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Gatton Academy Students Shine at WKU Student Research Conference

April 4, 2011 | Academics, Alumni, News, People, Research, Student Success, Students | No Comments

The 41st Annual WKU Student Research Conference was the biggest in the eventʼs history with 135 paper presentations and performances as well as 80 poster presentations and exhibits March 26 at Gary A. Ransdell Hall.

A total of 149 undergraduate students and 66 graduate students were primary authors this year and an additional 112 students were co-authors. The undergraduate participants included 61 Honors College students and 29 students from the Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky.

A total of 124 faculty members served as mentors, and 33 departments from all colleges were represented among the conference participants.

The conference program is available online.

Academy students and alumni honored are noted in bold. Student Research Conference session winners included the following:

Undergraduate Papers

Madalyn Schreiner, a junior from Alvaton, Exposing the Cracks in the Masks, Best Undergraduate Paper in the Humanities, Session 1
Matthew Vaughan, a senior from Wayne, Pa., Fair Trade Education and Awareness at WKU, Best Undergraduate Paper in the Social Sciences, Session 2
Maggie Wilder, a senior from Berea, Prescribed Fire Effects on Summer and Fall Herbs in Eastern Mesic Forests, Best Undergraduate Paper in the Natural Sciences, Session 3
David Evans, a senior from Somerset, Analysis of Vegetation Health and Density within the Makalu Barun National Park, Nepal Using Supervised Classification of Remotely Sensed Data, Best Undergraduate Paper in the Natural Sciences, Session 4
Sarah Schrader, a Gatton Academy student from Bowling Green, Genomic Analysis of TT9, a Novel Mycobacteriophage, Best Undergraduate Paper in the Natural Sciences, Session 5
Daniel Hinson, a senior from Greenbrier, Tenn., Synthesis of Some Group VII Pyridazine Complexes, Best Undergraduate Paper in the Social Sciences, Session 6
Colleen Wynn, a senior from Louisville, Hopelessly Disadvantaged Like You: A Comparative Study of Disadvantaged Youth in Mobile and Medellin, Best Undergraduate Paper in the Social Sciences, Session 7
John Jennings, a senior from Bowling Green, Ortho-Metalation of Para-Bromo and Para-Iodoanisole Utilizing Ortho-Lithiodimethylben-zylamine, Best Undergraduate Paper in the Natural Sciences, Session 8
Kayla Herchenrader, a senior from Louisville, Barren River Sports Center, Best Undergraduate Paper in the Natural Sciences, Session 9
Mark Bailey, a senior from Cold Spring, The Coney Island Mall, Best Undergraduate Paper in the Natural Sciences, Session 10
Amar Patel, a senior from Russellville, Poly(3-hexyl thiophene) and Perylenediimide Functionalized Siloxane and Bridged-Siloxane Nanoparticles, Best Undergraduate Paper in the Natural Sciences, Session 11
Whitney Tyree, a senior from Smiths Grove, A.R.T.E.M.I.S Double Prime, Best Undergraduate Paper in the Natural Sciences, Session 12
Kasey Vaught, a senior from Versailles, The Moral Lapses of Men: Justice Defined by Watchmen, Best Undergraduate Paper in the Humanities, Session 13
Leigh Gaskin, a senior from Bowling Green, Gales Point Cemetery Restoration, Best Undergraduate Paper in the Humanities, Session 14

