People – Page 4 – The Gatton Academy News

Alumni 5Q: Tyler Clark

October 14, 2012 | 5Q, Alumni | No Comments

[fblike] Can you describe your experience at the Gatton Academy?
The Gatton Academy provided me with the unique experience of taking college courses while being dually enrolled in high school. The advanced courses allowed me to better understand and pursue my academic interests. I owe my thriving interest in mathematics to my experiences at the Academy and all the mathematicians I met as a result of the Gatton experience.

How have your experiences at the Gatton Academy helped you in your adult life?
Growing up in a small town, the Gatton Academy was my first real introduction to cultural diversity. Being exposed to cultural diversity at a young age has helped me to accept others who have different views than me. Also, the Academy taught me to identify and respect the strengths of everyone around me. Furthermore, it has opened many doors for me both academically and professionally including my work at The Center for Gifted Studies (WKU) and studies skills coordinator at the Academy.

Since the Academy, what have you been up to?
I graduated from the WKU Honors College with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics. During my undergraduate studies, I completed an honors thesis entitled “Counting Locally Convex Topologies on a Totally Ordered Finite Set.” After finishing my undergraduate studies, I decided to stay at WKU to complete a master’s degree in mathematics. During my graduate studies, I became editor-in-chief of the AMS Graduate Student Blog (http://mathgradblog.williams.edu). I graduated from WKU again with my master’s degree in May 2012 completing a thesis entitled “Continued Radicals and Cantor Sets.” I am currently in my first semester of a mathematics doctoral program at The University of Central Florida.

What do you aspire to achieve in the next ten years?
In the next ten years, I hope to have completed my PhD and have taught in Europe for at least one year. Also, I hope to return to WKU to teach in the mathematics department. Finally, I would like to become more involved in the American Mathematical Society (AMS).

What was your favorite memory from your time at the Gatton Academy?
The Academy has given me many fond memories. Nevertheless, I would have to say all of the balancing and juggling acts performed by Tim Gott to “teach” us life lessons would be my favorite.

We would like to thank Tyler for taking time out of his schedule to be interviewed for this article. Next week, we will be spotlighting Sam Crocker, Class of 2009.

By Gatton Academy

Intramural Sports

October 11, 2012 | Student Life, Students | No Comments

[fblike]By: Kesi Neblett

Although the Gatton Academy students are not able to compete in Kentucky High School Athletic Association (KHSAA) sanctioned sports, Gatton students still find ways excel on the field and court. The Academy allows students to participate in intramural sports at Western Kentucky University creating a great release from the stress of research projects and strenuous classes.

The Gatton Academy Co-ed Flag Football team, the Pre-Schoolers have been tapping into their inner Alabama on South Campus intramural fields. The PreSchooler’s female players are enjoying being able to participate in a male dominated sport and last week Hannah Pennington was voted game MVP. Under the leadership of Blake Hawley and Ryan Gott, the PreSchoolers have gone 0-2, but they are hoping to change that this week in their match versus Western’s Farmhouse.

The variety of intramural sports offered allows Academy students to stay active in their own way. Elite, the Gatton Academy Women’s volleyball team has gone 6 and 1 over the month of September and October. The team was named the divisional champions this week beating Western’s Kappa Delta Gold team.

Overall, Gatton Academy students have been taking advantage of the physical wellness opportunities Western has to offer and are leaving their mark on campus in and outside of the classroom. Gatton students are showing that they do not only excel at academics, but athletically, as well.

By Gatton Academy

Alumni 5Q: Dalton Hubble

October 5, 2012 | 5Q, Alumni, Uncategorized | No Comments

[fblike] By: Academy Staff

Q: Can you describe your experience at the Gatton Academy?
A: My experiences at Gatton in 2007-2009 provided me with the opportunity to break out of the sluggish curriculum at my regular school, engage with academically focused peers, and pursue my academic interest more intensely. While at the academy, I was able to explore my STEM interests, take introductory classes at WKU, and perform research in university laboratories. The early start in collegiate technology fields gave me time to explore possible careers in chemical engineering and physics, before I decided that the computer science was right for me.

Q: How have your experiences at the Gatton Academy helped you in your adult life?
A: My work at Gatton enabled me to go from living in rural Kentucky to studying at MIT and gave me a real chance to pursue my passions among the best. I’m now a senior at MIT, majoring in Computer Science and Engineering. I’ve worked at the MIT nuclear reactor and MIT computer science laboratory as an undergraduate researcher and I’ve interned as a software developer at Microsoft.

