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Summer 2011 Brings Myriad Opportunities for Academy Students Across Kentucky, the US, and Globe

June 6, 2011 | Alumni, International, News, People, Research, Student Success, Students, Summer, WKU | No Comments

Students recently participated in the NCSSSMST Student Research Conference in Maryland.
Six rising seniors recently participated in the NCSSSMST Student Research Conference in Maryland.At the Gatton Academy, students spend the months of the traditional academic year engaged in a variety of learning opportunities that both mirror and differ from traditional high school experiences.

Students at Western Kentucky University’s Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science find their academic year is often very different from that of traditional high school students.  A full slate of college coursework, living away from home, and a host of research and non-traditional learning experiences fill the month of September to May.  Perhaps even more unique, though, are the exploits of Academy students during the summer months in Kentucky and at locations across the globe.

Three out of five 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.  More impressively, 85% of rising seniors are participating in a summer experience. 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.

“These summer experiences represent the broad scope of STEM interests that our students enjoy,” Strode said.  “Gatton Academy students are performing research this summer in medical, chemical, national security, and computer science settings—just to name a few—that will shed positive effects on human lives in the not-so-distant future.”

A new emphasis of the summer learning experience, is a study abroad component.  For the first time, seventeen Gatton Academy students will travel to the United Kingdom for an Honors English 200 course.  The Introduction to Literature course, based at Harlaxton College in Grantham, will be taught by Dr. Alison Langdon of the WKU Department of English.  The experiences do not stop there.  Eight Gatton Academy students will participate in the Chinese Bridge Summer Camp sponsored by the Confucius Institute at WKU, Hanban, and the North China Electric Power University.  This two week camp will give the following students a chance to visit China, learning the language and culture along the way:

“I am also happy to note the increase in Gatton Academy students learning abroad this summer,” Strode added. “Gatton Academy students will be on four continents for educational programs over these next few months.”

While some high school students may consider research, internships, or study abroad programs less preferable than time at the beach, Gatton Academy students see these opportunities as a way to build on their learning and interests.

“Flexibly structured so that students can remain learning over summer while exploring career and educational interests, our internship program offers options for the motivated Gatton Academy student body.  We have students who have chosen to pursue advanced research or shadowing work in STEM fields of their interest right in their own backyards across the Commonwealth this summer.  Other students are further investigating their interests across the United States and the globe,” Strode said.

Keep checking back with the Gatton Academy website this summer as we further spotlight these students explorations and adventures.

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

Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs):

Three Gatton Academy students will be participating in the REU titled Mammoth Cave/Upper Green River Watershed Project at Western Kentucky University.  REUs are funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and offer students full-summer research opportunity with travel, food, and lodging provided as well as a generous stipend.  REUs are one of the most prestigious and selective of summertime opportunities.

  • Logan Eckler (’12) of Covington (Mentor: Dr. Matthew Nee)
  • Brandon Farmer (’12) of Lexington (Mentor: Dr. Matthew Nee)
  • Natalie Schieber (’11) of Elizabethtown (Mentor: Dr. Bangbo Yan)

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.

  • Michael Crocker (’12) of Bowling Green (Mentors: Dr. Ru-Jong Jeng and Dr. Rong-Ho Lee)
  • Ellis Shelley  (’12) of Albany (Mentor: Shing-Yi Suen)

Crocker will be studying dendrimer synthesis and immobilization onto a silica or membrane support and dendrimer membrane on ITO glass.  Shelley will be studying protein purification by IMAM.

Research Science Institute (RSI) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Lukas Missik (’12) of Danville is one of only 80 rising high school seniors from across the globe to be admitted to this prestigious, cost-free high school STEM program to conduct research at MIT for six weeks.  Lukas will be conducting research in Artificial Intelligence or Game Theory.

Undergraduate Research Program in Molecular Biology at Princeton University

Sarah Schrader (’11) of Bowling Green has been admitted from a nationwide pool into the Undergraduate Research Program in Molecular Biology at Princeton University.  In this nine week program, Schrader will be studying in Molecular and Quantitative & Computational Biology.  Travel, housing, and a generous stipend are provided.

