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Gatton Academy Students Present Research Findings at National Conference for Undergraduate Research

April 23, 2012 | Academics, News, People, Research, Students, WKU | No Comments

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Four second-year students at The Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky recently shared research findings at The National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR).

Lydia Brothers, from Madisonville, Andrea Eastes, from Mayfield, Keaton Smith, from Alexandria, and Erin Walch, also from Alexandria, presented at the annual conference, held March 29-31, 2012, at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah.

NCUR promotes undergraduate research, scholarship, and creative activity in all disciplines. The conference provided undergraduate scholars in all fields and from all types of institutions of higher learning a forum to share the results of their work through posters, presentations, performances and works of art.

Derick Strode, the Gatton Academy’s assistant director for academic services explained that the conference was a new venue with a diverse audience for students to share their research.

“What we found is an open-minded forum that welcomes quality student projects from a wide-array of disciplines,” Strode said. “This is important because it allows our students a chance to collaborate with others who think about problems in very different ways than scientists or mathematicians.”

Established in 1987, the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) has consistently been one of the largest national conferences for promoting undergraduate research, creative, and scholastic achievement. This two to three-day annual event draws hundreds of talented students representing over 400 colleges and universities nationally.

For Brothers, the variety of backgrounds and viewpoints can lead to interdisciplinary thought and discovery.

“I think the greatest value of NCUR to a student researcher was the availability of so many people who were involved in such a wide range of fields,” Brothers said. “Having researchers from such varied backgrounds who are truly interested and willing to challenge you with questions or provide you with alternate methods to improve your conclusions really gives you something positive to take back to the lab.”

An additional portion of NCUR includes plenary sessions led by nationally prominent speakers sharing their perspectives on educational policy, various programs and initiatives, funding opportunities for undergraduate research efforts, and career development.

Four out of five Gatton Academy graduates participate in a faculty-sponsored research project during their time at the Academy.  The Gatton Academy supports students in such endeavors not only as a means of academic growth but also extending the program’s mission of providing rigorous learning experiences.

Keep reading to learn more about students’ research and comments from their faculty mentors.

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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 21st 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 21st 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.

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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

Gatton Academy Students, Alumni Honored at 42nd Annual WKU Student Research Conference

March 26, 2012 | Academics, Alumni, News, People, Research, Students, WKU | No Comments

With 269 presentations, the 42nd annual WKU Student Research Conferencewas the biggest in the event’s history as Saturday’s event at Gary A. Ransdell Hall featured 146 papers, 111 posters/exhibits, six performances/videos and six spotlight presentations.

A total of 184 undergraduate students and 85 graduate students were primary authors this year, and an additional 151 students were co-authors. A total of 154 faculty members served as mentors, providing expert instruction and guidance to student researchers and artists.

Among the undergraduate participants in the conference were 69 Honors College students and 32 students in the Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky.  Among the students honored, 9 current Academy students were recognized and 4 alumni saluted for their findings.

Student participants represented 33 departments and programs from all colleges: Agriculture; Architectural and Manufacturing Sciences; Art; Biology; Business; Chemistry; Communication; Communication Disorders; Computer Science; Consumer and Family Sciences; Economics; Educational Administration, Leadership, and Research; Engineering; English; Folk Studies and Anthropology; Gender and Women’s Studies; Geography and Geology; History; Interdisciplinary Studies; Management; Mathematics and Computer Science; Modern Languages; Music; Nursing; Philosophy and Religion; Physics and Astronomy; Political Science; Popular Culture Studies; Psychology; Public Health; Social Work; Sociology; and Theatre and Dance.

Award recipients included the following students noted below (faculty mentor in parenthesis).  Current Gatton Academy students’ names are listed in green.  Academy alumni are marked with an asterisk (*).

