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3 Gatton Academy Students Selected for National Security Language Scholarships

May 4, 2011 | Academics, International, News, People, Student Success, Students, WKU | No Comments

Gatton Academy students Charlotte Humes, Brandon Kerr and Victoria Allen were selected for National Security Language Initiative for Youth Scholarships. (WKU photo by Clinton Lewis)
Gatton Academy students Charlotte Humes, Brandon Kerr and Victoria Allen were selected for National Security Language Initiative for Youth Scholarships. (WKU photo by Clinton Lewis)

Three students from The Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky at WKU have been selected for the National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) scholarship for the summer

Brandon Kerr of Edmonton and Victoria Allen of Auburn, both studying with the Chinese Flagship program at WKU, one of nine such federally funded programs in the country, were awarded the NSLI-Y scholarship for summer 2011 to study Mandarin for six weeks at Shanghai Normal University.

Charlotte Humes of Bardstown, who is studying Arabic, will be spending her summer in Morocco immersed in Arabic culture.

The NSLI-Y summer scholarship will cover all program costs, travel to the applicant’s destination, tuition, housing, activities, and more for six weeks. These merit-based scholarships are for high school students studying less commonly taught languages.

Brandon Kerr

“Brandon is very serious about Chinese and has impressed me deeply with his talent and motivation,” said Dr. Liping Chen, Assistant Professor of Chinese Language and Linguistics with the Chinese Flagship Program. “He is no doubt a rising star in the program.”

Kerr said that he was concerned that, without practice over the summer, he might lose the progress he has made so far with the language. Hoping to serve as a volunteer doctor after graduation, Kerr saw the potential for personal progress in continuing his studies this summer.

“I was really inspired by the winter program the Flagship took, and I wanted to get back to China as soon as possible. Learning the language will be critical for me if I want to work as a physician in a foreign country one day,” he said.

Victoria Allen

Allen, a first-year Gatton Academy student, hopes to someday work for an international organization focusing on environmental science. Allen was also offered an opportunity to spend her summer conducting research with theNational Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program at WKU, studying the impacts of land use and land cover in the Upper Green River Watershed.

“Even though I am incredibly thrilled with this achievement, I have decided to decline the NSLI-Y scholarship. While both are extremely lucrative opportunities, I feel the REU will serve my major and future better,” she said.

Dr. Chris Groves, director of the Hoffman Environmental Research Institute, said Allen’s work this summer “will be largely here at WKU working on some new methods to evaluate environmental impacts on landscapes.  In general this work isn’t specifically China related, but we are going to utilize Victoria’s experience with the Chinese culture to explore how we can transfer this technology to Chinese settings.”

Dr. Groves said that they are also looking into having Allen present her work in Guilin, China, to his Chinese colleagues and work alongside the team for a few days as they work on how to apply the research in China.

“With Victoria’s interest in environmental sustainability issues combined with her Chinese skills working with the Flagship program, I was thrilled that she came to the Hoffman Institute seeking research opportunities this year,” Dr. Groves said. “She has already begun working on an evolving methodology to evaluate environmental impacts at the landscape scale, and with her experience this summer we will evaluate ways to utilize these methods in a Chinese context, where the scales of environmental challenges are enormous.”

Charlotte Humes

Humes said she applied because she loves Arabic and will be spending her summer in Morocco immersed in Arabic culture. Humes is also a first-year student in the Gatton Academy.

The Department of Modern Languages at WKU offers two years of Arabic courses. Courses are taught by Khaldoun Almousily, a native of Jordan, and a new Fulbright Language Teaching Assistant each year, giving students exposure to different dialects and the opportunity to delve deeper into cultural differences.

“Charlotte is an outstanding student who has dedicated herself to her academic pursuits.  She has been one of the highest achieving students and is quick to grasp new material. Her proven abilities demonstrate that she truly is a worthy recipient of this prestigious scholarship,” Almousily said.

Humes, whose studies at the Gatton Academy are focused on chemistry, said that while other opportunities presented themselves that would advance her as a scientist, she felt that her participation in NSLI-Y would make her a better person.

“NSLI-Y is only one part language; it’s also one part culture. I will have the chance to learn about a whole new side of the world, to grow in understanding of their way of life.  The program is very dedicated to broadening the global perspective of students they send,” Humes said.

The opportunity to volunteer in Morocco during the program also interested Humes.

