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Academy Executive Director Honored with State’s Annual Acorn Award

September 23, 2011 | News, People, Staff, WKU | No Comments

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Dr. Julia Link Roberts, Mahurin Professor of Gifted Studies at WKU, is one of two recipients of the Acorn Awards for teaching excellence, given annually to outstanding professors at Kentucky’s colleges and universities—one for a professor at a four-year college or university and one at a two-year institution.

Dr. Julia Roberts (left) received the Acorn Award on Sept. 23 in Lexington. WKU President Gary Ransdell (right) said Dr. Roberts is “a world leader in the education of gifted and talented students. Our gifted children are fortunate to have Julia Roberts leading this important sector of education in Kentucky.” (Photo courtesy of CPE)

David L. Cooper, professor of English and African-American history at Jefferson Community and Technical College, was also honored. Both recipients received a $5,000 honorarium and inscribed plaque.

The awards were presented Friday (Sept. 23) at the 23rd Annual Governor’s Conference on Postsecondary Education Trusteeship in Lexington, sponsored by the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education and Kentucky’s colleges and universities.

WKU President Gary Ransdell said Dr. Roberts is a superb teacher, scholar and researcher.

“She has been singled out by our faculty as a University Distinguished Professor. She is the holder of the Mahurin Professor of Gifted Studies,” he said. “More important, however, is her long and impressive record of innovation in creating WKU’s Center for Gifted Studies and the Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky. She has become a world leader in the education of gifted and talented students. Our gifted children are fortunate to have Julia Roberts leading this important sector of education in Kentucky.”

Dr. Roberts, known as Dr. Julia on campus, said she was honored “to be recognized as a productive faculty member in the field of education, specifically in gifted education; for initiating and directing programming for gifted children and young people; and for leadership in state, national and international organizations in gifted education.”

Dr. Roberts has 46 years of teaching experience, including 35 at WKU. She is president-elect of The Association for the Gifted (a division of the Council for Exceptional Children), a member of the Executive Committee of the World Council for Gifted and Talented Children and co-chair of the Legislative and Advocacy Committee of the National Association for Gifted Children. She is also a member of the board of the Kentucky Association for Gifted Education and the Kentucky Advisory Council for Gifted and Talented Education.

Dr. Roberts, a native of Kirksville, Mo., holds degrees from Oklahoma State University and the University of Missouri.

In his nomination letter, Dr. Ransdell said she was a brilliant teacher and a tireless advocate for gifted children, their families and their educators. During her tenure at WKU, programs she has led have touched more than 30,000 students, he said.

“The wonderful young people with whom I have had the privilege of working are the highlight of my career,” Dr. Roberts said.

Other high points include:

Being named one of the 55 most influential people in the history of gifted education
Serving as the founder and executive director of The Center for Gifted Studies, which is celebrating its 30^th year of providing services to children and young people, educators and parents
Opening the Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky after 10 years of advocating for a residential school for high school juniors and seniors with both talent and a high interest in careers in science, technology, engineering or math
Bringing the international headquarters of the World Council for Gifted and Talented Children to WKU.

Nancy Green, executive director of the National Association for Gifted Children, said Dr. Roberts has a national reputation as a mentor and instructor to teacher candidates, classroom teachers and parents.

“Through her longstanding and tireless commitment to teaching and education, Dr. Roberts has truly made a difference in both the field of gifted education and in the classroom,” she said. “Whether it’s through direct influence on children through Western Kentucky University’s summer programs or through a more strategic impact via national advocacy efforts, Julia Roberts is that rare leader who understands both how to shape policy on behalf of many and to directly touch lives one at a time.”

The Kentucky Advocates first presented the Acorn Awards in 1992. Recipients are chosen based on recommendations by faculty and students as well as self-written essays about their philosophy of teaching.

Contact: Julia Roberts, (270) 745-6323; or Sue Patrick at CPE, (502) 573-1652 ext. 308.

By Corey Alderdice

Biotechnology Certification Program Applications Due September 23

September 22, 2011 | Academics, News, Research, WKU | No Comments

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Please note the announcement regarding the fall Biotechnology Certification Program. Completing this program is a great pathway to make yourself competitive for hard-to-get research spots in Biotechnology laboratories on campus. This experience is recommended to any student interested in doing Biotech Research (however, if you are participating (or did last year) in the Genome Discovery and Exploration Program, you should not apply. Your research experience includes the same skills taught through the Biotechnology Certification Program).

Please note the application deadline is September 23. Applications are available at http://www.wku.edu/biotechnology/certification_program.php.