Q: Since the Academy, what have you been up to?
A: My current studies include operating system design, natural language processing, web development, and distributed systems. I am also a teaching assistant for 6.170 a course on web software development. This year, I’ll be completing my bachelor’s degree and next year, I’ll be staying at MIT for an additional year to pursue my Masters in Computer Science and Engineering with a focus on systems engineering.

Q: What do you aspire to achieve in the next ten years?
A: In the next ten years, I hope to be closely involved in cutting edge work to develop the future of the internet, mobile and beyond. I also work on several stealth mode projects that I hope to expand and grow.

Q: What was your favorite memory from your time at the Gatton Academy?
A: My favorite memories from the academy were the small things: the eccentric conversations, the casual meals I would have with dorm-mates, and going on late night runs around campus.

We would like to thank Dalton for taking time out of his schedule to be interviewed for this article.

By Gatton Academy

Summer 5Q: David Brown continues research in WKU’s Department of Chemistry

July 2, 2012 | 5Q, People, Research, Summer | No Comments

Since 2010, the Gatton Academy has offered students the ability to pursue summer research experiences through the Gatton Research Internships Grants (RIG) program. Made possible through the generous support of Mr. Carol Martin “Bill” Gatton, the program offers competitive grants to Gatton Academy students between their junior and senior years to support summertime research internships across the Commonwealth and the world. By providing a funding mechanism, the program directly creates new avenues for growth and exploration. Throughout the summer, we’ll share insights from students who are the recipients of our 2012 grants.

Rising senior David Brown is spending his summer at WKU working in the Department of Chemistry under the mentorship of Dr. Hemali Rathnayake. He is working on creating Novel Π-Conjugated Organic Macromolecules for use in electronic devices—particularly solar cells.

1. What does research mean to you as a young person interested in STEM?

Research means that I get to do what no one has ever done before and to improve upon the enormous accomplishments of those who have gone before me. It is the chance to gain new knowledge, ideas, and to hopefully make a positive contribution to the world. As a senior in high school, that is certainly an exciting way to spend my summer.

2. Will you be using this research experience as a launching point for any particular applications, competitions, or scholarships?

I plan to use my research to compete in the Intel Science Talent Search as well as the Siemens Competition. However, I am particularly interested in pursuing the Goldwater Scholarship. My current research should go a long way in helping me to be very competitive in these contests.

3. What do you love most about the Gatton Academy?

My favorite part about the Academy has to be the general acceptance and tolerance we all have. There are students from all different socio-economic backgrounds, Democrats and Republicans, deeply religious and those who claim no beliefs, and yet we still go out and play Frisbee together or ask each other for help on difficult assignments. Don’t get me wrong, we still argue and have our disagreements, but there is a sense of community here that is hard to find elsewhere.

4. What did you learn in your first year at the Academy that you think first-year students should know?

I felt somewhat overwhelmed my first day at the Academy. I wasn’t sure what to expect and was a little scared of the idea of attending college two years early, leaving friends, and sacrificing many opportunities at home. I still miss my friends very much and I am frightened when test day rolls around, but I know what to expect and feel even more determined to show the world what I can do.

5. What are you looking forward to the most about your second year at the Academy?

In my second year at the Academy, I am looking forward to delving even deeper into my own personal interests. I completed most of my graduation requirements last year, meaning I get even more freedom in my class selections over the coming year. I will certainly be taking plenty of Chemistry, but there are a few other fields I would like to try my hand at as well.

By Gatton Academy

Gatton Academy Students Contribute to Global STEM Discussions through Summer Experiences

June 15, 2012 | Academics, Alumni, News, People, Research, Students, Summer, WKU | No Comments

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Educational opportunities for students at the Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky do not stop when classes let out for the summer. Two-thirds of recent graduates and students returning for the fall semester will participate in some form of learning through the school’s summer research and internship program.

Highlights of the summer 2012 program include seven participants in Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) programs, 35 students studying abroad focusing on research and culture, and unique public and private industry partnerships via ten-week research internships in some of the nation’s most premier programs.

The Gatton Academy’s program begins in late November each preceding year with faculty and staff members promoting summer programs. Students prepare applications as early as the winter break for some of the most competitive STEM-based summer programs available not only to high school students, but undergraduates as well.

Derick Strode, assistant director for academic services at the Gatton Academy, coordinates the school’s research and internship programs. He explained the variety and depth of these experiences distinguish these students from their peers at both the high school and undergraduate level.