“I believe I am most looking forward to these service opportunities; there have been many chances for community service offered to participants in past years, and the thought of being able to help others while there is immensely exciting,” she said.

About the Chinese Flagship: The WKU Chinese Flagship, one of nine Chinese Flagships in the United States, is sponsored by a federal grant through the National Security Education Program.  The Language Flagship is a national initiative to create global citizens by bringing students to the professional, or superior, level of proficiency in any discipline.  Students in the WKU Chinese Language Flagship program take intensive Chinese language courses each semester throughout their undergraduate career and participate in multiple funded overseas opportunities. Contact: Melinda Edgerton, (270) 745-5043 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (270) 745-5043 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

About the Gatton Academy: The Gatton Academy offers a residential program for bright, highly motivated Kentucky high school students who have demonstrated interest in pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Sixty students each year are admitted to the program through a competitive process. Instead of spending their junior and senior years in traditional high schools, students enroll in the Gatton Academy and live in a uniquely dedicated residence hall. The goals of the Gatton Academy are to enable Kentucky’s exceptional young scientists and mathematicians to learn in an environment that offers advanced educational opportunities and to prepare them for leadership roles in Kentucky.  At the end of two years, Gatton Academy students will have earned at least 60 college credit hours in addition to completing high school. Contact: Corey Alderdice, (270) 745-6565 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (270) 745-6565 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

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 applying for international scholarships. Contact: Dr. Audra Jennings, (270) 745-5043 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (270) 745-5043 end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

Contact: Audra Jennings or Melinda Edgerton, (270) 745-5043 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (270) 745-5043 end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

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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.

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By Corey Alderdice

…With International Reach: Applications Available for 2011 International Travel and Study Opportunities

August 27, 2010 | International, News, Student Life | No Comments

The 2010-11 school year is really just getting started, yet we’re excited to formally announce several opportunities for Gatton Academy students to travel and study abroad in 2011.

These experiences mark the fourth consecutive series travel/study program facilitated by the Gatton Academy during Winter Term . Students traveled to Greece in 2010, Spain and Portugal in 2009, and Italy in 2008. Even more exciting, we are proud to share the Academy will facilitate a total of three international experiences in the coming year.

Milan
Milan

The Mediterranean Experience

From January 4-11, 2011, up to thirty Gatton Academy students will explore the cities, culture, and history of some of Europe’s most famous countries. Sites visited will include Milan, Turin, Manoco, Nice, Cannes, Avignon, Montpellier, Carcassonne, and Barcelona.

The cost for this year’s trip will be $2,150. (The overall program cost is $3,350 with the Academy supplementing $1,200 of the total cost.) This includes roundtrip airfare from Nashville or Louisville, hotel accommodations in all destinations, breakfast and dinner while in Europe, admission to most historic sites and museums listed on the itinerary, and travel by chartered motor coach for excursions.

Full information and an application are available in the online brochure.

Students must submit the completed application and a $500 deposit no later than Monday, October 11. Space is limited to 30 students. Should there be an excess of interest, priority will be given to seniors first and names randomly drawn thereafter.

The Cloudbridge Nature Reserve
The Cloudbridge Nature Reserve

The Costa Rica Research Experience

From January 4-19, 2011, up to sixteen Gatton Academy students will explore the cities, culture, and history of some of Europe’s most famous countries. Sites visited will include San Jose, the San Geraro de Rivas mountain region, research in Cloudbridge Nature Reserve, a night in the jungle,Parque Marino Ballena swamp ecosystem exploration, Islla de Cano for snorkeling, the volcano at Volcan Arena.

The cost for the trip will be $775. (The overall program cost is $1975 with the Academy supplementing $1,200 of the total cost.) This includes roundtrip airfare from Nashville, accommodations in all destinations, two daily meals, admission and fees for all items listed on the itinerary, travel by chartered motor coach for excursions, and tuition for Biology 485 — Academy Field Studies in Costa Rica (3 hrs.).

Full information and an application are available in the online brochure.

The application deadline is September 17, 2010. Interviews may be required should student interest exceed capacity. A $500 nonrefundable deposit is due no later than Monday, October 11.