FALL SEMESTER 2011

Biotechnology Certification Program

Learn more about Biotechnology
Develop hands-on molecular biology laboratory skills
Become engaged in research with a Biotech Center Faculty
Earn Biotech Certification

The WKU Department of Biology Biotechnology Center is pleased to announce that applications are now being accepted for our Biotech Certification Program. This program will provide practical training to students who wish to enter a research lab of a Biotech Center Faculty member. The training will enhance your career preparation in the life sciences and make you more competitive for jobs and graduate assistantships upon graduation. If this program appeals to you, please email your completed application to Naomi Rowland. You will be asked to indicate your availability on MTWHF afternoons (1:00-5:00 pm). The training requires a commitment of 2 days each week for approximately 2 hours each day. Contact Naomi Rowland or Dr. Rodney King for more information. Training sessions will start the 5th week of classes.

By Gatton Academy

NSLI-Y: Scholarships to Study Language Abroad

September 21, 2011 | Academics, International, News, WKU | No Comments

Are you interested in studying Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), Hindi, Korean, Persian (Tajik), Russian, or Turkish while living and studying abroad this upcoming summer? The National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) Scholarship is now open.

Previous language study is not a requirement. Students of all levels of language ability are encouraged to apply.

Eligibility Requirements:

U.S. citizen
15 – 18 years of age at start of the program (age varies by program – read more on the Languages and Programs page)
Enrolled in high school at time of application (Gap year programs available)
GPA of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, or the equivalent
Immediate family members of individuals who work with the NSLI-Y program at the U.S. Department of State, American Councils, or one of the implementing organizations are not eligible.

The costs covered by the scholarship are:

Round-trip travel between the participant’s home region and the overseas host city
Travel from participant’s home region to the pre-departure orientation location
Tuition and academic materials
In-country support
Cultural activities
Pre-departure and re-entry orientations
Room and board
Secondary medical benefits
Visas

Interested?

These scholarships are very competitive, and as such, require diligent work ahead of time on one’s application. The deadline to apply is November 3, 2011, but applicants should get started on their application in September. If you are interested, please e-mail derick.strode@wku.edu and melinda.grimsley-smith@wku.edu to get started.

By Gatton Academy

WKU to Honor Gotts as 2011 “Family of the Year”

September 15, 2011 | News, People, Staff, WKU | No Comments

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Tim and Ellen Gott and their children have been named WKU’s 2011 Family of the Year.

The Gotts of Bowling Green will be recognized during Parent & Family Weekend activities and will be honored at halftime of Saturday’s WKU vs. Indiana State football game.

“We are deeply honored to be selected as the WKU Family of the Year,” Tim Gott said. “WKU is truly an integrated thread in our lives. Our relationship started here, our degrees are from here, we work here, and all of our children are attending here now.”

The Gotts graduated from WKU in 1985 and received their master’s degrees from WKU. Tim is director of the Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky and is pursuing his doctorate in educational leadership; Ellen is teacher certification officer in the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences.

Their three children attend WKU — Andrew, a member of the Gatton Academy’s first graduating class, will complete his bachelor’s degree in physics and math in December; Emily is a sophomore in the Honors College majoring in entrepreneurship; and Ryan is a student at the Gatton Academy.

“With such an influence on our lives, we are eternally grateful for all that WKU has contributed to each of us,” Tim Gott said. “It is certainly our hope that we take what we have been given from the university and represent WKU as true ambassadors in all that we do. Go Big Red!”

Emily Gott nominated her family for the award, citing their WKU spirit and their impact on her college experience.

“A word that best describes my family would be dedicated,” she said in her nomination letter. “No matter what we are involved in, whether it be toward schoolwork, our weekly dinners at Fresh Foods or attending football and basketball games, we give 100 percent of ourselves. We work hard, enjoy our time together and embrace the Hilltopper spirit with everything we have.”

By Gatton Academy

Security Language Initiative Leads Charlotte Humes to Morocco for Summer Study in Arabic

September 12, 2011 | International, News, People, Student Success, Students, Summer, WKU | No Comments

Charlotte Humes, a Gatton Academy senior from Bardstown, chose to spend her summer this year than many of her high school peers.

Earlier this year, she applied for and was awarded a National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) Scholarship sponsored by the U.S. Department of State for the study of a critical language in a foreign country. These merit-based scholarships are for high school students studying less commonly taught languages.

Although the Gatton Academy curriculum places and emphasis on math and science, Humes began to cultivate an interest in language when she took a course in Arabic during the spring semester at WKU. TheDepartment of Modern Languagesat 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.

“The program is very dedicated to broadening the global perspective of students they send,” Humes said.