“This summer, our students are pursuing answers to research questions across STEM fields,” Strode said. “They are active participants in cultures on four continents. They are in their own hometowns shadowing the doctors and engineers they looked up to as children. Our summer program encourages students to follow their passions for science, math, and learning, and get a taste of what it means to be a contributing citizen and professional in the broad STEM community.”

One such student is Lydia Brothers, a class of 2012 graduate from Madisonville. Brothers is interning at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, this summer in missions operations. She will focus on crew operations and training for the International Space Station (ISS).

“I’m working with the people who create the procedures that the astronauts actually execute,” Brothers explained. “We ultimately use the procedures to train the astronauts to carry out tasks and experiments while they are on mission.”

Brothers’ internship at NASA is combines features of her coursework at the Gatton Academy in engineering, physics, and computer science.

“In my work, not only do you have to have a good understanding of how all the machinery works but also provide the information in the same format that an astronaut sees it in, which is computer programming,” Brothers said.

Brothers’ first experience at the Marshall Space Flight Center came as a middle school student when she went to space camp.

“I would have never thought that sitting around learning about the ISS that one day I would be working with people on a daily basis who help run it,” she said. “It’s like a dream come true.”

Strode noted that the success in students’ summer exploits can be drawn directly back to the preparation students receive at WKU.

“Lydia is a perfect example of a student who embraced the rich research opportunities available at WKU and applied hard work to her passions,” Strode said.

Brothers participated in research during the entirety of her two years at the Gatton Academy with WKU’s Department of Physics and Astronomy under the mentorship of Drs. Louis Strolger and Edward Kintzel. Additionally, she interned in summer 2011 at the University of Tennessee’s Space Institute. Her research for that experience was recognized by the Siemens Competition.

“Many of the summer research programs that our students apply to accept only five to ten percent of their total applicants,” Strode said. “In such competitive programs, the Gatton Academy students compete so well for coveted spots because they engage in research that goes far above and beyond their coursework.”

91% of the students who graduated in the Gatton Academy’s class of 2012 had participated in a mentored research project while studying at the school—almost entirely under the tutelage of a WKU faculty member.

“These are students that love to learn. Whether it’s the middle of the semester or the middle of summer, these are curious students,” Strode said.

Contact: Derick Strode, (270) 745-6565.

A full listing of Gatton Academy students’ summer plans are listed after the jump.

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By Corey Alderdice

Smith Awarded Emerson National Scholarship

May 28, 2012 | People, Students | No Comments

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Keaton Smith, a 2012 graduate of The Gatton Academy of Mathematics & Science in Kentucky, has been awarded an Emerson National Scholarship.

He is among 30 recipient of the scholarship awarded annually to children of Emerson employees. Keaton, of Alexandria, KY, is the son of Robert (Bob) W. Smith, Systems Administrator, at Power Transmission Solutions in Florence, KY.

Winners, selected from among 128 finalists, were announced this week by Michael G. Rohret, Emerson Senior Vice President Human Resources.

Keaton plans to attend Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, MA, and study computer science.

The winners of the Emerson scholarship receive $2,000 per academic year for four years. Selection is made based on academic performance of the applicants,: Grade point average, class rank, and national test scores. Participation in school activities and community involvement are also considered in the selection process.

By Corey Alderdice

Fleischmann Receives National Scholarship to Study in Morocco

May 4, 2012 | Academics, International, News, People, Student Success, Students, WKU | No Comments

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A student at the Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky at WKU has received a national scholarship to study in Morocco this summer.

Paul Fleischmann of Crestwood has received theNational Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) scholarship. The NSLI-Y, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, offers scholarships to high-achieving high school students to learn critical languages in overseas immersion programs. Scholarships include all program fees, travel to and from the program site, housing and activity fees for six weeks during the summer.

Fleischmann, the son of Maria and Randall Fleischmann, is a second-year student at the Gatton Academy. He has studied Arabic for three semesters with Khaldoun Almousily, instructor of Arabic in WKU’s Department of Modern Languages. Through the NSLI-Y award, he expects to gain an additional year’s worth of language proficiency this summer.

“I am so grateful to have been awarded this scholarship,” he said. “It is a unique opportunity, and will give me both knowledge and experience to help with my future.”

Fleischmann aspires to become a research scientist in chemistry and to use his Arabic skills to study environmental issues concerning fossil fuels in a region that has some of the largest oil reserves in the world.

“Paul is a bright student and overall genuine individual,” Almousily said. “The NSLI-Y scholarship will assist him in achieving his ambitious professional goals and learning the Arabic language and culture. I look forward to seeing what the future holds for him.”