Undergraduate Posters

Wren Burnett, a senior from Bowling Green, Contemporary Design Collaborations, Best Undergraduate Poster in the Humanities, Session 1
Rachael Baumgardner, a senior from Bonnieville, Art Deco Jewelry, Best Undergraduate Poster in the Humanities, Session 2
Chasen Igleheart, a senior from Central City, Salo, Best Undergraduate Poster in the Humanities, Session 3
Sean Shannon, a senior from Beavercreek, Ohio, Identification of Candidate Basement Membrane Degraders Using Drosophila Genetics, Best Undergraduate Poster in the Natural Sciences, Session 4
Owen Gaulle, a sophomore from Nashville, Tenn., Evaluating the Lyrid Stream from a High Altitude Balloon Experiment, Best Undergraduate Poster in the Natural Sciences, Session 5
Virginia Martin, a senior from Bardstown, Synthesis and Characterization of Analogs of the Anticancer Drug Oxaliplatin, Best Undergraduate Poster in the Natural Sciences, Session 6
Shelby Rader, a Gatton Academy alumna and senior from Irvine, Synthesized Crystalline Materials and Ion Exchange, Best Undergraduate Poster in the Natural Sciences, Session 7
John Wilson, a senior from Hickman, Predictability Time of an Einstein Klein-Gordon Cosmology, Best Undergraduate Poster in the Natural Sciences, Session 8
Kathryn Carpenter, a senior from Owensboro, SKy Teach vs. the Traditional Teacher Education Program: Why Is the Quality of Learning of Educational Psychology Content Different?, Best Undergraduate Poster in the Social Sciences, Session 9
Curtlyn Kramer, a Gatton Academy student from Ashland, The Effect of Sexual Context on Moral Decision Making in Men and Women, Best Undergraduate Poster in the Social Sciences, Session 10

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

By Corey Alderdice

Sarah Schrader Earns Perfect Score on ACT

December 17, 2010 | Academics, News, People, Student Success, Students | No Comments

Sarah Schrader (Warren, ’11) earned a top composite score of 36 on a recent ACT test.

Nationally, while the actual number of students earning a composite score of 36 varies from year to year, roughly one-tenth of one percent receive a top score. Among test takers in the high school graduating class of 2010, only 588 of nearly 1.6 million students earned a composite score of 36.

The ACT consists of tests in English, mathematics, reading and science. Each test is scored on a scale of 1-36, and a student’s composite score is the average of the four test scores. Some students also take ACT’s optional Writing Test, but the score for that test is reported separately and is not included within the ACT composite score.

In a letter recognizing this exceptional achievement, ACT CEO Jon Whitmore said, “While test scores are just one of the many criteria that most colleges consider when making admission decisions, your exceptional ACT composite score should prove helpful as you pursue your education and career goals.”

ACT test scores are accepted by all major U.S. colleges, and exceptional scores of 36 provide colleges with evidence of student readiness for the academic rigors that lie ahead.

For more information, contact Corey Alderdice at (270) 745-6565.

By Corey Alderdice

Academy Students, Alumni Honored at KAS Conference

December 1, 2010 | Academics, Alumni, News, People, Research, Student Success, Students, WKU | No Comments

Gatton Academy students and alumni were honored for their research at the 2010 Kentucky Academy of Science (KAS) Annual Meeting. WKU hosted the conference Nov. 12-13.

The group’s 96^th annual meeting broke a record with 775 registered attendees. This year’s meeting focused on Careers in Science — what students need to know to be prepared and how faculty can help with the preparation.

Dr. Cheryl Davis, a WKU biology professor, was elected vice president of the Kentucky Academy of Science.

Derick Strode, the Academy’s coordinator for research, internships, and scholarships, explained that Academy students shared their findings alongside other undergraduate students, graduate students, and professionals from across the Commonwealth.

“These students have taken on the additional challenge of research out of their passion for mathematics and science,” Strode noted. “To be honored among the best undergraduate scientists in the state of Kentucky is a true compliment to the level of commitment and hard work that these young students put forth in their research projects.”

Research, Strode explained, is a central component of the Gatton Academy experience. In all, three-out-of-every-four Academy students participate in a sponsored research project. Students are encouraged to share their findings at student and professional conferences.

“By sharing their research work at academic conferences and meetings such as the Kentucky Academy of Sciences, our students have a chance not only to share their findings but they also get to see and learn from other students and professional scientists from around the state,” Strode said. “These meetings give our students a chance to see the larger world of science and mathematics research and make valuable connections in the state’s STEM community.”