Undergraduate Students

  • Jessica Williams, Department of Theatre and Dance; Best Undergraduate Performance in the Humanities, Session 1 (tie) — Rhythm of My Sole (Professor Amanda Clark)
  • Kyle MacDonald, Department of Music; Best Undergraduate Performance in the Humanities, Session 1 (tie) — Olympia, a Musical Composition for Wind Ensemble (Dr. Michael Kallstrom)
  • Victoria Gilkison*, Department of Biology; Best Undergraduate Paper in the Natural Sciences, Session 1 – Stable Isotopic Analysis of the Upper Green River in Hart County, Kentucky (Dr. Albert Meier)
  • Leah Frazier*, Department of Biology; Best Undergraduate Paper in the Natural Sciences, Session 2 — Stimulation of Cell Migration in Corneal Endothelial Cells (Dr. Ken Crawford)
  • Ashley Coulter, Department of English; Best Undergraduate Paper in the Humanities, Session 3 — Pale in Comparison: Dissent within Alice Walker’s In Search of Our Mothers’ Gardens (Dr. Sandra Hughes)
  • Cody Nimmo, Department of Art; Best Undergraduate Paper in the Humanities, Session 4 — Change: Altering How We Perceive an Environment through Sculpture (Professor David Marquez)
  • John “Jack” LeSieur, Department of Folk Studies and Anthropology; Best Undergraduate Paper in the Social Sciences/Services, Session 5 —Cultural Resources at Kyrock, Kentucky: An Initial Assessment (Dr. Darlene Applegate)
  • Brenna Tinsley, Department of Biology; Best Undergraduate Paper in the Natural Sciences, Session 6 — The Ecological Roles of Podostemum ceratophyllum and Cladophora in the Habitat and Dietary Preferences of the Riverine Caddisfly Hydropsyche simulans (Dr. Scott Grubbs)
  • Rebecca Crouch, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science; Best Undergraduate Paper in the Natural Sciences, Session 7 — Chutes and Ladders with Markov Chains (Dr. Melanie Autin)
  • Shelby Rader*, Department of Geography and Geology; Best Undergraduate Paper in the Natural Sciences, Session 8 — Ion Selectivity Studies on Umbite (Dr. Aaron Celestian)
  • Anne Walsh, Department of Art; Best Undergraduate Paper in the Humanities, Session 9 — Call Me Ishmael? The Subject of Jackson Pollock’s Portrait of H.M. (Dr. Guy Jordan)
  • Nathan Bishop, Department of History; Best Undergraduate Paper in the Humanities, Session 10 — Willis v. Walker: Good Faith Alone Is Not the Test (Dr. Patricia Minter)
  • Taylor Sang, Department of English; Best Undergraduate Paper in the Humanities, Session 11 — Crusader for Transparency (Dr. Sandra Hughes)
  • Armando Sanchez, Department of Interdisciplinary Studies; Best Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Paper, Session 12 — Truth and Photography (Dr. Sara Northerner)
  • Shelby Overstreet, Department of Psychology; Best Undergraduate Paper in the Social Sciences/Services, Session 13 — STEM Career Switchers: Why Education? (Dr. Lisa Duffin)
  • Steven Calhoun, Department of Chemistry; Best Undergraduate Paper in the Natural Sciences, Session 14 — Synthesis, Structure, and Characterization of Two Polyoxometalate-Photosensitizer Hybrid Materials (Dr. Bangbo Yan)