EarthWatch Student Challenge Awards Program:

Erin Walch (’12) of Alexandria has been accepted into the prestigious EarthWatch Institute’s Student Challenge Awards Program.  She will be a part of a research team traveling to the San Jacinto and Santa Rosa Mountains in Riverside California to study Plant Life of California’s Mountains for two and a half weeks.  Walch’s award includes full travel expenses, food, and lodging for her trip to California.

Kentucky Professional Education Preparation Program (PEPP)

Three Gatton Academy students will participate this summer in the Commonwealth’s PEPP programs.  Lori Lovell (’12) of Florence and Erin Walch (’12) of Alexandria have been admitted to the Pikeville College School of Osteopathic Medicine’s PEPP program.  Shelby Martin (’11) of Mt. Washington has been admitted to the University of Kentucky’s PEPP Step II.  These residential programs offer a variety of educational experiences targeted to enhance students’ personal interest in a medical or dental career, add to their understanding of the elements of a medical/dental education, and expand their awareness of how medicine/dentistry is practiced in a rural setting.

Gatton Academy Research Internship Grant recipients:

Twelve rising seniors were chosen to receive Gatton Academy Research Internship Grants (RIG) from the Gatton Academy to support research work this summer.  The 2011 RIG recipients, their research locations, mentors, and projects are listed below:

  • William Bickett (’12) of Owensboro will conduct research with Dr. Phillip Womble at WKU’s Applied Physics Institute.  His study is on Gamma-ray Spectra in Neutron-Based Explosives Detection Systems.
  • Rebecca Brown (’12) of Boston will be working with Dr. Michael Carini of the WKU Department of Physics and Astronomy.  Brown will study Optical Monitoring of TeV Candidate Blazars.
  • John “Jack” Ferguson (’12) of Union will be working with Dr. Hemali Rathnayake of the WKU Department of Chemistry on his project titled Fluorescein and FITC Derivatives Functionalized Silsesquioxane/Bridged Silsesquioxane Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Characterization, and Particle Morphology.
  • Alex Gutierrez (’12) of Mt. Washington will be doing research with Dr. Kathryn Saatman at the University of Kentucky’s Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center.  Gutierrez will be researching mild (concussive) brain injuries.
  • Anthony Gutierrez (’12) of Mount Washington will perform research with Dr. Alexander Rabchevsk of the University of Kentucky’s Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, studying locomotor dysfunction after spinal cord injuries.
  • Charlotte Humes (’12) of Bardstown will conduct research Dr. Matthew Nee of the WKU Department of Chemistry where she will design, construct, and use a time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectrometer for the purpose of measuring energy and charge transfer in alternative energy materials.
  • Christian Jolly (’12) of Henderson will be working on research with Dr. Steven Gibson of the WKU Department of Physics and Astronomy to analyze radio telescope data to investigate galaxy structure.
  • Tennessee “Tucker” Joyce (’12) of Harrodsburg will be working with Dr. Richard Schugart of the WKU Department of Mathematics and Computer Science to continue his mathematical analysis of wound healing models.
  • Benjamin Rice (’12) of Somerset will be developing a gamma ray spectroscopy system to estimate elemental intensities of neutron interrogated samples under the direction of Dr. Phillip Womble of the WKU Applied Physics Institute.
  • David Sekora (’12) of Franklin is researching in knot theory to study DNA with Dr. Claus Ernst of the WKU Department of Mathematics and Computer Science.
  • Keaton Smith (’12) of Alexandria will be doing computer science research with Drs. Richard Fox and Jeff Ward of the Northern Kentucky University Department of Computer Science.  Smith will be using artificial intelligence to plan algorithms and genetic algorithms to produce computer-generated music.
  • Nicholas Zolman (’12) of Mount Sterling is working with Dr. Tim Gorringe of the University of Kentucky’s Department of Physic and Astronomy to analyze periodic and chaotic motion using a double pendulum.

