Gatton Academy: A home away from home. It even has a mom-away-from-mom, Beth Hawke! Never in my wildest dreams had I ever thought that I would find a community that challenged me frequently, yet felt like a place of belonging.
The first semester of my junior year was really imposing. What with difficult curriculum and adjusting to living away from home, it was no wonder that I felt homesickness a couple of months in. However, I made it through that first semester—with plentiful help from family, fellow students, and staff—and such an accomplishment bolstered my determination and love for Gatton.
After that first, arduous, never-ending semester, every other semester seemed to pass in the blink of the eye. There was still hard work to be done, but it was easier after learning how to deal with things. Usually help came in the form of communication with my peers and family. Sometimes it came from a tutor. Whatever the case, I learned that asking others for help was not shameful. On the contrary, it was very beneficial! I do not think I ever would have known the beauty of questions if not for attending Gatton.
The best thing about Gatton for me, over all the wonderful opportunities it provides, was the community. As I said before, I never was challenged as much in my life while still feeling an utter sense of belonging. Whether discussing new science phenomena or beloved book series, getting help on a math problem or a relationship issue, there was always the feeling that I was with “my people.” I will miss the friends made at Gatton more than anything, but I cannot help but be entirely grateful for those friendships. Gatton has helped me beyond belief.
About a year and eleven months ago, most of us in these black robes today were sitting in an auditorium just a few buildings over for our summer orientation. This was our first time together, just us, as a class. Soon, Tim walked up to the stage, and after passing through the normal welcome to your new school stuff, he proclaimed that he loved us. I knew things were different that day because I felt like the only one who was weirded out. That day certainly taught me something that stuck with me for the rest of my time at the Academy. We were in this together. We must help each other, comfort each other, encourage each other, and even love every member of our class. We are a family, although we are a family with an extremely long last name.
This theme stayed true throughout our time at the Academy. I bet that every member of the Class of 2011 knows the name of every other person in a black robe, and even has a memory with them, whether it is doing poorly on a CPS project, winning a competition, or just talking to them over hot chocolate. I’m a weather person, as I’m sure everyone here already knows, and unfortunately for you, I’ve found some way to connect this to the weather. Times in our life are like the weather, and we must stick close to each other similar to how we don’t leave Kentucky because it’s cold one day. Sometimes, it’s sunny and warm outside, and we can go outside and have fun with each other. Other times, it’s the snowpocalypse outside, and we can go outside, and even though it’s cold we can still have fun, throwing snowballs at people and making lemon sno-ade out of lemons that life gave us. And other times, it rains inside. Yes, from the ceiling.
It was the night before fall break started and I was admittedly playing a flash game as a “break” from studying physics. All of a sudden, Zach bursts through the suite and asks me if there is a way to turn the water off to the wing. I, confused, reply a hesitant “no… why?”, worried that someone’s toilet was overflowing or something. After he runs out of the suite, I knew something much, much worse had happened. I walk out into the wing and–in a stunning display of togetherness the Second Floor boys were moving out all of Christian and Brandon’s stuff from their room. It was not for a prank or because they just wanted their furniture moved, but because we stepped up and answered their call for help. A pipe had burst and water was pouring out of their celling. Fortunately, we were able to get all of their stuff out before too much water damage happened but it took a lot of effort.
This isn’t the only example of togetherness from the Academy. Often I will talk to WKU students and they will discover that I’m an academy student. One of the first questions I get after saying “Yes, our dorm is the nicest on campus” is “What’s up with Academy students always being in large groups?” The only way that I can respond to this is by saying that the Academy fosters inseparability, or put better, wolf pack behavior. When we came to the Academy, we were all lone wolves, in our own little one person wolf pack. But then, we started to make friends here, and our wolf packs, they grew by a few. And finally, I believe by today, that we are all members of the 60 person wolf pack that is the Gatton Academy Class of 2011. In a mere matter of minutes, we will get to throw up our caps in honor of our wolf pack. However, our journey as a wolf pack doesn’t end there. Next year, we’re not going to be Current academy students anymore, and they’re not making Gatton Academy Part 2. However, we’re still together.