Harlaxton College
Harlaxton College

The Harlaxton Experience

From July 24 – August 15, 2011, Gatton Academy Class of 2012 students will explore the literature and culture of the United Kingdom while developing an appreciation for all literary practices, theory, and concepts. Students will be based at Harlaxton College and will visit locations throughout the United Kingdom. Additional Sites visited will include Whitby for a ghost walk “In Search of Dracula,Bath, Salisbury, Stonehenge, the Bronte Parsonage in Haworth, Stratford-upon-Avon, York, the Lake District, and London.

The cost for the trip will be $3700. (Should students participate in an unfunded Winter Term learning opportunity, up to $1200 may be applied to the cost of the program.) This includes roundtrip airfare from the United States, accommodations in all destinations, most meals, admission and fees for all items listed on the itinerary, travel by chartered motor coach for excursions, and tuition for English 200 — Honors Introduction to Literature (3 hrs.).

Full information and an application are available in the online brochure.

Students must submit the completed application and a $700 deposit no later than Monday, October 11.

Additional Scholarship Opportunities

The Academy will provide a limited number of scholarships to students who require financial assistance. Students wishing to apply for this scholarship must submit the following items no later than Monday, September 27: a copy of their parents’ 2010 tax return, a parental statement of need, and a student statement describing his or her reasons for wanting to travel abroad as well as the impact of their overall Gatton Academy experience. Student selection will occur on or before Monday, October 11. Students receiving the scholarship will be required to perform community service in consultation with a staff member.

Please direct any additional questions to Tim Gott or Derick Strode.

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By Corey Alderdice

Gatton Academy Students Engaged in a Variety of Activities this Summer

June 8, 2010 | Academics, Alumni, International, News, People, Research, WKU | No Comments

While many high school students and graduates are spending their summer getting ready for college or enjoying weeks on the beach, Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky students and recent alumni will spend the coming weeks academically engaged, building off their experiences at the Gatton Academy.

Over half of the current Academy students and recent alumni have current plans to participate in an academic or career exploration during the months of June, July, and August that will take place across the world.  Derick Strode, the Academy’s coordinator for research, internships, and scholarships expressed both the geography and educational experiences of these students will be wide-ranging.

“This summer, Gatton Academy students’ plans range from internships in their own Kentucky backyards to research experiences than span from the east coast to adventures abroad,” Strode said.  “Gatton Academy students will be on several continents this summer, collecting experiences that will propel them to higher achievements.”

Summer time research projects and internships are important educational experience facilitated by the Gatton Academy because it allows student to explore a possible career field while staying active academically.

“Our students have the chance to experience research for a summer with the guidance of a professional researcher,” Strode said.  “They have the opportunity to shadow the inner-workings of a professional in the field the student plans to work.  These practical experiences allow our students a glimpse into the realities of their own personal goals, forcing them to question and answer whether the career they have in mind for themselves truly fits.”

“The Gatton Academy’s curriculum is designed for the ultimate challenge during the academic year,” Strode said.  “Likewise, we ask our students to consider doing more with their summers than your typical student.  By completing summer time projects, the door is metaphorically opened for our students as they apply for colleges, scholarships, and we expect eventually in their career searches.”

Summer 2010 experiences include:

Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs):

From South Dakota to Michigan to Kentucky, nine Gatton Academy students will be participating in full-summer REU programs this year.  REUs are funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and offer students full-summer research opportunities with travel, food, and lodging provided as well as a generous stipend.  Nationwide, only 5.1% of REU applicants are admitted into a program, making REUs one of the most prestigious and selective of summertime opportunities.

REU in Information Assurance Security (Cybersecurity), Dakota State University, Madison, SD

  • Sean Karlage (’10), of Edgewood

REU at the Space Physics Research Laboratory within the Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic and Space Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

  • Sarah “Katie” Brown (’10), of Taylorsville

REU Mammoth Cave/Upper Green River Watershed Project at Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY

  • Sydney Combs (’11), of London
  • Zachary Laux (’11), of Elizabethtown
  • Sean Freeman (’11), of Hebron
  • Katherine Rush (’10), of Frankfort

REU in Investigative Biotechnology at Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY

  • James “Zac” Forshee (’10), of Franklin
  • Alexander Hare (’10), of Morehead
  • Margaret Matheny (’10), of Ashland

International Research Experiences for Scientists:

Two students have been selected to participate in an NSF International Research Experiences for Scientists program at the National Chung Hsing University in Taichung, Taiwan.  This program, on the same level as an REU, offers students fully paid travel to Taiwan, food, lodging, and a stipend.