NCSSSMST Student Research Conference:

Six Gatton Academy students will be presenting research this summer at the National Consortium for Specialized Secondary Schools of Math, Science, and Technology (NCSSSMST) Student Research Conference at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD.  From June 1-4, these students will join 109 other students from across the country to share their research work through oral and poster presentations.  Gatton Academy representatives and their presentation titles are:

  • Andrea Eastes (’12) of Mayfield will give an oral presentation titled “Isolation of the Bacteriophage Liberi”
  • Jack Ferguson (’12) of Union will present a poster titled “Synthesis of Fluorescein Isothiocyanate Functionalized Nanoparticles”
  • Samantha Hawtrey (’12) of Union will present a poster titled “Isolation, Characterization, and Annotation: the Acquisition of a Novel Bacteriophage Genome”
  • Lori Lovell (’12) of Florence will do an oral presentation titled “Isolation of Novus, a Novel Bacteriophage Isolated from Florence, Kentucky”
  • Benjamin Rice (’12) of Somerset will present a poster titled “Gamma-ray Spectra in Neutron-Based Explosives Detection Systems”
  • Nicholas Zolman (’12) of Mount Sterling will give an oral presentation titled “A Light in the Darkness: Finding Type Ia Supernovae in the CANDELS Hubble Space Telescope Survey”


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 11 – 18 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:

  • Laura Claytor (’11) of Berea
  • Melanie Hurst (’11) of Bronston
  • Samantha McKean (’11) of Cecilia
  • Rachel Metcalfe (’11) of Eminence

Experiences Abroad:

This summer, 28 Gatton Academy students will travel internationally for research, language acquisition, credit-based study abroad, and education and cultural travel.  Students will be in China, England, Morocco, Switzerland, and Taiwan.  International research experiences are listed in the former section; other international experiences are:

National Security Language Initiative-for Youth (NSLI-Y):

Two Gatton Academy students have accepted an NSLI-Y scholarship which covers all program costs, travel to the student’s destination, tuition, housing, activities, and more for six weeks. These merit-based scholarships are for high school students studying less commonly taught languages.

  • Charlotte Humes (’12) of Bardstown
  • Brandon Kerr (’11) of Edmonton

England

For the first time, the Gatton Academy has partnered with Harlaxton College in Grantham, England to offer a three week study abroad course.  The following students will study Introduction to Literature under the direction of Dr. Alison Langdon of the WKU Department of English.  The following students will study romantic poets in the Lake District, Dracula in Whitby, the Brontës on the famed moors near Haworth, and Shakespeare in London’s Globe Theatre, just to name a few of many stops:

  • Daylynn Allison (’12) of Mayfield
  • William Bickett (’12) of Owensboro
  • Lydia Brothers (’12) of Madisonville
  • Andrea Eastes (’12) of Mayfield
  • Nathan Lasley (’12) of Owensboro
  • Taylor Leet (’12) of Louisville
  • Lori Lovell (’12) of Florence
  • David Sekora (’12) of Franklin
  • Keaton Smith (’12) of Alexandria
  • Caroline Stivers (’12) of Berea
  • Aaron Stolze (’12) of Somerset
  • Erin Walch (’12) of Alexandria
  • Layne Webb (’12) of Shepherdsville
  • Nicholas Zolman (’12) of Mt. Sterling

China

Eight Gatton Academy students will participate in the Chinese Bridge Summer Camp sponsored by the Confucius Institute at WKU, Hanban, and the North China Electric Power University.  This two week camp will give the following students a chance to visit China, learning the language and culture along the way:

  • William “Christopher” Brown (’12) of Russell Springs
  • Curtlyn Kramer (’12) of Ashland
  • Matthew “Stephen” Mattingly (’12) of Elizabethtown
  • Samantha McKean (’12) of Cecilia
  • Rachel Metcalfe (’12) of Eminence
  • Holly Morris (’12) of Bowling Green
  • Tyler Parke (’11) of Henderson
  • Makka “Annie” Wheeler (’12) of Guthrie

Switzerland

Alexandra DeCarlo (’12) of London and Luke Yap (’12) of Carrolton will be studying literature abroad in Switzerland with Dr. Lloyd Davies of the WKU Department of English.

Other Notable Individual Experiences:

Kia Allen, a graduating senior from Georgetown, will be volunteering at Saint Joseph Health System in Lexington.

Claci Ayers, a graduating senior from Bowling Green, will be shadowing pediatrician Dr. Kelly Kriess and volunteering at the Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital.