  • Henry Uradu, Department of Biology; Best Undergraduate Paper in the Natural Sciences, Session 15 — The Winter-Active Dung Beetle Fauna of a Costa Rican Cloud Forest (Dr. Keith Phillips)
  • Jarrod Connally, Department of Economics; Best Undergraduate Business/Interdisciplinary Poster, Session 1 — Managerial Turnover in the English Premiership and the Subsequent Results (Dr. Dennis Wilson)
  • Ann-Alan Callahan, Department of Consumer and Family Sciences; Best Undergraduate Poster in the Humanities, Session 2 — Beading ’til They’re Cured (Ms. Sheila Flener)
  • Jesse Hazel, Department of Art; Best Undergraduate Poster in the Humanities, Session 3 — Humbling (Professor Laurin Notheisen)
  • Wesley Miller, Department of Art; Best Undergraduate Poster in the Humanities, Session 4 — Secular Nativity in Print – Exploring Origin(Professor Laurin Notheisen)
  • Akhil Ghanta, Shane Masuda, and Duncan Wood, Department of Physics and Astronomy; Best Undergraduate Poster in the Natural Sciences, Session 5 — Dynamical Field Equations That Couple a Morris-Thorne Wormhole to an Expanding Cosmology (Dr. Keith Andrew)
  • Elizabeth Gatten, Department of Biology; Best Undergraduate Poster in the Natural Sciences, Session 6 — Isolation and Characterization of Bacteriophage Magnolia (Dr. Rodney King)
  • Cynthia Tope*, Department of Chemistry; Best Undergraduate Poster in the Natural Sciences, Session 7 (tie) — Reactions of the Amino Acid Cysteine with Analogs of the Anticancer Drug Cisplatin (Dr. Kevin Williams)
  • Lori Lovell, Department of Biology; Best Undergraduate Poster in the Natural Sciences, Session 7 (tie) — Land Use and E. Coli / Fecal Coliform Violations in the Upper Green Watershed (Dr. Ouida Meier)
  • David Brown, Department of Chemistry; Best Undergraduate Poster in the Natural Sciences, Session 8 — Novel Î-Conjugated Organic Macromolecules for Electronic Devices (Dr. Hemali Rathnayake)
  • Andrea Eastes and Erin Walch, Department of Biology; Best Undergraduate Poster in the Natural Sciences, Session 9 — Nitric Oxide Synthase 3 Gene Regulation in Pulmonary Myofibroblasts (Dr. Nancy Rice)
  • Charles Coomer, Department of Biology; Best Undergraduate Poster in the Natural Sciences, Session 10 — Bacteriophage Classification Via PCR Analysis: An Alternative to Complete Genome Sequencing (Dr. Rodney King)
  • Brittany Crowley, Department of Psychology; Best Undergraduate Poster in the Social Sciences/Services, Session 11 — Examination of Self-Regulation Constructs as Explanatory Variables for Attendance and Performance (Dr. Steven Wininger)
  • Cortney Scott, Department of Agriculture; Best Undergraduate Poster in the Social Sciences/Services, Session 12 — Student Influences to Become an Agriculture Major at Western Kentucky University (Professor Thomas Kingery)
  • Kristin Wallace, Department of Consumer and Family Sciences; Best Undergraduate Poster in the Social Sciences/Services, Session 13 —Sephora: Men: A Pop-up Marketing Concept (Kristina Goff)
  • Caitlin Reyes, Department of Modern Languages; Best Undergraduate Poster in the Social Sciences/Services, Session 14 — Hispanic Outreach in Bowling Green, Kentucky: Defining the Needs of the Hispanic Community(Dr. Sonia Lenk)

