeing.

Upon arriving, the first thing that catches the eye is the big barn used for organic food sales. Inside, we found a variety of products ranging from fruits like apples and peaches, to vegetables like potatoes and yams. The atmosphere was one of hustle and bustle as people of all ages browsed the breads, candies, and honeys.

Exiting the building, we came across a series of concessions providing services such as hair dyeing and beverages. At the end of that section stood a vast playground whose key feature was undoubtedly the gigantic slide. Kids were buzzing around excitedly from left to right while they waited for their turn (I may or may not have been one of them).

From there we headed to the hay ride. This had the longest line by far, but not without good reason, for it led to the corn maze, pumpkin patch, and apple garden. Here we spent the bulk of our time as we got lost in the maze and ran across groups of people all trying to find their way out. Once we got a little hungry, we wandered over to the apple garden and picked a couple of fresh apples to snack on. Last we strolled through the pumpkin patch to finish passing the time, gaping at the size of many of the pumpkins.

The atmosphere on the ride back was one of contentment, as we in the Gatmobile reflected on the good time we’d had.

By Gatton Academy

Picnic with the President

October 9, 2015 | 2015-2016, Avatars, Rohan Deshpande | No Comments

By: Rohan Deshpande

On Friday, September 4^th, The Gatton Academy hosted its annual Picnic with the President. This event is typically held behind Florence Schneider Hall but was relocated due to the construction. In the backyard of Bates Runner Hall, The Gatton Academy hosted a picnic for both students and parents, providing an opportunity to meet WKU’s very own President Dr. Gary A. Ransdell. Also present were various members of WKU’s faculty and staff. While the event was casual, speakers included President Ransdell and Director Lynette Breedlove. They discussed the relocation of the Academy, addressing common questions like the estimated conclusion of construction and how an increased student body will effect class scheduling. Food was provided by the WKU Catering Group, and the music selection was supplied by an unknown individual with excellent taste. In all, it was a casual event that provided parents and students alike to meet with President Ransdell and professors outside of a professional setting.

By Gatton Academy

Volunteering at The Academy

October 9, 2015 | 2015-2016, Annie B. Wetzel, Avatars | No Comments

Volunteering is way to gain experience, to grow as an individual or group, and to make a positive impact of the lives of others. There are many options for Gatton Academy students to get involved in service.

Key Club is an international student-led organization, which provides its members with opportunities to provide service, build character and develop leadership. The Gatton Academy’s Key Club has participated in various activities including a fundraiser for UNICEF during Halloween, as well as volunteered at Kiwanis Club of Bowling Green and community events.

Beta Club is another organization with a mission to serve. In the past, Beta Club has traveled to the local animal shelter and cleaned the surrounding parks.

GALE is the Gatton Academy’s tutoring program in association with Dishman Elementary School. Gatton students can spend an afternoon working with young students in the community on their schoolwork, all the while making connections and forming relationships.

These are just a few of the possible extracurricular activities in which service is available. Within the Academy, students are passionate about helping others and making a difference. There is an abundance of resources to fulfill this passion.

By Gatton Academy

First Round of Tests

October 8, 2015 | 2015-2016, Avatars, Michael Belcher | No Comments

By: Michael Belcher

One of the biggest differences about taking classes in college is that almost every class seems to have a uniform schedule for the semester. This means that the tests for classes come in blocks and it is not unusual to have 3 or 4 tests in a week. For juniors this is the first major academic test for them as a week of cramming and studying is sure to follow. For many at the Academy this may be the first time that they are academically challenged. This time can instill a strong work ethic in those that now must work hard for their grades. Over the next couple weeks the juniors will be going through this “Rite of Passage” and the seniors will be getting back in the swing of balancing hard work and a social life.

By Gatton Academy

5th Week Assessment and Study Hours

October 8, 2015 | 2015-2016, Avatars, Saadia Akhtar | No Comments

By: Saadia Akhtar

One of the ways The Gatton Academy helps incoming juniors adjust to college life is study hours. For the first five weeks, the juniors are required to study and do their homework in one of two designated rooms from 7-9 pm. This allows the juniors to get used to the college workload and gives them a specific time in which they have to study. During study hours, tutors are also available in various subjects, especially in Computer Science and math.