Opto-Electronic Polymer Laboratory, National Chung Hsing University, with Dr. Ru-Jong Jeng

  • Camille Turner (’11), of Radcliff

Membrane Separation Technology Laboratory, National Chung Hsing University, with Dr. Shing Yi Suen

  • Kia Allen (’11), of Georgetown

DAAD RISE Program (Germany):

Rebecca Brock (’10) of Rineyville has been selected for the Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst (German Academic Exchange Service) Research Internships in Science and Engineering (DAAD RISE) program in Brunswick, Germany.   She will be doing biochemical research involving gold complexes.  She will be synthesizing gold complexes and testing their effects biologically.  Rebecca will receive pay from the DAAD at 650 Euro per month this summer, as well as health insurance, a paid trip to Heidelberg, and a Rail Pass for travel in Germany.

EarthWatch Student Challenge Awards Program:

Clarice Esch (’11) of Somerset has been accepted into the prestigious EarthWatch Institute’s Student Challenge Awards Program.  She will be a part of a research team traveling to Cook’s Lake Reserve in Nova Scotia, Canada to perform research on the mammals of Nova Scotia.  Clarice’s award includes full travel expenses, food, and lodging for her trip to Nova Scotia.

WKU Chinese Language Flagship Study Abroad:

Three Gatton Academy students will be traveling to Chongqing, China this summer for an eight-week, intensive language study abroad trip with the WKU Chinese Language Flagship program.  Students will earn 12 hours of college credit for the academic work they will complete as part of the July and August trip.

  • Jason Ludden (’10), of Columbia
  • Jared Mink (’10), of East Bernstadt
  • Sarah Schrader (’11), of Bowling Green

Gatton Academy Research Internship Grant recipients:

Eleven rising seniors were chosen to receive Gatton Academy Research Internship Grants (RIG) from the Gatton Academy to support research work this summer.  The 2010 RIG recipients and their research locations and projects are:

  • Derek Fox (’11), of Alexandria, will be researching artificial intelligence with Dr. Jeffrey Ward at Northern Kentucky University’s Department of Computer Science.
  • Victoria Gilkison (’11), of Lawrenceburg, will be working with Dr. Monte McGregor at the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources Center for Mollusk Conservation in Frankfort, KY.  Torie will be studying the relationship of aquatic plants to existing water quality in streams and rivers and the resulting influence on the distribution of rare aquatic species.
  • Benjamin Howard (’11), of Morehead, will be working with Dr. Richard Schugart of the WKU Department of Mathematics and Computer Science on a mathematical research approach to a wound healing project.
  • Shelby Martin (’11), of Mt. Washington, will be working with Carly Sinderbrand and Dr. Bruce Schulte of WKU’s Department of Biology, assisting with a research project on the dominance-stress hypothesis in horse behavior.
  • David McChesney (’11), of Danville, will perform research with Dr. Seth DeBolt of the University of Kentucky Department of Horticulture at the Agriculture Science Center North in Lexington, studying cellulose synthase in plant proteins.
  • Justine Missik (’11), of Danville, will be working on a research project with Dr. Stuart Campbell of the Spallation Neutron Source at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Oak Ridge, TN.  Justine’s project will be on the development of a user interface tool for analysis of protein dynamics using Quasi-elastic Neutron Scattering (QENS).  Along with her award, Justine will also be spending a few days of her summer participating in the Sante Fe Institute’s course on Exploring Complexity in Science and Technology in Portland, OR.
  • Michael Phillips (’11), of Benton, will work with Dr. Matthew Nee of the WKU Department of Chemistry.  Michael will be coding and testing a computational kinetic model for the reactions following aqueous nitrate photolysis.
  • Sarah Schrader (’11) of Bowling Green, will perform bacteriophage research with Dr. Rodney King of the WKU Department of Biology.
  • Won Suk “Josh” Song (’11) of Bowling Green, will do research with Dr. Kane Jennings of the Vanderbilt University Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering.  Josh’s research will be on surface properties of polymer films and will be titled “Responsive, Superhydrophobic Coatings.”
  • Courtney Vance (’11), of Williamstown, will work with Carly Sinderbrand and Dr. Bruce Schulte of WKU’s Department of Biology.  Courtney will be assisting with a research project on the dominance-stress hypothesis in horse behavior.
  • Tina Stottman (’11), of Louisville, will be doing research with Dr. Kathryn Saatman at the University of Kentucky’s Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center.  Tina will be assisting with a research project on lessening cell damage in traumatic brain injuries.