Humes’ Arabic studies took her 4,353 miles from Kentucky to Rabat, Morocco. Aong with 12 other students from across the nation, Humes spent six weeks immersed in the language and culture of the country under the instruction of fluent Arabic speaker John Weinert of Rochester, NY, and teacher Emily Lauer of Denver, CO.

Humes explained that living with a host family was a critical component of the program. Program participants had the opportunity to experience authentic dinners, weddings, and everyday life. “One of the most influential experiences overall was staying with the host family,” she said. “It made me appreciate and practice the language a lot more than I would’ve had I just stayed in a hotel. I was immersed in the culture, which was great!

The group’s studies in Morocco consisted of language study five days each week with the rest of her time spent just experiencing the everyday culture. Her host family took the students on day trips to the countryside, which she thought was one of the most beautiful places in Morocco. Other weekend trips led the students to cities like Fez, Ifriane, and Chefchaouene all over the country. She was also given the freedom to explore the city and venture out to the beach with her roommates.

Humes’ work in Arabic at Western Kentucky University gave her an edge over many of her peers in the program. Of the students in the NSLI-Y program, skill levels ranged from not knowing the alphabet to high proficiency. Humes was surprised when the mother of her host family began speaking French when she arrived. She quickly learned that French was also a prominent language in the country.

Of the many experiences throughout the trip, Humes explained that the interactions with the various Moroccans she met were the most enjoyable. “Although there was the language barrier, most of the students there know at least some English,” Humes said. “between the two languages we were able to communicate.”

Not surprisingly, Humes said her least favorite part was leaving. After recounting her amazing experience, she said that she would definitely recommend the program to other students, and would repeat it herself if given the chance.

For more information, contact Corey Alderdice at (270) 705-3632.

Academy Avatar Rachel Metcalfe also contributed to this story.

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By Gatton Academy

Academy Students Begin the New School Year on the Right Foot

August 30, 2011 | Academics, News, WKU | No Comments

by Jon Warren, Academy Avatar

Yesterday marked the first day of classes for the 2011-2012 academic year at Western Kentucky University. For students in the Gatton Academy’s Class of 2013, this marked their first lectures in college classrooms. For the Class of 2012, it marks the beginning of a new year with even more challenging classes.

For seniors, increased rigor comes alongside additional flexibility in their schedule. As students complete basic requirements, they have the opportunity to tailor their interests within specific STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) disciplines and electives.

“I am excited about the flexibility that my fall schedule allows me to have,” explained Will Bickett, a senior. “I am really looking forward to learning in my courses this semester.”

Annie Wheeler, a returning senior, was equally excited about her professors in and out of STEM classes. “I am really excited about my English course with Dr. Guthrie. She seems like she is a very enthusiastic and interesting professor. I am also glad to be back in Calculus II with Dr. Neal,” she said.

Moving on with new classes often means leaving behind professors who encouraged and engaged students in their first year of study. According to senior Luke Yap, the change presents an opporunity to expand their networks and build new relationships. “I am super excited to be enrolled in another one of Dr. Lamphier’s courses and to be researching with Dr. Kessler. I am disappointed that I will not be taking classes with Dr. Ziegler, Dr. Ernst, Dr. Dahl, or Dr. Pesterfield. They were some of my favorite professors, but I am looking forward to a new semester and to hopefully find some new favorite professors,” Yap explained.

Les Wilson, a junior, was surprised at the faster pace of college courses. For many Academy students, this is one of the greatest changes to overcome in their first semester. By contrast, Wilson believes that the increased speed will allow him to learn and absorb classroom material better than at his home high school where he wasn’t challenged as much.

The environment is one very different from the one at the home schools of students. This environment can be a very challenging one for students, but the Academy staff is prepared for this reaction. Study hours are required for all juniors each evening as well as for seniors who need additional assistance in being academically successful. These study hours run from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. every evening and provide students with a designated time where they can study and work on coursework.

As the program enters its fifth year, both students and staff have a better sense of the expectations ahead. Corey Alderdice, Assistant Director for Admissions and Public Relations, stressed that every message up until this point has been about what the program will be like. At this point, the guessing game is over.

“We’re here to support students each step of the way,” Alderdice began, “but this is the moment where students become the key advocate for their academic success. We’re excited to see what they accomplish going forward.”

By Gatton Academy

Shelley, Crocker Pursue Chemical Research in Taiwan

August 29, 2011 | News, People, Research, Students, Summer, WKU | No Comments

Participants in the Taiwan research program spend some time outside of the lab.

by Andrea Eastes, Academy Avatar

For many Gatton Academy students, the previous summer was a global experience. With programs in China and the United Kingdom, students engaged other cultures as a group. Other students pursued their own paths in additional locations around the globe.