Anthony Bombik, a graduating senior from Union, will be a Teacher’s Assistant in the Center for Gifted Studies’ camp for Verbally and Mathematically Precocious Youth (VAMPY) at WKU.

Madeline Buhr, a graduating senior from Cecilia, will participate in the Teenage Volunteer Program at Hardin Memorial Hospital in Elizabethtown.

Clarice Esch, a graduating senior from Somerset, is interning at the Baker Arboretum in Bowling Green.

Sean Freeman, a graduating senior from Hebron, is programming iPhone apps.

Katherine Goebel, a graduating senior from Simpsonville, will be shadowing veterinarian Dr. Rocky Oliver of the Shelby Veterinary Clinic.

Madeline Lauzon, a graduating senior from Owensboro, will be volunteering with the Theatre Workshop of Owensboro.

Jae Lee, a graduating senior from Hopkinsville, will be volunteering at a local nursing home in Hopkinsville and shadowing various health care professionals.

Justine Missik, a graduating senior from Danville, is volunteering with the Sierra Club.

Jake Moore, a graduating senior from Crittenden, has been admitted to the highly competitive Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Summer Internship Program for Science Students.  Moore will be interning under Dr. John Bissler, studying Nephrology and Biomedical Engineering.

Michael Phillips, a graduating senior from Benton, is conducting research under the direction of Dr. Edward Kintzel at the WKU NOVA Center and will be a teaching assistant at VAMPY.

Tejas Sangoi, a graduating senior from Owensboro, will be volunteering in the Owensboro Medical Health Systems.  He will also be attending national conferences for FBLA and HOSA.

Chandler Santos, a graduating senior from LaGrange, will be tutoring with VAMPY.

Suzanne VanArsdall, a graduating senior from Frankfort, will be returning to Cape Town, South Africa to help with the reconstruction of a safe house for women and children.

Paras Vora, a graduating senior from Owensboro will be shadowing cardiologist Dr. Kishor Vora.

Celia Whelan, a graduating senior from Bardstown, will perform in The Stephen Foster Story and The Wizard of Oz with Stephen Foster Productions.

Lydia Brothers, a first-year student from Madisonville, has been admitted to the seven-week Summer Research Program for High School and Undergraduate Students at the University of Tennessee Space Institute in Tullahoma, TN.  Brothers will receive travel expenses, room and board, and a stipend.

Jordan Currie, a first-year student from Rockfield, will participate in the Music City Drum Corps.

Daniel Dilger, a first-year student from Union, will be developing a cryptographic analysis infrastructure under Dr. Bruce Kessler of WKU to attempt to decrypt the recently released notes from the Ricky McCormick murder investigation.

Andrea Eastes, a first-year student from Mayfield, will be assisting Dr. Michelle Monje of the Stanford University School of Medicine in a research study on Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG), a lethal pediatric brain tumor.

Samantha Hawtrey, a first-year student of Union, will represent the 2010-11 WKU Genome Discovery and Exploration Program when she presents research findings at the 3rd Annual Science Education Alliance Symposium at the Janelia Farm campus of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute in Ashburn, VA.

Nathan Lasley, a first-year student from Owensboro, will be attending a Boy Scout Summer Camp at Roy C. Manchester Boy Scout Camp.

Jesse Matherly, a first-year student from Nicholasville, will be conducing Alzheimer’s research under the direction of Dr. Linda Van Eldik at the University of Kentucky Sanders-Brown Center on Aging.

Benjamin Rice, a first-year student from Somerset, will be participating in the Naval Academy Summer Seminar in Annapolis, MD.

Aaron Stolze, a first-year student from Somerset, will be participating in the Naval Academy Summer Seminar in Annapolis, MD.  He will also be participating in the Christian Leadership Institute in Danville.

Joseph “Joey” Tutor, a first-year student from Franklin, will be interning at Electronic Warfare Associates in Bowling Green.

Layne Webb, a first-year student from Shepherdsville, will be doing astrophysics research under the mentorship of Dr. Lutz Haberzettl of the University of Louisville’s Department of Physic and Astronomy.