NCSSSMST Research Symposium:

Four Gatton Academy students will be presenting research this summer at the National Consortium for Specialized Secondary Schools of Math, Science, and Technology (NCSSSMST) Research Symposium at the Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ.  From June 6-9, these students will join 96 other students from across the country to share their research work through oral and poster presentations.  Gatton Academy representatives and their presentation titles are:

  • Clarice Esch (’11), of Somerset, will present “Is Collema sp., a Gelatinous Lichen, a Sustainable Source of Nitrogen for Greenhouse and Nursery Crop Production?”
  • Desiree “Taylor” Harbin (’11), of Fairfield, will present “Nature’s Cabin: Altering the Design Process to Create a Sustainable Home”
  • Tyler Scaff (’11), of LaGrange, will present “The Phage and I: Isolating and Purifying a Bacteriophage and Annotating its Genome”
  • Natalie Schieber (’11), of Elizabethtown, will present “The Effect of Composition and Temperature on the Photolysis of Aqueous Nitrate Solution”


National Youth Policy Summit:

Four Gatton Academy students will be participating in the National Youth Policy Summit at the Keystone Science Center in Keystone, CO.  This year’s summit on Energy Innovation will take place from June 13 – 19 and will bring together 40 of the brightest students from across the nation to come up with a proposal of policy solutions to the world’s energy needs.  The following Gatton Academy students will participate:

  • Anthony Bates (’11) of Walton
  • Katie Goebel (’11) of Simpsonville
  • Jake Moore (’11) of Crittenden
  • Suzanne VanArsdall (’11) of Frankfort

Governor’s Scholar Program:

Four rising Gatton Academy seniors will be attending the Kentucky Governor’s Scholar Program this summer.  These students are:

  • Gabrielle Fisher (’11) of Cynthiana
  • Tejas Sangoi (’11) of Owensboro
  • Tyler Scaff (’11) of LaGrange
  • Dana Wheeler (’11) of Louisville

Other Notable Summer Experiences:

Thomas Choate, a graduating senior from Bowling Green, will be doing research with Dr. Robert Choate of the WKU Department of Engineering.  Thomas’ project will center on themography and building weatherization.  He will be presenting his research at the InfraMation 2010 – Thermographer’s Conference in Las Vegas in November.

Michelle Compton, a graduating senior from Ashland, will be working with Dr. M.J. Wixsom at Guardian Animal Hospital in Ashland.

Amy Cordero, a graduating senior from Pikeville, will be taking classes through the University of Kentucky in Lexington.

Manuel Cortez, a graduating senior from Symsonia, will be observing Dr. James K. Turnbo and working at the Lone Oak Pharmacy in Paducah.

Thomas Delomas, a graduating senior from Lexington, will be taking classes through the University of Washington in Seattle.

Leah Frazier, a graduating senior from Russell, will be working as a Laboratory Technician at Brooks Eyecare in Greenup.

Lori Froedge, a graduating senior from Tompkinsville, will be working as a Teaching Assistant for the Center for Gifted Studies’ VAMPY (Verbally and Mathematically Precocious Youth) camp.

Emily Hall, a graduating senior from Nicholasville, will be returning this summer to Dr. Kathryn Saatman’s lab at the University of Kentucky’s Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center in Lexington to conduct research.    Emily will be studying the traumatic brain injury of mice models with the
hope of finding proteins that inhibit cell death.

Justin Jatczak, a graduating senior from Hopkinsville, will be doing research with Dr. Kathryn Saatman of the University of Kentucky’s Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center in Lexington.

Jordan Jones, a graduating senior from Ft. Wright, will be return to the Wood Hudson Cancer Research Laboratory in Newport for her second summer.  Jordan will be performing research in the cell culture
lab, working on finding a connection between two proteins that may be linked in cancer-signaling
pathways.

Holly Mitchell, a graduating senior from Salvisa, will participate in two writing workshops this summer in Iowa City, IA (the Iowa Young Writers Studio) and in Amherst, MA (the Juniper Institute for Young Writers).

Rohith Palli, a graduating senior from Lexington, will be doing research with Drs. John Rinehart and Michael Fried at the University of Kentucky’s Medical Biophysics Laboratory.  Rohith will work to improve fluorescent tags on proteins and examine the improved tags’ effectiveness.