We will always be members of the Gatton Academy Class of 2011.
If we continue to stay together, making each other greater than before, we can truly change the world and accomplish tasks that have since been impossible. I have no doubt that every single one of us will be instrumental in saving the world: Some of us will make weather models that will pinpoint exactly where and when a tornado will strike. Some of us will be engineering new structures that can hold up to tornadoes better, others will be programming new early warning systems, and others will be instrumental in finding new antibiotics and antivirals that can be cheaply and quickly distributed to any affected area. We can and will change the world, Gatton Academy Class of 2011. We are superheroes, tasked with changing the world for the better. And now, as we all head different directions in August, we must remember our calling, and we must stick together, even after we receive our diplomas and walk our separate paths.
C. M. "Bill" Gatton address members of the Gatton Academy Class of 2011. (WKU Photo by Clinton Lewis)
Celebration of Commencement Weekend at WKU continued on Saturday as The Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky honored its fourth graduating class of high school seniors.
Sixty students representing 34 counties from across the Commonwealth were recognized during the ceremony at Van Meter Auditorium. The ceremony not only celebrated the significant accomplishments of the program and its graduates over the last two years but also looked toward the infinite possibilities ahead.
Gatton Academy Executive Director Dr. Julia Roberts expressed the day’s events were both a celebration of the Class of 2011’s personal accomplishments and a starting point toward their work of creating a better Kentucky.
“Kentucky’s future is brighter today because you are graduates of the Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science,” Roberts said. “What wonderful contributions you will make in the fields of mathematics, science, engineering and technology. I look forward to hearing about your leadership in STEM fields in Kentucky and beyond in the not-so-distant future.”
Carol Martin “Bill” Gatton, for whom the program was named in 2007 after pledging $4 million gift, delivered the commencement address. Gatton encouraged the Class of 2011 to seize opportunities ahead of them while setting lofty goals.
“There are a world of opportunities, probably more than there have ever been in the history of this country,” Gatton said. “You’ll want to keep an open mind. A solid education will be necessary for you to fulfill big dreams. Always dream big. You do yourself, your family, associates, and organizations an injustice if you only dream small dreams.”
Over the past two years, Gatton Academy students have taken advanced coursework in mathematics, science and other subjects at WKU in fulfillment of high school requirements and the Gatton Academy curriculum. In all, students have each earned more than 60 hours of college credit.
Gatton Academy Director Tim Gott shared his gratitude with attending faculty members for their role in making the program’s learning environment a challenging and rewarding experience for students.
“Of the many things these students have pursued, one particular area of significance is the opportunity to conduct research,” Gott said. “Many of the faculty with us today have mentored these students as they explored new techniques in chemistry, environmental issues in geography and geology, unknown frontiers in astronomy and physics, potential medical breakthroughs in biology, life-enhancing concepts in engineering and unique applications in math and computer science. Those who engaged in these research projects have truly brought relevance to the rigor.”
The Gatton Academy honored 60 students during a Saturday ceremony at Van Meter Auditorium. (WKU Photo by Clinton Lewis)
Four out of five participated in a facilitated research project with university faculty members. Research accomplishments include a Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship winner, three Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) participants, two National Science Foundation International Research Experiences in Taiwan, and an Intel Science Talent Search national semifinalist.
Sean Freeman, a graduating senior from Hebron, reflected upon the relationship among the Gatton Academy student body as something in between a family and a wolf pack.
“The Academy fosters inseparability, or put better, wolf pack behavior.” Freeman said. “When we came to the Academy, we were all lone wolves, in our own little one person wolf pack. But then, we started to make friends here, and our wolf packs, they grew by a few. And finally, I believe by today, that we are all members of the 60 person wolf pack that is the Gatton Academy Class of 2011.”