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By Corey Alderdice

Academy Alumni Receive Prestigious Astronomy Awards for Research Projects

January 31, 2012 | Academics, Alumni, News, People, Research, WKU | No Comments

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Two students in WKU’s Department of Physics and Astronomy received prestigious awards recently at the American Astronomical Society’s 219thsemiannual meeting in Austin, Texas.

Aaron C. Bell of Scottsville and Andrew Gott of Elizabethtown received Chambliss Astronomy Achievement Student Awards for their poster presentations at the conference. Often called the Super Bowl of Astronomy, the AAS winter meeting Jan. 8-12 attracted more than 2,700 astrophysicists, educators, students and journalists.

Dr. Louis Strolger, associate professor and Gott’s advisor, said several hundred undergraduate posters are presented at the conference and fewer than 10 Chambliss medals are awarded with the majority going to students from research universities.

Of the seven medals awarded this year, three went to students from Harvard University and two went to WKU, he said. WKU’s Kyle Cook, now a graduate student at Texas A&M, won a Chambliss medal in 2010.

“It is rare for an institution our size to garner one of these prestigious awards, let alone two in one year and three Chambliss awards in the past two years,” said Dr. Steven Gibson, assistant professor and Bell’s advisor.

Bell and Gott said the Chambliss awards validate the quality of WKU’s faculty and students and the high caliber research under way in the department. “These awards bring prestige to WKU and let everyone know that we do have an excellent Department of Physics and Astronomy,” Bell said.

Bell worked with Dr. Gibson on a project titled Dust Infrared Emission in an H2-Forming, Perseus-Arm Cloud. Bell’s interstellar research has focused on the formation of dense clouds of molecular gas that can collapse under their own gravity. Using infrared data from the Spitzer Space Telescope, Bell is examining how small dust particles aid the condensation of molecular hydrogen from less dense atomic gas. This transition is vital to the ongoing formation of new stars and planets in our own galaxy and many others.

Gott worked with Dr. Strolger on a project titled UBVRI Optical Monitoring of Supernova 2011fe in the Pinwheel Galaxy with the 1.3-meter Robotically Controlled Telescope. Gott has been examining data from an exploding star that has been one of the most important supernovae in recent history. Measuring its brightness over time will provide vital information about more distant supernovae being used to measure the expansion history of the universe — the subject of the recent Nobel Prize in physics, in which Dr. Strolger played a role.

Bell and Gott, both seniors and graduates of the Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky, plan to continue their research at graduate school. And both encourage other students to take advantage of the undergraduate research opportunities in their department and across the WKU campus.

“Students should know that if they’re interested in research, then approach your professors about it because there’s a strong chance they’ll get to work with them on a project,” Bell said.

Two other WKU students also had research presented at the AAS conference.

Jonathan Newton, a senior from Nicholasville, presented a poster onCandidate Sites for Cold H2 Formation in Cold HI Emission and Other Tracers. He has been using a survey with the Arecibo radio telescope in Puerto Rico (where he was a summer intern last year) to look for clouds of cold gas that are becoming denser and colder in preparation for forming new stars.

Research by Rebecca Brown, a Gatton Academy student from Nelson County, was featured in a poster titled Observations of 4 Blazars with the Robotically Controlled Telescope in 2011.

Contact: Steven Gibson, (270) 745-3019; or Louis Strolger, (270) 745-6204.

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By Corey Alderdice

Gatton Academy, WKU Students Present Research at Annual “Posters at the Capitol” Event

January 30, 2012 | Academics, Alumni, News, People, Research, Students, WKU | No Comments

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More than 20 WKU student, five of whom are Gatton Academy students, presented research during the 2012 Posters-at-the-Capitol event Jan. 26 in Frankfort.