The following Gatton Academy students received awards for their paper and poster presentations:

2010 Undergraduate Paper Presentation Competition

Agricultural Sciences: Clarice Esch of Somerset, third
Ecology and Environmental Science: Victoria Gilkison of Lawrenceburg, second;
Geography: David Evans of London, England, first; Lee Campbell of Paducah, second
Mathematics: Anthony Bombik of Louisville, second; Justine Missik of Danville, third
Physics and Astronomy: John M. Wilson (Academy alumnus) of Hickman, third

For more information, contact Derick Strode at (270) 745-6565.

By Corey Alderdice

11 Gatton Academy Seniors Named National Merit Semifinalists

September 15, 2010 | Academics, News, Student Success | No Comments

Nearly 20% of Gatton Academy seniors have been recognized as semifinalists in the 2011 National Merit Scholarship Program, an honor which potentially opens the door college scholarship opportunities. In all, 11 members of the Class of 2011 will go on to the next round of the competition.

Over 1.5 million students in about 22,000 high schools entered the 2011 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2009 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Students are tested in math, critical reasoning, and writing. The 16,000 Semifinalists honored are the highest-scoring entrants in their state and represent less than 1 percent of each state’s high school seniors.

For these Gatton Academy seniors, it’s a great way to begin their final year of high school even as they focus on the college admissions process ahead. According to Gatton Academy Director Tim Gott, this is just the beginning of a busy—and rewarding—year.

“With this recognition, these students have earned a key that will open tremendous educational opportunities,” Gott said. “We look forward to seeing what these students will accomplish in the days ahead.”

To be considered in the rigorous competition for National Merit Scholarships, Semifinalists must advance to the Finalist level of the competition by meeting additional standard and fulfilling several requirements. These include having a record of very high academic performance of college preparatory course work, submitting SAT scores that confirm PSAT performance, and being fully endorsed and recommended by a high school official.

Gatton Academy students honored in the program are recognized through their sending high school. Since students take the qualifying PSAT exam in October of their junior year of high school, much of the preparation stems from learning opportunities during their freshman and sophomore years of high school. The Gatton Academy builds on those experiences to provide students with a robust application and preparation for the SAT, a critical component in becoming a finalist.

“It is an incredible honor to be named a National Merit semifinalist,” Gott said. “These remarkable young people have been strongly prepared by their home high schools and the Gatton Academy is privileged to be able to contribute to the ongoing education of these outstanding students.”

2011 Gatton Academy National Merit Semifinalists:
Michael Bowie (Paul Laurence Dunbar High School, Fayette County)
Katherine Goebel (Shelby County High School, Shelby County)
Justine Missik (Boyle County High School, Boyle County)
Tejas Sangoi (Daviess County High School, Daviess County)
Tyler Scaff (Oldham County High School, Oldham County)
Natalie Schieber (Elizabethtown High School, Hardin County)
Sarah Schrader (Greenwood High School, Warren County)
Jonathan Serpico (Elizabethtown High School, Hardin County)
Josh Song (Bowling Green High School, Warren County)
Paras Vora (Daviess County High School, Daviess County)
Kelsey Wagner (Bullitt East High School, Bullitt County)

Finalists will be named in winter 2011.

For more information, contact Corey Alderdice at (270) 745-2971.

By Corey Alderdice

Residential Counselor Rose Nash Presents Master’s Thesis at Oxford Conference

September 2, 2010 | 5Q, Academics, International, News, People, Research, Staff, Student Life, Student Success, WKU | No Comments

Interview by Kelsey Wagner, Academy Avatar

The students of Gatton Academy are not the only high-achievers in Schneider Hall. Over this summer, Residential Counselor Rose Nash traveled to the esteemed Oxford University in England to present her Master’s thesis to a group of her academic peers. The Academy caught up with her and she answered a few questions about her presentation and her trip in general.

When did you go?