As the group goes forward in pursuit of those academic and personal goals, seven out of 10 graduates plan to attend Kentucky higher education institutions with nine continuing their studies at WKU.
In the fall of 2011, representatives from the graduating class will attend 21 schools across the United States: University of Alabama at Birmingham; University of Alabama; Auburn University; University of California at Berkeley; University of Chicago; Florida State University; Indiana University at Bloomington; University of Kentucky; Lipscomb University; University of Louisville; University of Mississippi; Morehead State University; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; North Carolina State University; Saint Louis University; Transylvania University; United States Naval Academy; Vanderbilt University; Washington University in St. Louis; Webster University; and WKU.
Four-year scholarships totaling nearly $11 million were offered to the graduating class while more than $4 million in four-year scholarships were accepted.
“These students have taken the most rigorous curriculum offered to any high school student in the nation,” Gott said. “They left the comfort of home and established a level of independence that will impact their lives forever. They have forged new friendships which will grow exponentially in the years to come. They have given themselves in community service throughout the state inspiring younger students, building new homes and expanding awareness of the opportunities in math and science. They will become the leaders of this great Commonwealth.”
Class of 2011 member Sydney Combs encouraged students to "live long and prosper." (WKU Photo by Clinton Lewis)
Sydney Combs, a graduating senior from London, employed a space metaphor in her remarks to fellow classmates. Donning a helmet, she reminded her peers of their future potential and promise their pledge to each other of future support.
“Our future adventures are as limitless as the night sky,” Combs proclaimed. “We are all heading to foreign planets, each equally new, challenging, and exciting. It is here we will face all of the challenges the Academy has prepared us for. I am confident in everyone’s ability to succeed. But please remember, if you ever get lonely, or sad, or attacked by rogue, alien pirates, anyone of us would fly light-years in order to help.”
Members of the Gatton Academy Class of 2011:
From Anderson County: Victoria Gilkison
From Barren County: Miller Travis
From Boone County: Anthony Bates; Anthony Bombik; Elizabeth Farnsworth; Jake Moore; David Pennington; Cynthia Tope; Sean Freeman; and Paul Kasinski
From Boyle County: Justine Missik
From Bullitt County: Shelby Martin; Micaela Montgomery; Dana Wheeler; and Kelsey Wagner
From Campbell County: Derek Fox
From Christian County: Kyle Kelly and Jae Lee
From Daviess County: Tejas Sangoi; Paras Vora; Blake Welsh; and Madeline Lauzon
From Estill County: Benjamin Neal
From Fayette County: Michael Bowie and Corban Coffman
From Fleming County: Joshua Jackson
From Franklin County: Suzanne Van Arsdall
From Garrard County: Krysta Waldrop
From Grant County: Courtney Vance
From Greenup County: Sarah Tariq
From Hardin County: Madeline Buhr; Brittney Howard; Courtney Howard; Zachary Laux; Joshua Robinson; Natalie Schieber; Jonathan Serpico; and Camille Turner
From Harrison County: Gabrielle Fisher
From Henderson County: Leah Hayden and Tyler Parke
From Lincoln County: David McChesney
From Laurel County: Sydney Combs and Henry Eberhardt
From Marshall County: Michael Phillips
From Metcalfe County: Brandon Kerr
From Monroe County: Shelby Stephens
From Nelson County: Desiree’ Harbin and Celia Whelan
From Oldham County: Chandler Santos and Tyler Scaff
From Pulaski County: Nowelle Altman and Clarice Esch
From Rowan County: Benjamin Howard
From Scott County: Kia Allen
From Shelby County: Katherine Goebel
From Simpson County: Andrew Kenady
From Warren County: Kevin Andrew; Claci Ayers; Sarah Schrader; and Won Song
Gatton Academy: A home away from home. It even has a mom-away-from-mom, Beth Hawke! Never in my wildest dreams had I ever thought that I would find a community that challenged me frequently, yet felt like a place of belonging.