  • Aaron Bell, a Scottsville senior and Gatton Academy alumnus, presented “Dust Infrared Emission in an H2-forming, Perseus-Arm Cloud” with faculty mentor Steve Gibson.
  • Jade Boyle, a Glasgow senior, and Ashton Korfhage, a Bowling Green senior, presented “Cultural Design for African Children in Need” with faculty mentors Sheila S. Flener and Travis K. Wilson.
  • Andrea Eastes, a Gatton Academy student from Mayfield, and Lydia Brothers, a Gatton Academy student from Madisonville, presented “ZBLAN Glass: Improving Medical Imaging with Europium Doped HoF3 and SrCl2 Based Storage Phosphors” with faculty mentor Jackie Johnson.
  • Chris Carmichael, a Bowling Green senior, presented “A Novel Layered Metalloporphyrin Material” with faculty mentor Bangbo Yan.
  • Andrea Esterle, a Bowling Green senior, presented “Biosynthesis of Gold and Silver Nanoparticles Using Yucca filamentosa Plant Extract” with faculty mentor Shivendra Sahi.
  • Deanna Gipson, an Auburn senior, and Traci Walker, a Campbellsville senior, presented “The Culturally Competent Dental Team” with faculty mentor Barbara Bush.
  • Ryan D. Gourley, a senior from Evansville, Ind., and graduate students Kamal Humagain of Bowling Green and Sean T. Hutchison of Nashville, Tenn., presented “Using Satellite Remote Sensing Data to Describe Spatiotemporal Characteristics of Fire in Nepal” with faculty mentor John All.
  • Sherry R. Helm, an Eastview senior, presented “Analysis of RNA Mediated Antitermination in Erwinia Tasmaniensis Bacteriophage” with faculty mentor Rodney A. King.
  • Kayla Jenkins, a Bowling Green junior, and Chad Jones, a Brandenburg senior, presented “Decoding the Body” with faculty mentor Joseph Evans.
  • Alyssa Nantz, a senior from LaVergne, Tenn., and Mikell Nelson, a Louisville senior, presented “Dental Health Literacy: A Plea for Simplicity” with faculty mentor Rebecca G. Tabor.
  • Dillon Pender, an Elizabethtown senior, and graduate student and Lakshmisri M. Vangala of Bowling Green presented “Environmental Friendly Synthesis, Characterization and Bactericidal Activity of Starch-Encapsulated Gold Nanoparticles” with faculty mentor Rajalingam Dakshinamurphy.
  • Michael Powers, a Bowling Green senior, presented “Enhanced Nanoporous Minerals for Energy Processes” with faculty mentor Aaron Celestian.
  • Mary Spraggs, a Gatton Academy student from Danville, and Cheyenne Ullrey, a Gatton Academy student from Walton, presented “An Examination of Atmospheric Composition Data from Mammoth Cave National Park” with faculty mentor Matthew J. Nee.
  • Leslie Wilson, a Gatton Academy student from Munfordville, presented “Reactive Group Functionalized Silsequioxane Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery Applications: Synthesis, Characterization and Particle Morphology” with faculty mentor Hemali Rathnayake.

Posters-at-the-Capitol is intended to help members of Kentucky’s legislature and the Governor better understand the importance of involving undergraduates in research, scholarly and creative work.

Contact: Blaine Ferrell, (270) 745-8842.

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By Corey Alderdice

WKU Receives $500K Challenge Grant for i4 Initiative

January 30, 2012 | Academics, Gifted Ed, News, People, STEM Discussions, WKU | No Comments

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WKU has received a $500,000 challenge grant from the James Graham Brown Foundation in support of the i4 Initiative, a new campus project emphasizing science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in Kentucky.  Sue and Brown Badgett Jr. of Madisonville, Ky., have made a lead gift of $150,000 to support the program.

“The Center for Gifted Studies, the Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky and the Honors College at WKU are collaborating on this project,” said Amanda Lich, the Director of Development for the three related areas.  “The i4 Initiative seeks to promote a culture of innovation through a series of outreach and programming opportunities that instill a sense of the importance of STEM exploration, inspire Kentuckians to foster excellence and growth in STEM, and increase the capacity of high-ability students from middle, secondary and postsecondary populations to engage in these fields.”

The i4 Initiative comprises three main components.  First, the i4 Initiative will launch a statewide public relations campaign showing the power of STEM, the possible career options within STEM disciplines and the course to achievement.  An interactive website with STEM content, social media, a billboard campaign, and other vehicles of community outreach will be utilized throughout the Commonwealth.

Pathways to Innovation, the second element of the project, offers a three-part strategy to engage high-ability middle grades, high school and college students through existing and new WKU programs.  The Summer Program for Verbally and Mathematically Precocious Youth (VAMPY) will add three new Seminars in Innovation that focus on mobile applications development, invention and sustainability.  A Winter Colloquium in Innovation will be added to the WKU class schedule to take advantage of the three-week open period on campus where students from the Gatton Academy, the Honors College and other disciplines can focus on the start-up phase of innovative projects.  A lecture series featuring state and national STEM leaders and entrepreneurial thinkers will be held on campus.