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By Corey Alderdice

Gatton Academy Again Ranked among “The Public Elites” Across the Nation

May 23, 2011 | News, Student Success, Students, WKU | No Comments

The Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky at WKU has been ranked again among the nation’s 24 most distinguished high schools. (WKU photo by Clinton Lewis)
The Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky at WKU has been ranked again among the nation’s 24 most distinguished high schools. (WKU photo by Clinton Lewis)

The Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky at WKU has been named to The Washington Post’s list of top-performing schools with elite students.

Though 16 Kentucky high schools appear on educational columnist Jay Matthews’ traditional list of top-performing high schools, Julia Roberts, executive director of the Gatton Academy, noted the Gatton Academy is the only Kentucky high school to have been recognized as a member of The Public Elites.  Dr. Roberts also added the Gatton Academy is one of the youngest institutions to appear on the list.

“How outstanding for a program as young as the Gatton Academy to make the The Washington Post list of the Public Elites among public high school schools in America for a third year,” Dr. Roberts said.  “The Gatton Academy’s mission is to provide exceptional educational opportunities to young people from across the Commonwealth who are talented in science and mathematics.  People across the Commonwealth and beyond can share pride in this wonderful recognition for the Gatton Academy.”

The Gatton Academy once again finds itself among the nation’s 24 most distinguished high schools.  Schools such as the Bergen County Academies (New Jersey), Illinois Math Science Academy, North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, and Thomas Jefferson High School (Virginia) make perennial appearances on the list.  These schools, along with the Gatton Academy, are members of the National Consortium of Specialized Secondary Schools of Math, Science and Technology (NCSSSMST).

According to Tim Gott, the Gatton Academy’s director and NCSSSMST board member, the Commonwealth’s future leaders and innovators in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) have already begun to distinguish themselves among peers across the nation through sharing research at the consortium’s student research symposium and Keystone National Youth Policy Summit.

“The Gatton Academy has been extremely fortunate to be involved with NCSSSMST peer institutions,” Gott said. “To have the Gatton Academy on the same list as these other outstanding schools is an incredible honor.  The depth and strength of schools such as IMSA and Thomas Jefferson is well established.  Kentucky can be very proud that it has a school that stands among these fine institutions.”

Since 1998, Mathews has ranked Washington-area public high schools using the Challenge Index, his measure of how effectively a school prepares its students for college. The Post later expanded its research to high schools across the United States. The ratio is based, in part, on the number of Advanced Placement and/or International Baccalaureate tests taken by all students at a school in the previous year divided by the number of graduating seniors.   This year, The Post recognized 1,900 schools from across the country.

The Challenge Index is designed to recognize schools that challenge average students. Top-performing schools, such as The Gatton Academy, were excluded from the regular list of well-performing high schools because of their exceptional quality and remarkably talented student bodies.  Specialized schools are, instead, acknowledged by The Public Elites.

The Post’s recognition drew attention to the strategic partnership between the Gatton Academy and WKU, which facilitates all coursework for academy students.  As part of the rigorous curriculum, students earn more than 60 hours of college credit during their four semesters in the program while also earning a high school diploma.

Corey Alderdice, assistant director for admissions and public relations, praised WKU’s longstanding commitment to the program.

“Time and time again, WKU has proven itself as a university committed to challenging young people who are gifted and talented,” Alderdice said. “From faculty in the classroom and research labs to administrators campuswide, we are proud to have the support of the WKU community in our role of engaging some of the commonwealth’s most innovative thinkers and future leaders.”

Though particular attention is given to the Gatton Academy, Gott was also quick to praise partner high schools across Kentucky that prepare students during elementary, middle, and early high school for study at the Gatton Academy during their junior and senior year of high school.

“The great thing about this honor is that it reflects the partnership that the Gatton Academy has with all of the high schools across the state,” Gott said. “This recognition elevates the amazing students that come from across the whole Commonwealth.  Every school represented at the Academy shares in this accolade.”

Since the program’s inception in 2007, students have been admitted from 103 of Kentucky’s 120 counties.  In all, students from more than 100 public high schools across the state have enrolled in the program.