The conference was held the 11th through the 13th of July.

Why were you there?

I presented part of my thesis: A Loss of Connection: Science in Romanticism and Science Fiction at the fifth Global Conference of Visions of Humanity in Cyberculture, Cyberspace, and Science Fiction at Oxford University.

What kinds of things did you do while in England besides present at the conference?

At the conference, I presented and participated in discussions with other presenters about their theses. I got to know people from all over the world. I also spent 2 days in Oxford, where Tolkien and C.S. Lewis were from, and got to see where they studied and worked. I [spent time] in London touring for 2 days.

Would you share with us a little information about your thesis?

My thesis is the idea that modern science fiction is an extension of Dark Romanticism. The part I presented is connecting two of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s short stories, “The Birth-mark” and “Rappiccini’s Daughter,” to Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451.

How did you feel about presenting?

Incredibly nervous! I was the only person there who wasn’t in the process of earning or already have a Ph.D. Once I was there, though, I really enjoyed it and got a lot of useful information for my thesis.

Which other theses stood out to you? Which were your favorites?

The ones on virtual worlds and how they impact how we communicate and how its changing, and what it really means to be human. Also, a lot of papers on the Cyberpunk movement. Cyberpunk is [a subgenre of] revolutionary stories in science fiction about changing things. Many authors tied into real-life cases like genocides in Africa, AIDS epidemics, and man’s want to not age or die. The constant use of science and the attempt to escape is really what it means to be human.

How many people presented at the conference?

Forty people presented from fourteen different countries [were in the audience], plus their family and friends. There were three days of presenting nonstop, with a social justice conference too.

What was your favorite part of the whole trip?

Meeting others in science fiction field. I met nice guy from Brazil, a guy from New Zealand, a girl from Norway, a cool girl from Vietnam, and girl from Czech Republic who was working in Greece.

Any final words you would like to leave us with?

It was really nerve-wracking, but–in the end–it was completely worth it.

By Corey Alderdice

[New Year, New Staff] Meet Study Skills Coordinator Keely P’Pool

August 30, 2010 | 5Q, Academics, News, People, Staff, Student Life | No Comments

With the start of a new year at the Gatton Academy comes several new personalities to the staff. We are excited about these passionate and dedicated individuals who have joined our team. They come to us from different parts of the country with a host of varied experiences. Over the last few weeks, the staff has had a chance to get to know each other. It’s now your chance to meet the new faces behind the Academy. Each day this week, we’ll profile a new staff member.

Academy Avatars sat down with each new staff member to post ten questions in hopes of getting to know them better. Avatars came up with five questions that we asked each person. Each Avatar also posed five unique questions of their own choosing to ask as well.

Up next is Study Skills Coordinator Keely P’Pool.

Interview by Krysta Waldrop, Academy Avatar

1. Why did you decide to join the Gatton Academy staff?

I am very excited to be a member of the Gatton Academy staff this year, and I am looking forward to working with and interacting with all the students. I am a firm believer in gifted education and feel that gifted students should be given academic opportunities that will challenge them and enable them to maximize their potential. Knowing these values are incorporated into the mission of the Gatton Academy made me want to become a staff member so that I can contribute my knowledge and expertise in hopes of helping every student at the Gatton Academy be successful.

2. Where did you attend college and what subjects did you study?

I am actually an alumnus of Western Kentucky University. I have a variety of degrees from this university and am also currently working on my second Masters degree from Western. I graduated in 2006 with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Criminology. I also have my Master’s degree in Elementary & Gifted Education from WKU. I am currently finishing up my Specialist degree in Elementary Education with an emphasis in Gifted Education, and I am starting work on my second Master’s this fall in Library Media Education.

3. What are you looking forward to the most about the coming school year?

One of the main components I have missed most from my teaching career is interacting and working with students. I enjoy collaborating with students and watching them learn and be successful. I also enjoy learning about my students and forming positive academic relationships with them. Last year I worked at The Center for Gifted Studies and missed the interaction with students. So, now that I am at the Gatton Academy I am excited to once again work with students and do what I can to ensure that they will be successful.