The third facet of the i4 Initiative is the WKU Innovation Incubator that will serve the same role as a business startup accelerator, but will instead focus on students.  Access to the Incubator will be by competition, with students receiving a grant toward materials needed to produce a proof-of-concept.  The Incubator also will serve as a conversion point and outreach tool for younger students, with visits by elementary, middle and high school students for demonstrations and engagement.  The Center for Research and Development, home to the WKU Small Business Accelerator, will be hosting the WKU Innovation Incubator.

“The i4 Initiative is designed around the concept that students should be mentored to take charge of their future,” said Dr. Gordon Baylis, Vice President for Research and President of the WKU Research Foundation.  “As the late Steve Jobs pointed out, the only way to predict the future is to invent it yourself. The i4 Initiative prepares our students for a life of inquiry, inspiration, innovation and invention: it is a path to a bright future for us all. I am delighted that the Student Business Accelerator is an integral part of this initiative.”

WKU is in the process of hiring an individual to oversee the implementation of the i4 Initiative.  This individual will coordinate the public relations campaign and outreach activities of the program and will work to ensure that all facets of the i4 Initiative are effectively implemented.

Dr. Julia Roberts, Executive Director of The Center for Gifted Studies and the Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky, said she is thrilled with the opportunities this grant offers.

“A culture that fosters and values innovation drives the economy forward and improves so many aspects of our lives,” Dr. Roberts said.  “We are eager to embark on the i4 Initiative and to explore ways to make innovation important in Kentucky schools and communities as well as at The Center for Gifted Studies, the Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky, the Honors College at WKU and Western Kentucky University.”

The James Graham Brown Foundation was established in 1943.  The Foundation, based in Louisville, was created by Brown to “promote the well-being of the citizens of Louisville and Kentucky.”  Since its incorporation in 1954, the Foundation has awarded more than 2,700 grants totaling nearly $463 million.  In early 2011, the Foundation announced it had allocated $2 million for its first-ever Higher Education Competitive Grant Program.  WKU was one of four higher education entities in Kentucky to receive funding.

The James Graham Brown Foundation will match $1 for every $1 raised up to $500,000 until Dec.1, 2013.

“We are so pleased to partner with WKU and the Brown Foundation to invest in the next generation of innovators in Kentucky,” lead donor Brown Badgett said.  “Sue and I feel strongly that nurturing and supporting the creativity of university scholars will reap benefits for the entire Commonwealth.  We look forward to what the future holds.”

Lich said WKU is excited for the opportunity to leverage the remarkable human and intellectual resources of The Center for Gifted Studies, the Gatton Academy and the Honors College in implementing the i4 Initiative through the support of the James Graham Brown Foundation, Sue and Brown Badgett and others.  In addition to the Badgetts’ lead gift, an additional $34,000 has been raised for the project.

The National Center for Educational Statistics (2009) reports that only 12 percent of bachelor’s degrees conferred in Kentucky are in STEM fields.  The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation and The Kauffman Foundation found in The 2010 State New Economy Index: Benchmarking Economic Transformation in the States that Kentucky ranks 46th in the number of inventor patents issues, 43rd in the number of scientists and engineers, 43rd in the number of high tech jobs, 42nd in alternative energy and 42nd in venture capital.  In order for the Commonwealth to be competitive in this century, more engagement in the STEM fields must take place.

Contact: Rick DuBose, (270) 745-5404.

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By Corey Alderdice

Alumna Schrader Selected to Teach English in South Korea

January 20, 2012 | Academics, Alumni, International, News, People, WKU | No Comments

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Sarah Schrader, a double major in Biology and Chemistry and member of the Honors College at WKU, has been selected to teach English in South Korea for a six-month term beginning in February through the Teach and Learn in Korea (TaLK) program.

Schrader, the daughter of Michelle and Steven Schrader of Bowling Green, is a graduate of the Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky and an active member of the Chinese Flagship Program at WKU. As a participant, she will teach English in after-school programs at rural elementary schools in South Korea.

Sarah Schrader, a student in the Honors College at WKU and graduate of the Gatton Academy, has been selected to teach in English in South Korea.