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

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By Corey Alderdice

Sarah Schrader Named U.S. Presidential Scholar; Will Continue Her Research and Studies at WKU

May 10, 2011 | Academics, News, People, Student Success, Students, WKU | No Comments

Sarah Schrader
Sarah Schrader

For Sarah Schrader, a student at WKU’s Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky, her senior year of high school has been marked by significant accomplishments.  Along with graduation invitations, college decisions and prom, Schrader has been continuing research, studying abroad and mastering a second language. When Schrader receives her diploma from the Gatton Academy on Saturday, she will do so with an added achievement to celebrate.

The Bowling Green student is among 141 outstanding high school seniors recently named 2011 U.S. Presidential Scholars.  Students selected for the honor have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, artistic excellence, leadership, citizenship, service and contribution to school and community. U.S. Presidential Scholars will be honored for their accomplishments in Washington, D.C., from June 18-21.

“Receiving this honor means that something more is expected of me from this point on,” Schrader said. “It means that I must continue to strive for excellence, work toward achieving my dreams and, most importantly, use my successes to contribute something significant to the world.  This journey is not one to be traveled alone.”

Schrader is in good company in the honor. The 141 U.S. Presidential Scholars include one young man and one young woman from each state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and from U.S. families living abroad, as well as 15 chosen at-large and 20 Presidential Scholars in the Arts. The White House Commission on Presidential Scholars, appointed by the president, makes the selections.

Schrader becomes the first Gatton Academy student to be named a U.S. Presidential Scholar.  She believes the traits needed to become a scholar were cultivated not only by her experience at the Gatton Academy, but also the people who have surrounded her during her high school experience.

“The support from staff and peers that I received at the Academy has allowed me to develop more confidence, and experiencing living away from home has molded me into a more independent person,” Schrader added. “Most importantly, the courses I have taken and people I have met during my time at the Academy have given me the chance to discover and begin to explore my interests and passions, from Chinese to chemistry to biological research; having a good idea of what I am passionate about will allow me to select the path that best suits my interests and steer myself towards a successful future.”

For the past 47 years, this prestigious program has honored more than 6,000 of the nation’s top-performing students. Of the three million students expected to graduate from high school this year, more than 3,000 candidates qualified on the basis of outstanding performance on the College Board SAT and ACT exams.

Each Presidential Scholar has invited his or her most inspiring and challenging teacher to travel to Washington, D.C., to receive a Teacher Recognition Award from the U.S. Department of Education and to participate in the recognition events. Schrader selected Dr. Liping Chen, an assistant professor of Chinese language and linguistics at WKU. Even as an experienced educator, Dr. Chen believes Schrader stands out among the many students with whom she has worked.

“Chinese, a difficult language for the thousands of American students I have taught over the years, seems so easy for her,” Dr. Chen said. “She has completely changed my view of language teaching and learning and forced me to rethink and reevaluate what I believe students can achieve with the language after one or two years.”

Dr. Chen isn’t the only person kept on their toes by Schrader’s talents.  Tim Gott, director of the Gatton Academy, noted that even though he has grown accustomed to working with some of the nation’s best and brightest minds, Schrader is a rarity because of her strengths beyond the classroom.

“In 26 years of working with high school students, Sarah ranks as the strongest student I have ever encountered,” Gott said. “Her academic prowess, her work ethic, her passion for learning, her diverse interests, and her genuine humility mark her as a true role model of excellence.”

Schrader will continue her studies at WKU this fall, the first U.S. Presidential Scholar to do so.  One of the main factors in her decision to continue at WKU was the Chinese Flagship Program, in which she will work toward superior-level proficiency over the next two years.   Next spring, she will travel to Nanjing University for a semester abroad followed by a research internship at a Chinese university or company over the summer.

“These unique opportunities will allow me to continue to develop linguistic and cultural competence as well as gain experience working in a vastly different research environment, providing me with knowledge and skills that will prepare me for my future career,” Schrader said.

While her immediate future path is set, Schrader took time to reflect on the combined efforts of the Gatton Academy and WKU to help chart that course.

“I have been fortunate to have the continuous support and encouragement of outstanding faculty and amazingly talented peers,” she said. “Without these things, I would not have been able to achieve this recognition.  So, I will continue on my journey with a thankful heart, always keeping in mind the tremendous efforts of those who work selflessly to help shape my future, while striving to live up to the high expectations that come with being recognized as a Presidential Scholar.”