Savannah Price, a graduating senior from Louisville, will be volunteering at the Norton Suburban Hospital in Louisville.

Sarah Pritchett, a graduating senior from Winchester, will be volunteering with the Student Conservation Association for the second straight summer.  This summer, she will be a part of a trail crew in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina.

Sean Stopher, a graduating senior from Louisville, will be doing a STEM-industry job at P.T. Hutchins in Louisville.  Sean will be working with chemists to develop new products for the paint and coatings industry on a commercial consulting basis.

Nowelle Altman, a first-year student from Somerset, will be doing research with Dr. Steven Wininger of the WKU Department of Psychology.  Nowelle plans to make a compendium of documented effective reading strategies and find the empirical evidence to support those strategies.  This work will be applied to her research project next academic year with Dr. Wininger.

Kevin Andrew, a first-year student from Bowling Green, will be doing research on programming and iPhone development.

Claci Ayers, a first-year student from Bowling Green, will be volunteering as a part of the STriVe- Summer Teens Volunteer program at the Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, TN.

Anthony Bates, a first-year student from Walton, will be shadowing an optometrist at Wing Eye Care in Florence.

Anthony Bombik, a first-year student from Union, will be participating in the U.S. Space and Rocket Center’s Advanced Space Academy in Huntsville, AL.  He will also be taking a class through WKU this summer and doing research with Dr. Claus Ernst of the WKU Department of Mathematics and Computer Science.

Corban Coffman, a first-year student from Lexington, will be participating in the three-week Summer Intensive theatre training program offered through the Kentucky Classical Theatre Conservatory in Lexington.

Gabrielle Fisher, a first-year student from Cynthiana, will travel to Washington, DC with Bluegrass Electric as a part of the Washington Youth Tour.

Katie Goebel, a first-year student from Simpsonville, will be shadowing at a veterinary clinic.

Desiree “Taylor” Harbin, a first-year student from Fairfield, will be participating in a Materials Science Camp at the Missouri University of Science and Technology.

Leah Hayden, a first-year student from Corydon, will be participating in a professional shadowing experience.

Andrew Kenady, a first-year student from Woodburn, will be attending the DigiPen Institute’s two-week Video Game Development Level 3 workshop in Redmond, Washington.

Madeline Lauzon, a first-year student from Owensboro, will be attending the 2010 Thespian Festival in Lincoln, NE.  She will also be volunteering with the Theatre Workshop of Owensboro this summer.

Jae Lee, a first-year student from Hopkinsville, will be volunteering at the Jenny Stuart Medical Center in Hopkinsville.  Specific department or doctors?

Jake Moore, a first-year student from Crittenden, will be participating in the Naval Academy Summer Seminar in Annapolis, MD.

Michael Phillips, a first-year student from Benton, will participate in the Naval Academy Summer Seminar in Annapolis, MD this summer in addition to his research at WKU.

Tyler Scaff, a first-year student from LaGrange, will also spend a part of his summer job shadowing at Baptist Northeast Hospital in LaGrange.

Shelby Stephens, a first-year student from Tompkinsville, will be shadowing…

Sarah Tariq, a first-year student from Ashland, will be volunteering at the King’s Daughters Medical Center in Ashland.

Jessica Thornsberry, a first-year student from Louisa, will be participating in the Robinson Scholars Program Writers’ Workshop at the University of Kentucky.

Miller Travis, a first-year student from Glasgow, will be working on a research project with the Electric Plant Board of Glasgow.  He will also be taking a class through WKU.

Suzanne VanArsdall, a first-year student from Frankfort, will be volunteering in South Africa through the Projects Abroad organization.  Suzanne will be working with a human rights lawyer, interviewing abandoned and abused children for two weeks.  She will live with a host family.

Benjamin Venable, a first-year student from LaGrange, will participate in several leadership conferences and institutes, including the Youth Governor’s Conference at George Washington University in Washington, DC, the YMCA Youth Conference on National Affairs (CONA) is held at theYMCA Blue Ridge Assembly in Black Mountain, NC, and the Kentucky YMCA Youth Conference’s Leadership Training Conference in Jabez.

Paras Voras, a first-year student from Owensboro, will perform cancer research and shadow under Dr. Kishor Vora at the Owensboro Cancer Center.