“For me, the TaLK program represents an exciting opportunity to experience something radically different from anything I have ever done before,” Schrader said. “It promises to be a unique and rewarding combination of cultural immersion and exchange as well as an excellent opportunity to develop professional skills and international connections while helping young Korean students unlock a world of international opportunities for themselves.”

The TaLK Program began in April 2008 under the direction of South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak as a way to ensure access to higher quality educational resources in rural areas of the country. Placing native English speakers in rural communities counterbalances the growth of private education, which is often too costly for parents in these areas. There are more than 500 active participants in the program from the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Ireland and South Africa as of fall 2011.

Dr. Melinda Grimsley-Smith, coordinator of international scholarships for the Office of Scholar Development, works with students who are applying for international scholarships and internships.

“Sarah’s undergraduate career is a wonderful example of where and how far passion and curiosity can take you at WKU,” Grimsley-Smith said. “She has an incredible future in store for her, and we are honored to work with her to reach her goals.”

Schrader, a Goldwater Scholar who plans to pursue a Ph.D. in molecular biology or genetics, works in the lab with Dr. Rodney King, associate professor of biology.

“Sarah is an exceptional student who has earned national recognition for her achievements. Last year, she was awarded a Goldwater scholarship and named a U.S. Presidential Scholar. Sarah continues to seek opportunities to broaden her academic portfolio, and she has embraced WKU’s internationalization mission,” he said. “The TaLK program is wonderful opportunity for her to experience Korean culture and share her gifts and enthusiasm with Korean students who want to become proficient in English.  It is truly exciting to watch Sarah develop into an outstanding scholar. I am very happy for her.”

After returning from South Korea, Schrader will depart for China, where she will fulfill her Capstone Year at Nanjing University and a four-to-six month professional internship in her field of study.

“In our global society, international competency and collaboration are becoming increasingly important in all professions, including the sciences,” she said. “My experiences with the Korean language and culture as a TaLK scholar will greatly expand upon the international foundation I have already built through participation in the Chinese Flagship program and will further propel me on my way to becoming a global professional.”

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 TaLK Program or other similar opportunities. Call (270) 745-5043 to schedule an appointment with the Office of Scholar Development.

Contact: Audra Jennings, (270) 745-5043.

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By Corey Alderdice

Gatton Academy among 21 Kentucky High Schools Selected for “Poetry Out Loud”

November 4, 2011 | Academics, News, People, Students | No Comments

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The Kentucky Arts Council has selected 21 high schools to participate in the state competition for the Poetry Out Loud National Recitation Contest sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation. This is the seventh year of the program, which encourages high school students to learn about great poetry through memorization and recitation.

The selected schools are:

School City County
Allen Co./Scottsville High School Scottsville Allen
Ballard High School Louisville Jefferson
Beechwood High School Ft Mitchell Kenton
Boyd Co. High School Ashland Boyd
Carroll Co. High School Carrollton Carroll
Fairview High School Ashland Boyd
Franklin Co. High School Frankfort Franklin
Gatton Academy of Mathematics and
Science in Kentucky		 Bowling Green Warren
Grant Co. High School Dry Ridge Grant
Greenwood High School Bowling Green Warren
Harlan Co. High School Baxter Harlan
Hart Co. High School Munfordville Hart
Hazard High School Hazard Perry
Heath High School West Paducah McCracken
Leslie Co. High School Hyden Leslie
Lone Oak High School Paducah McCracken
Mercer Co. High School Harrodsburg Mercer
Ohio Co. High School Hartford Ohio
Reidland High School Paducah McCracken
Russell Co. High School Russell Springs Russell
Western Hills High School Frankfort Franklin

Poetry Out Loud begins at the classroom level. Winners advance to a school-wide competition, then to the state competition and ultimately to the national finals. Last year, more than 300,000 students participated in the Poetry Out Loud program in 50 states, five U.S. territories and the District of Columbia.