Contact: Corey Alderdice, 270-745-6565 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 270-745-6565 end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

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By Corey Alderdice

Sekora, Taing Honored in WKU High School Programming Contest

May 10, 2011 | Academics, News, People, Student Success, Students, WKU | No Comments

WKU’s Department of Mathematics and Computer Science held its annual High School Programming Contest on April 29 and its Gatton Academy Programming Contest on May 3.

Eight teams from five schools in Kentucky participated in the high school contest. Each team consisted of up to three students.

Nelson County finished first followed by St. Xavier and Warren Central. Other schools with teams competing were Shelby County Area Technology Center and Trinity High School.

Each member of the first-place team received a $1,000 scholarship. Nelson County team member Jon Owens will begin his undergraduate program in WKU’s Department of Mathematics and Computer Science this fall.

In the Gatton Academy individual competition, five students participated. David Sekora of Simpson County finished first followed by Austin Taing of Warren County and Keaton Smith of Campbell County. The top two finishers received a $1,000 and $500 scholarship, respectively.

The annual high school programming contest brings excellent students to the Computer Science program at WKU. Dr. Peter Hamburger, head of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, plans to strengthen the collaboration with high schools to attract more students to the contest and WKU programs.

The contests are sponsored by the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Ogden College of Science and Engineering, and WKU.

Contact: Qi Li, (270) 745-6225 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (270) 745-6225 end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

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By Corey Alderdice

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

Academy Students, Alumni Honored at KAS Conference

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2010 Undergraduate Paper Presentation Competition

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

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

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By Corey Alderdice

World Council for Gifted and Talented Children Moving Office to WKU

November 16, 2010 | Gifted Ed, News, People, WKU | No Comments

The World Council for Gifted and Talented Children (WCGTC) is relocating its international headquarters to WKU in Bowling Green, Ky., from the University of Winnipeg in Canada.

A generous gift from Dixie and Pete Mahurin of Bowling Green makes the move possible. Strong supporters of gifted children, the Mahurins endowed a gifted professorship in 2003.

Dr. Julia Link Roberts, Executive Director of The Center for Gifted Studies and the Mahurin Professor of Gifted Studies, said: “Bringing together people interested in gifted and talented children has been a goal of The Center for Gifted Studies for almost 30 years. Locating the headquarters of the World Council for Gifted and Talented Children at WKU extends the reach of The Center, and it is an honor to partner with the World Council. It is a pleasure to announce the relocation of the headquarters of the World Council to WKU.”

Founded in 1975, the World Council’s purpose is to focus world attention on gifted and talented children and ensure the realization of their valuable potential to the benefit of humankind. In addition to holding a biennial conference that facilitates worldwide communication of information, ideas, and experiences, the Council publishes the journal Gifted and Talented International and a newsletter World Gifted.

The next conference is scheduled for August 2011 in Incheon, Korea. Dr. Roberts is Treasurer and one of the seven members on the Executive Committee of the World Council.

The relocation kicks off The Center for Gifted Studies’ 30th year celebration of providing opportunities to children who are gifted and talented, their educators, and their parents. Participants in The Center’s programs have come from all 50 states and 33 countries representing six continents.

Almost 28,000 children and young people have attended summer and Saturday programming. The Center’s experience with gifted children and housing an advocacy organization (the Kentucky Association for Gifted Education has been housed at The Center for more than 20 years) made WKU a natural choice for the international headquarters.

“It is an honor for WKU to become the host institution for the World Council,” WKU President Gary Ransdell said. “We have long placed a high premium on gifted studies and have built a reputation as the center for the education of gifted and talented young minds. Locating the World Council headquarters here will further strengthen WKU’s commitment to this important priority and, we believe, enhance the Council’s work across the globe. It is one more important way in which our vision to be a leading American university with international reach is being realized.”

Noted guests at the press conference Nov. 16 from the WCGTC included Dr. Ken McCluskey, Dean and Professor of Education at the University of Winnipeg, WCGTC’s last home; Dr. Leonie Kronborg, Executive Committee member from Monash University in Victoria, Australia; and Dr. Edna McMillan, Vice President of World Council, from Ontario, Canada.