4. What do you think makes the Gatton Academy a unique educational experience?

I think the main thing that makes the Gatton Academy a unique educational experience is that it allows gifted students from all across the state to interact and learn from each other in an environment that is extremely beneficial for them. It’s a completely different learning experience when you come from a classroom where you are the only gifted student to an environment where every student around you is gifted. The Gatton Academy experience allows gifted students to form a camaraderie among themselves because they understand each other. The educational experience is so much better when you share it with people who enjoy learning as much as you do, and that is the atmosphere that the Gatton Academy provides.

5. What contributions do you hope to make to life at the Gatton Academy?

I hope to make many positive contributions to life at the Gatton Academy. Among these contributions I hope to bring a supportive environment for all of the students I will be working with during the study hours. I also hope to show the students that I truly care about them and their academic success by making myself available as much as possible to meet their academic needs, whether it be proofreading a research paper, helping students review for an exam, or scheduling tutors for students who need some extra help in their classes.

6. Have you often worked with young adults in past jobs? (Also, if yes, what/who inspired you to work with people in that age group?

I taught fourth grade for two years at Oakland Elementary here in Bowling Green, even though those students are a little bit younger than the “young adult” category. I also taught a class at SCATS last summer called Nazi Germany & the Holocaust, which I taught to gifted middle school students. As far as my fourth graders, I have always wanted to teach and work with students, so I truly enjoyed working with students at that age especially when I was able to teach them content where they had to think critically about their problem solving. Concerning the SCATS students, I attended both SCATS and VAMPY when I was younger and knew that I wanted to teach a class at SCATS at some point. Nazi Germany and the Holocaust is a topic of interest for me, and I have traveled to some of the concentration camps in Europe. It was great to teach a topic to students who were interested and wanted to learn about a subject matter that I am passionate about.

7. Do you have any advice to give to the students that would have helped you at our age?

My advice for students would be to experience as much as you can (traveling, meeting new people, taking interesting classes, etc.) whenever you can because life is too short not to enjoy every moment. As far as academics, my advice would be to work hard and stay focused, even though there will be times when all you want to do is watch TV, relax, and hang out with friends. Hard work does pay off in the end, and it is totally worth it to do well the first time and enjoy your accomplishments.

8. What was your favorite subject in high school?

My favorite subjects in high school were history (because I had an AMAZING AP History teacher) and math (I took AP Calculus my senior year).

9. What has been the most memorable place to which you have traveled?

This is a really hard question because I am an avid traveler. I have been to 48 states (still need to go to Alaska and Hawaii) and 18 countries. If I had to choose I would say the most memorable place I have been to would be a tie between Ireland, Italy (Venice), Australia, and France (Paris).

10. Is there anything else about you that you would like the staff, students, or parents to know?

I would like everyone to know that my main goal is for every student at the Gatton Academy to be successful. I am available and willing to help the students in any way that I can and am more than willing to meet with students whenever they need me. Some interesting facts I guess would be that I am from a military family, I love to travel (which is obvious from the answer I gave in the above question), and I used to train horses when I was younger.

By Corey Alderdice

[Photo Album] Research Fair

August 27, 2010 | Academics, News, People, Photos, Research, Staff, Students, WKU | No Comments

Members of the Class of 2012 had the opportunity to connect with faculty members in the Odgen College of Science and Engineering and College of Education and Behavioral Sciences on Monday to learn more about research experiences available in the coming year. Read the full story online at: http://4n6.mobi/cZudSw

Photos by Suzanne Van Arsdall, Academy Avatar

[flickr album=72157624688712533 num=30 size=Square]

By Corey Alderdice

Gatton Academy First-Year Students Eager for Research Experiences

August 27, 2010 | Academics, News, People, Research, Staff, Students, WKU | No Comments

Dr. Claus Ernst discusses his research with an Academy first-year student.

by Michael Phillips, Academy Avatar

Derick Strode, Coordinator of Research, Internships, and Scholarships at the Gatton Academy, knows the subjects and conversations that get students excited about math and science.