After the first five weeks, all students have a “Five Week Assessment”, in which they get their grades validated and signed by their professors and turn them into the guidance counselor. Our guidance counselor then looks over the grades, and if a student isn’t failing any class or doesn’t have more than one C, he/she will be let off study hours. However, if a student (junior or senior) is failing a class or has an excessive amount of C’s, he/she will be on mandatory study hours until he/she gets his/her grade up.

The two rooms designated for study hours are available from 7-9, Sunday through Thursday, all year long. One room has a more quiet setting for students who really need a peaceful environment to study and another room has the tutors and allows for some talking and group work. Tutors are also available all year long and students who are not on mandatory study hours are welcome to come to study hours and utilize the tutors. Study hours are a great resource and a good way for the Academy to help students study, especially away from their parents.

By Gatton Academy

Do Students Get Homesick?

October 8, 2015 | 2015-2016, Avatars, Seth Marksberry | No Comments

By: Seth Marksberry

Many people have asked us the same question repeatedly about Academy life: do you ever get homesick? Of course it varies from person to person. There are some that go home nearly every weekend because they miss their loved ones. Then there are those like myself who like to be on campus with friends as much as possible to fully take in the experience. Regardless of how often you see family, your childhood bedroom, or even a beloved pet, everybody responds to the change in environment differently.

It isn’t as big of an issue as many would think, though. Sure, heading off to college is a big shift, but Gatton provides many ways to beat homesickness. Students around the Academy have often said that with how busy college life is, there really isn’t much time to miss family. From weekend activities, such as several recent trips to Mammoth Cave National Park, to enlightening seminars with the staff, activities outside of classwork abound.

The best mechanism to combat homesickness at the Academy, by far, is the community of students that forms while students are here. When struggling against the seemingly titanic forces of classes, attempting to live up to expectations, and finding that single working dryer, your fellow students become more than friends. They’re your allies. Matthew Broadbent, a student in the class of 2017, summed it up best. “We are all one big family. So I don’t experience homesickness, because it feels like I’m right at home.”

By Gatton Academy

College Visits

October 8, 2015 | 2015-2016, Avatars, Jenna Ellis | No Comments

By: Jenna Ellis

As the fall semester progresses, Tracy, our wonderful college counselor, has started to bring in college representatives and admissions advisors in order for juniors to start thinking about schools that interest them and for seniors to ask any questions they may have for schools they are applying to. Columbia University, University of Southern California, University of Kentucky, Rose Hulman Institute of Technology, Stanford University, and Bellarmine University, in addition to a few other schools, will be visiting the Academy in the coming weeks to provide information to students.

These advisors talk about academic opportunities, usually centered on STEM subjects, extracurricular activities, and any steps an interested student should take now to learn more or really give them an advantage in the application process. The college application process is a major part of the academy seniors’ fall semester and these visits are always helpful in making the process just a little bit less stressful.

By Gatton Academy

Preview Day – September 12, 2015

October 8, 2015 | 2015-2016, Avatars, Rebecca Wood | No Comments

Wood, Rebecca 1 By: Rebecca Wood

The first preview day of the 2015-2016 school year was held on Saturday, September 12. Prospective students and their families were welcomed into an information session led by the Gatton staff. Here, the basic premise of the Gatton Academy and its community was explained.

Next was time for the tours. After splitting up the eighty people into three separate tour groups, the Gatton students led the prospective students and parents from the Bell Tower and DSU, into Bates Runner Hall to see bedrooms and common spaces, past the in-progress renovation of Florence Schneider Hall, up to Odgen College, and back down to Grise.

The next portion of the day was centered around panels. In the Grise Auditorium, the parents were encouraged to ask questions to a group of four Academy Avatars as well as four Gatton Academy parents. Generally, the questions concerned how parents could help their children get ready for or apply to Gatton, how they know their children are ready for Gatton, and the challenges the parents and their children would face at Gatton. The students were in a classroom with a different four Avatars. These questions were involving study abroad experiences, classwork, favorite parts of Gatton.

The next preview day is Saturday, October 17.

By Gatton Academy

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