Kelsey Wagner, a first-year student from Taylorsville, will be shadowing a veterinary at the Louisville Metro Animal Services’ Animal Care Center.

Celia Whelan, a first-year student from Bardstown, will perform this summer with the The Stephen Foster Story musical in Bardstown.

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By Corey Alderdice

[Chinese Flagship] Gatton Academy Students Put Chinese Language Skills to Use

January 20, 2010 | Academics, International, News, People, WKU | No Comments

Ballard Metcalfe shares with WKU representative Rick Dubois and other guests at the WKU-sponsored reception.
Ballard Metcalfe shares with WKU representative Rick Dubois and other guests at the WKU-sponsored reception.

by Derick Strode

Seven Gatton Academy students are finishing up a four-week intensive language study abroad course in Tianjin, China.  As members of WKU’s Chinese Language Flagship Pilot Program, they have been studying abroad at Nankai University this winter term.

The students have taken daily classes in Chinese language, have worked with one-on-one Chinese tutors, and have taken cultural classes in shadow boxing, calligraphy, and Chinese cooking.

Study abroad trips teach students lessons that are impossible to fully match in an American classroom setting.  As Benjamin Venable (Oldham ’11) points out, one lesson he has learned has gone far beyond language: “I have learned so much about etiquette here.  While eating, speaking, walking, and toasting, the Chinese have so many unwritten laws regarding body language.  It is so easy to offend someone unintentionally.  The good thing is, though, that I can use these etiquette rules anywhere.  One can never be too polite,” he said.

Students are also imbedded into the culture with the intention of helping them use their Chinese language skills in everyday, real-world settings.

Jason Ludden (Adair ’10) has noted that his experience is helping him identify what he still has to accomplish in the Flagship program.  “When I first came to China from the U.S.A., I felt pretty confident.  I thought we had learned every useful phrase possible, but communicating in China was not as easy as I thought it would be.  Now I know how hard it is and where I need to improve,” he said.

Students have been on excursions to the Tianjin port, a special economic development area of the country, and to Beijing.  On Thursday, the students will make one final trip to the Huangyaguan section of the Great Wall.

While on excursion in Beijing this past weekend, students were greeted by WKU President Gary Ransdell.  In Beijing, Dr. Ransdell and the WKU Chinese Flagship Pilot Program hosted a Presidential Reception for Chinese business leaders, education leaders, and journalists.

Three Gatton Academy students were on-stage during the program.  Seniors Samuel Firkins (Spencer ’10) and Amy Cordero (Pike ’10) performed the popular Olympic welcome song, Beijing Huan Ying Ni (Beijing Welcomes You) with WKU student Will Meredith.  Firkins played piano and led vocals and Cordero joined in on the violin.

At the program, junior Sarah Schrader (Warren ’11) was selected to give a speech in Chinese to represent the Gatton Academy.  In Chinese, she introduced herself to the mostly Chinese audience, described the Gatton Academy, and talked about her experience in the Flagship Program.

“I was extremely honored to be selected to represent the Academy,” Schrader added. “It meant that my teachers considered me responsible and capable enough to adequately convey how much we have all learned this past semester.  Although I was a little nervous, I knew it was important to do my best in order to enforce the prestige of our program.”

Students will return to Florence Schneider Hall just in time to start the spring semester.  However, the conclusion of the trip is not the end of their Chinese studies.  Each student is enrolled in the next step Chinese language course for the spring semester.

A blog is being updated throughout the trip by WKU Alive Center’s Cheryl Kirby-Stokes at http://cheryl-lostintranslation.blogspot.com.

The trip is directed by Dr. Liping Chen, Academic Director of the WKU Chinese Institute, and Amy Eckhardt, Administrative Director for the program.More information about the Chinese Language Flagship Pilot Program can be found at http://www.wku.edu/chineseflagship/.

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By Corey Alderdice

[Greece 10] Video Blog: Becca and Zac Wrap Up the Trip with a Little Shopping

January 12, 2010 | International, News, People, Video | No Comments

[Greece 10] Video Blog: Becca and Zac Wrap Up the Trip With a Little Shopping from Gatton Academy on Vimeo.

With only hours remaining in the trip, we check in with a pair of Academy students about the stores they’ve shopped at and items bought along the way. Some have been great, where others were what the kids refer to as “sketch”.

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By Corey Alderdice