Fact sheet on Mahurin gift

Fact sheet on World Council for Gifted and Talented Children

Fact sheet on The Center for Gifted Studies at WKU

Contact: Gifted Studies, (270) 745-6323.

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By Corey Alderdice

16 Academy Students to Participate in Sustainability Leadership Retreat

November 3, 2010 | News, People, Staff, Student Life, Students, WKU | No Comments

The Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky has teamed up with WKU’s Center for Environmental Education and Sustainability(CEES) to bring Academy students a progressive retreat opportunity focused on sustainability leadership.

Sixteen Gatton Academy students have been selected to participate in the inaugural Sustainable Leadership Retreat, which is slated for Thursday-Saturday (Nov. 4-6) at Loucon Training and Retreat Center in Leitchfield.

The mission of the retreat is to foster the development of students’ ability to be sustainability leaders who choose to engage in the process of creating transformational change with others and aimed toward building a sustainable future. Students will also enjoy outdoor activities like zip lining, hiking, canoeing, and other activities that promote teamwork and leadership.

“We’re ‘taking it up a notch’ and getting the brightest minds engage with the global urgency and opportunity for sustainable development,” said Nancy Givens, Sustainability Programs Development Coordinator with the CEES.

As co-chair of the WKU Education for Sustainability Steering Committee, Givens worked with Tim Gott, director of the Academy and a member of the committee, to begin the process to make this first sustainability leadership retreat happen for the Academy.

Also, on board from the Gatton Academy is Assistant Residential Life Coordinator Melissa Schultz. Schultz served as a graduate intern for the CEES this past summer and helped to bring the idea of a sustainability leadership retreat to life.

“Through various seminars, activities, clubs and programs, we have worked closely with academy students on developing leadership skills and making decisions with both the environment and people in mind,” Schultz said. “The retreat is an outstanding way to seamlessly connect these messages. I think the retreat will be a memorable and educational experience for everyone.”

This retreat is truly a collaborative effort as WKU staff and faculty have donated their time to share a message of leadership and sustainability.

“We hope this retreat will serve not only our students but also inspire more education across campus, state, and nation around the topic of sustainable leadership,” Schultz said.

Throughout the retreat, students will engage in various interactive discussions and activities on topics like environmental law, leadership theory in practice, building a sustainable community, and defining the meaning and practice of sustainability.

Sydney Combs, a Gatton Academy senior from London and Green Club co-president, described sustainable practices as “taking responsibility for our actions and everyday habits with the future in mind.”

Students will work to make that potential future a reality through a variety of featured workshop sessions with experts in leadership and sustainability at WKU:  John Baker, Education Coordinator from the Office of Leadership Excellence; Dr. John All, Department of Geography and Geology; Christian Ryan-Downing, Sustainability Coordinator from the Office of Sustainability; Cristin Lanham, WKU Recycling Coordinator; Terry Shoemaker, Program Coordinator for the Institute for Citizenship and Social Responsibility; andNadia Denov De Leon, Community Engagement Coordinator of the WKU ALIVE Center for Community Partnerships.

Also joining the roster of session leaders are members of CDP Engineering, a Kentucky enterprise committed to sustainable practices in business and industry. Lewis Newton, chief executive officer, and Scott Southall, Vice President of Landscape Architecture and Planning Group Manager, will discuss the physical manifestation of green design and explore holistic approaches to community design and redevelopment.

The Gatton Academy has sought to cultivate students’ interests in sustainability across the program’s living and learning environments. A variety of programmatic opportunities have assisted students in learning more about green initiatives while also putting those ideas into practice. The Gatton Academy Green Club has participated in a local sinkhole clean-up, reduced their waste through a “Bring Your Own Cup” program during academy social events, and piloted building-wide recycling initiatives in Schneider Hall.

Tejas Sangoi, a Gatton Academy senior from Owensboro and Green Club co-president, views the decision to adopt sustainability practices as a choice that affects not only the individual but others as well.  “To me, sustainability is living a balanced life in which you only use the resources that you need so that they will be conserved for future generations,” Sangoi said. “Being a sustainable leader is important because by demonstrating and leading a sustainable lifestyle, you are inspiring others in the community to do the same.”

Contact: Melissa Schultz, (270) 745-4755.

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By Corey Alderdice