The winner of the Kentucky state finals, to be held in March 2012 in Frankfort, will receive $200 and an all-expenses-paid trip with an adult chaperone to Washington, D.C., to compete for the national championship. The state winner’s school will receive a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry books. The first runner-up will receive $100, with $200 going to his or her school library. The program culminates with the national finals in Washington, D.C., May 13–15, 2012. A total of $50,000 in awards and school stipends will be awarded at the national finals.

“We are very pleased to be able to continue this program. Our Kentucky champions have been finalists in the national competition in five of the six years of Poetry Out Loud,” said Lori Meadows, executive director of the Kentucky Arts Council. “Maybe the 2012 national champion will be a student from one of these 21 Kentucky schools.”

For additional information about Poetry Out Loud in Kentucky, contact Rachel Allen at rachel.allen@ky.gov or 502-564-3757, ext. 486. For a general overview of the Poetry Out Loud National Recitation Contest, go towww.poetryoutloud.org.

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.

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By Corey Alderdice

Academy Students, Alumni among WKU Biology Students Contributing Research to National DNA Database

November 4, 2011 | Academics, Alumni, News, People, Research, Students, WKU | No Comments

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Students in the WKU Biology Department’s Genome Discovery and Exploration class have contributed genomic research to the national DNA sequence database.

Students in the class isolate viruses from soil, purify the viral DNA, then sequence and annotate the viral genome. This unique hands-on, inquiry-based program is sponsored by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science Education Alliance and is designed to engage new undergraduates in the process of doing scientific research.

Through their efforts in this yearlong research experience, the participating students ultimately contribute new information to the scientific community.

Three newly discovered genomes characterized and annotated by the Genome Discovery and Exploration students were recently released by Genbank, the national DNA sequence database. The type of viruses that were isolated are called bacteriophages; viruses that specifically infect bacterial cells. The students named the newly discovered phages Backyardigan, TiroTheta9 andBarrelRoll.

“The characterization of new viral genomes provides insights into the diversity and evolution of bacteriophages which are the most numerous biological entities on the planet,” said Dr. Rodney King, associate professor of biology.

The WKU students who contributed to the annotation of the viral genomes are as follows (* denotes Gatton Academy student):

  • Bacteriophage Backyardigan  (Released August 2011) — Courtney Howard* of Radcliff; Prasanna Parthasarathy of India; Ejike Anyanwu of Washington, D.C.; Kaitlyn Cole of Lawrenceburg; Karlee Driver of Lafayette, Tenn.; Elizabeth Farnsworth* of Burlington; Benjamin Howard* of Morehead; Brittney Howard* of Radcliff; Jordan Olberding of Oceanside, Calif.; Mackenzie Perkins of Hopkinsville; Heidi Sayre of Lawrenceburg; Tyler Scaff* of LaGrange; Sarah Schrader* of Bowling Green; and Cynthia Tope* of Burlington.
  • Bacteriophage TiroTheta9 (Released August 2011) — Sarah Schrader* of Bowling Green and Prasanna Parthasarathy of India.
  • Bacteriophage BarrelRoll (Released September 2011) — Benjamin Rice* of Somerset; Akhila Bethi of India; Lee Calvert of Albemarle, N.C.; Charles Coomer of Louisville; Andrea Eastes* of Mayfield; Erin Eaton of Crestwood; John Faughn of Bowling Green; Alex Gutierrez* of Mount Washington; Anthony Gutierrez* of Mount Washington; Samantha Hawtrey* of Union; George Jones of Central City; Mackenzie Jones of Campbellsville; Zimple Kurlawala of India; Taylor Leet* of Louisville; Lori Lovell* of Louisville; Kaysi Phillips of Nashville, Tenn.; Lori Shoup of Frankfort; Aaron Stolze* of Somerset; Erin Walch* of Alexandria; Eric Westerman of Sebree; Makka Wheeler* of Guthrie; Spencer Wright of Lexington; and Prasanna Parthasarathy of India.

The complete annotated genomic sequences can be viewed online at   http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/

Contact: Rodney King, (270) 745-6910.

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By Corey Alderdice