Fleischmann spent several weeks working on his application for the NSLI-Y scholarship with Dr. Melinda Grimsley-Smith, Coordinator of International Scholarships in the Office of Scholar Development.

“Many meetings to revise my essays with Dr. Grimsley-Smith both strengthened my application and made the process a great experience,” Fleischmann said.

“It is a real pleasure to work with students like Paul. There’s a good amount of ambition hiding under his laid-back exterior,” Dr. Grimsley-Smith said. “He brings all of his academic and personal interests together in a compelling way, and clearly conveys a strong sense of purpose in his writing. In short, he demonstrates the recipe for success in competitions like NSLI-Y.”

This will be the second international experience for Fleischmann. Over the 2012 winter term, he traveled to Costa Rica to conduct research at the Cloudbridge Nature Reserve with WKU Biology Professor Keith Philips, as well as another Gatton Academy student and a Gatton Academy alumnus to investigate the Gunnera-Nostoc Symbiosis. Students identified populations of Gunnera on the reserve, harvested samples and dissected portions to determine if bacterial symbionts were present. He has also been involved with research under the direction of Dr. Ouida Meier of the Department of Biology investigating local wastewater as a source for cave and karst and groundwater pollution.

About the Office of Scholar Development: The Office of Scholar Development is committed to helping WKU students 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 National Security Language Institute for Youth or other similar opportunities. Contact: Dr. Melinda Grimsley-Smith, (270) 745-5043.

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 advanced careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Approximately 60 students each year are admitted to the program through a competitive selection 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 earn at least 60 college credit hours in addition to completing high school. Contact: Corey Alderdice, (270) 745-6565.

Contact: Melinda Grimsley-Smith, (270) 745-5043.

By Corey Alderdice

Sekora Receives National Merit Stalnaker Scholarship

April 27, 2012 | News, People, Student Success, Students | No Comments

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David Sekora, a second-year student from Franklin at the Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky, has been named the recipient of the 2012 National Merit John M. Stalnaker Memorial Scholarship.

The award is a four-year scholarship underwritten by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation as a tribute to its founding President and Chief Executive Officer.

“I’d like to thank the National Merit Corporation for awarding me the Stalnaker Memorial Scholarship,” Sekora said. “This is truly a high honor, and I am certain that it can do nothing but help to propel me forward along the path of achievement.”

Sekora, who is dually enrolled in the Gatton Academy and Franklin-Simpson High School, was among approximately 1,000 distinguished high school seniors who have won corporate-sponsored National Merit Scholarship awards ﬁnanced by about 200 corporations, company foundations and other business organizations. Recipients were selected from a pool of some 15,000 Finalists nationwide.

About 1.5 million juniors in some 22,000 high schools entered the 2012 National Merit Scholarship competition when they took the 2010 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®), which served as an initial screen of program entrants.

Dr. Tim Gott, director for the Gatton Academy and member of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation’s advisory council, described Sekora as both an emerging scholar and outstanding young adult.

“We are thrilled to celebrate this incredible honor with David,” Gott said. “Not only does this recognize him as one of the top academic students in the nation, it also reveals his depth and balance that allows him to be considered such an outstanding young man. He has made a huge impact while he has attended the Gatton Academy and we look forward to seeing his accomplishments in the years to come.”

Sekora was selected from the 2012 pool of National Merit Finalists who are planning to pursue majors and careers in science or mathematics. Beginning this fall, Sekora will pursue degrees in mathematics and computer science at the University of Chicago. He would like to eventually become a mathematics professor and independent software developer.

During his time at the Gatton Academy, Sekora already has a jump start on his pursuits. Sekora researched geometric knot theory under guidance of Dr. Claus Ernst. The ultimate goal of the project was to learn about viral DNA, as in some cases viral DNA displays a knotted structure inside the capsid, which prevents the DNA from being threaded into a host organism for reproduction. To better understand their behavior, they developed software to generate random knots in confinement spheres, simplify knots through various transformational schemes, and identify knots given a suitably simplified polygonal representation.

“Overall, I would say that my time at the Academy has been a very positive experience in my life,” Sekora said. “The opportunities available to me–particularly research and scholarly opportunities alone– would have been enough to make the experience worthwhile. I am confident that the Gatton Academy has prepared me for life to a degree that few other programs can claim, and am thankful a million times over that I could be a part of something so wonderful.”

Additional National Merit Scholarship winners will be announced by the corporation in May.

Contact: Corey Alderdice, (270) 745-6565.

By Corey Alderdice

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 21^st 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 21^st 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.

By Corey Alderdice

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