Earlier this week, Strode invited a group of Western Kentucky University faculty members from Ogden College of Science and Engineering and the College of Education and Behavioral Science to the Academy to discuss with students their latest scientific discoveries. The conversations were meant to serve as a springboard for opportunities to participate is sponsored research throughout the coming year.

When students arrived at the research fair they quickly moved toward professors who taught subjects in which they shared an interest. A few students took a short break to explain why they were in such a rush.

Gabby Canant (Daviess, ’12) said she was very interested in research because she found it to be an outlet for her to learn new things.

Claire Croley (Whitley, ‘12) believed research would give her the ability to explore new ideas.

Nicholas Zolman (Montgomery, ’12) loves astronomy. He can’t wait to begin research and find out more about the universe.

Rachel Metcalf (Henry, ’12) thinks research will be an opportunity to explore her interests outside of the classroom.

The research fair marked the first occassion many student had to meet WKU faculty members.

Many seniors at the Gatton Academy were glad to see juniors taking such an interest in research. Sean Freeman (Boone, ’11) views research as a critical part of the Academy experience. “I enjoyed research because I was able to narrow down my interests to a specific area and tailor my Gatton academy experience accordingly,” he said. “I did research my first semester and I’m happy to see juniors to have the same opportunity.”

Dr. Cathleen Webb, head of the Department of Chemistry, worked with many Academy students during the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) on campus this summer. She was to praise Academy students and their contributions. “Gatton students are very eager,” Webb noted. “I have a hard time keeping them busy.”

Dr. Webb also mentioned that the students’ abilities to learn new concepts were well above average.

Dr. Peter Hamburger, head of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, along with Dr. Bruce Kessler, Associate Dean of the Ogden College of Science and Engineering and a professor of mathematics, also emphasized traits that make Academy students an asset to faculty members’ labs and projects.

Dr. Hamburger emphasized how unique Gatton students are in how open they are to ideas. He suggested that Gatton students also know how to utilize their natural talents in order to creatively approach problems. Dr. Kessler agreed that Gatton students were excellent students to work with.

Dr. Albert Meier and Dr. Scott Grubbs of the WKU Biology department have had multiple research experiences with Gatton students. While Dr. Meier acknowledged Academy students are only available for a limited time, he praised their commitment to research. “We can only expect the majority of students to be with us for two years but, they have outstanding dedication,” he said.

Overall the staff, faculty, and students counted the research fair as a success. Students left the session very eager to begin research this semester.

By Corey Alderdice

[Video Blog] Gatton Academy First-Years Discover Research Opportunities During Fair

August 24, 2010 | Academics, News, People, Research, Staff, Students, WKU | No Comments

[Video Blog] Gatton Academy First-Years Discover Research Opportunities During Fair from Gatton Academy on Vimeo.

Faculty from Ogden College of Science and Engineering and the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences at WKU met with Class of 2012 students to discuss opportunities to engage in research.

By Corey Alderdice

2010-11 Student Life Handbook Now Available Online

August 23, 2010 | Academics, News, Parents, People, Staff, Student Life, Students | No Comments

The 2010-11 Student Life Handbook for Gatton Academy students is now available for download. Class of 2012 students received drafts of the document earlier this week. Please review the updated copy to ensure your understanding of revisions under academic expectations, attendance, graduation requirements, and student life policies. Many components of the Handbook also apply to the Class of 2011 as well.

Students and parents should pay particular attention to the new Class Attendance and Conduct Policy as well as the Classroom Intervention Program.

Any questions regarding academic policies should be directed to the Academy Academic Coordinator April Gaskey. All questions regarding student life should be directed to Beth Hawke, Coordinator for Residence Life.

By Corey Alderdice

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