Seniors Ellis Shelley and Michael Crocker added Taiwan to the long list of places visited. During their time there, both were involved in chemistry research for ten weeks. The program was organized by Dr. Eric Conte of the Department of Chemistry at Western Kentucky University.

The program was part of a 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.

Michael Crocker was involved with research on synthesizing a polymer that can form a honey-comb shaped membrane on a substance then try to coat silica gel particles with that membrane. Coating the silica gel was in effort to modify the end group from OH to C18. Changing these properties enabled his group to attempt to purify phenol and bisphenol from water.

During his time in Taiwan, Crocker worked with another WKU student, Helen Thompson, and many Taiwanese Master’s and Ph. D. students under the same professor.

Shelley participated in a different research project. His work entailed optimizing protein purification methods using IMAM (Ionized Metal Affinity Membranes). Dr. Suen, the head of the Chemical Engineering Department was the main person Shelley worked with during his time overseas.

Research wasn’t the only thing that Michael and Ellis did while they were in Taiwan though. Crocker explained the pair also had the chance to visit locations throughout the country. “We were able to travel all through Taiwan from the large cities like Taipei to mountain hiking in eastern Taiwan.”

Ellis also added that his favorite part of the trip “was the friendships I made while there and the opportunity to experience a culture so much different from my own.”

Taiwan not only exposed the students to a different culture, but to how having a job in the field would be like. Shelley explains that it was as if he had “lived the life of a chemical engineering graduate for two months.”

Both were able to gain experience in the lab and work with equipment such as a SEM (scanning electron microscope) and IR. Crocker also said that doing original research at a very prestigious institution with students working toward their masters and Ph. D. degrees was very rewarding. Shelley also found the program quite rewarding, in fact, he and his two partners plan to publish their research later this year!

Crocker summed up the experience in an appreciate for learning more about diverse cultures. ’’I really enjoyed Taiwan. It was very different from the United States, and all of the differences were very eye opening for me,” he said.

The students found the trip not only to be an amazing research experience, but also a chance to learn about and become immersed in another culture as well as learn about graduate lifestyle.

By Corey Alderdice

WKU President, Provost Welcome Academy Students to Campus at Picnic

August 23, 2011 | News, People, Staff, Student Life, Students, WKU | No Comments

by David Sekora, Academy Avatar

It is Academy tradition to celebrate the beginning of an exciting new year with an informal evening picnic at the President’s house just off campus.

“We hope we can help make these next two years be everything you dreamed they would be. Welcome to the WKU family, and the food’s up that way,” WKU President Gary Ransdell proudly declared as the catering staff ceremoniously unveiled a veritable feast of plump hot dogs, juicy hamburgers, and assorted bowls of delicious backyard barbecue favorites.

An impressive showing, to be sure, and all in honor of the Gatton Academy Class of 2013, of which Dr. Ransdell could not speak highly enough. Of course, there were more people in attendance than the Academy neophytes in question. Various Academy staff members, Community Leaders, university professors, and department heads also gathered around the round white tables for an hour of intriguing discussion.

One of the more interesting characters wandering about was Dr. Gordon Emslie, WKU’s Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. A triple major in Physics, Math, and Astronomy with extensive research and travel experience, Dr. Emslie regaled Academy students with logic puzzles and existential crises. From “How many post offices are in the US?” (there are less than 100000 because of 5-digit zip codes) to “Share with us something you believe to be an irrefutably true statement. Now, you have thirty seconds to convince us all that it is false,” to a broad assortment of pseudo-random facts and opinions about science, life, and the universe, the Scottish provost certainly knew how to appeal to Academy students.

Of course, the focal points of the party were Dr. Ransdell and his wife Julie Ransdell, who flitted from table to table engaging students in casual conversation about science, WKU, and adjustment to life at the Academy. After three years’ experience in holding this event, the beloved president and his wife had much to share with students new and old alike, and Dr. Ransdell’s speeches were as inspiring as ever.

“You have the whole campus at your disposal; as far as we’re concerned, you’re freshmen at WKU. You’re part of the university family now,” Ransdell said.

By Corey Alderdice

Students Gain First Impression of Faculty, Academic Explorations at Annual Research Fair

August 23, 2011 | Academics, News, People, Research, Staff, Students, WKU | No Comments

by Andrea Eastes, Academy Avatar

As Adventure Week continues, juniors were exposed to even more aspects of the Academy, in particular, research.

On Monday afternoon, faculty from many academic departments at WKU including Psychology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology, and Physics, joined together in Florence Schneider Hall for the annual research fair. During this time, professors set up boards about their research on the second and fourth floor common areas so that students could not only learn more about what they are doing but also become involved in it.

Junior Erica Plummer said that she found the research fair “very helpful, and it assisted in motivating me to want to participate in research this semester at the Gatton Academy.”

She also commented on the wide diversity of the fields of study represented and how well professors explained their respective fields. In fact, there are not very many places where one can find a professor discussing his work on knot theory alongside one that is displaying his dung beetle collection.

Attending the fair also allowed students to talk to professors face to face about their research and ask any questions that they might have. Henry Uradu, a junior, commented that being able to have those conversations in person gave him a better idea about professors’ personalities and the meaning of their research. He also added that those connections are superior to just reading about research because he could “see exactly what they were working on and how many hours I would be required to put in weekly.”

While Henry found the diversity in the biology department which ranged from ecology to cancer research to nanobiology, Shane Masuda found the geology research and physics research to be particularly fascinating. Other students, such as Plummer found mathematics research to be where their interests lie.

Derick Strode, Coordinator for Research, Internships, and Scholarships, was the staff member behind this gathering twenty-five faculty members for the fair. He and Residential Counselor Sue Meador began organizing the fair in early July.

Strode spoke to the “display of their commitment that we had so many faculty join us on Monday.”

He also commented on the importance of the experience for both students and staff: “For Gatton Academy students, I want research to be a means of career exploration–a way to confirm what they’ve always wondered if they would enjoy. I want our students to find the thing that they love studying. Students who find this passion have fun with their research. It becomes an outlet, like a hobby. For the faculty who work them, it’s an awesome feeling to mentor a student who shares their same passions. In fact, many faculty say that having a Gatton Academy student work with them is like having a graduate student researcher.”

All in all, the research fair was a success for both faculty and students. Both were able to make meaningful connections with each other and many doors were opened for the possibility to do research this semester.

By Corey Alderdice

Clarice Esch Receives EPA Fellowship to Continue Research at WKU

August 16, 2011 | Academics, Alumni, News, People, Research, Student Success, Students, WKU | No Comments

WKU Honors College student Clarice Esch, a Gatton Academy graduate, has been awarded an EPA fellowship.

WKU student Clarice Esch, a rising junior in the Honors College at WKU and a recent graduate of the Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky, has been awarded a Greater Research Opportunity Fellowship by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The daughter of Carol and Joseph Esch of Somerset, Esch is one of many successful scholars whose research at WKU has led to national recognition.

For the next two years Esch will receive nearly $50,000 in financial support, including a stipend, tuition payment, and an allowance for educational expenses, from the EPA as she completes her degree. As one of almost 40 students from around the country to receive this prestigious award, Esch will also receive funding for an internship between her junior and senior years. This fellowship, offered to promote careers in research, is open to undergraduate students who are pursuing degrees in an environmental field.

“I recognized that this was an excellent opportunity. I knew that if I received the fellowship it would fund my education, my research, and open many doors,” Esch said. “There was no reason for me not to apply.”

Research is central to Esch’s plans. An agriculture major with a concentration in horticulture, Esch plans to earn a Ph.D. and serve as a university faculty member or researcher in a government facility, like the EPA. This fellowship will allow her to travel to out-of-state conferences and meet other experts in her field across the country as she continues her research endeavors and begins to consider graduate programs.

While a student in the Gatton Academy, Esch began searching for a solution for the excess nitrogen from fertilizer that disrupts the flow of waterways. She is attempting to use nitrogen-fixing lichens as a solution.

“The lichens I work with are an excellent option because they are organic and potentially provide a sustainable supplemental source of fertilizer,” she said.

Even before her success in the EPA GRO competition, Esch’s research had received national recognition. This spring, she received an Honorable Mentionfrom the highly competitive and prestigious Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship Program.

Esch offers thanks to the staff of the Office of Scholar Development for their guidance, assistance and willingness to help. She is also grateful to her research mentor, Dr. Martin Stone, Leichardt Professor of Horticulture, for his support in the lab and classroom.

“Clarice Esch has distinguished herself academically, both in the classroom and in her research here at WKU,” Dr. Stone said. “Agriculture is at the center of sustainable food production and its impact on the environment. Clarice is passionate about the intersection of these two critical areas, and she represents the next generation of scientists that will tackle these important issues. We are proud of her and congratulate her on this most prestigious award. It is well deserved.”

Esch said she was “absolutely elated” when she heard the news that she had been selected as an EPA GRO Fellow. “Four walls could hardly contain me,” she said.

By Corey Alderdice

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