WKU News

The Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky has selected 100 Kentucky sophomores for the Class of 2024.

“The Gatton Academy’s incoming Class of 2024 is made up of remarkable young people from across the Commonwealth! They have been active in their communities and persevered through a wide variety of educational challenges while seeking to advance their knowledge and skills,” said the Director of The Gatton Academy, Dr. Lynette Breedlove. “They are an inspiring group who have been supported and encouraged by many people in their local schools, districts, and communities.”

Applicants were evaluated based on ACT/SAT scores, high school grades, awards and accomplishments, extracurricular activities, responses to essay and short answer questions, and recommendation forms. In addition to these criteria, candidates were invited to interview with WKU faculty members, community leaders from across the Commonwealth, and Gatton Academy alumni.

Students from 46 counties make up the Class of 2024.  Among the students accepted include either the third or fourth students accepted in The Gatton Academy’s fifteen-year history from the following counties: Garrard, Jackson, Owen, and Washington.  The second student to attend from McLean County is a member of the Class of 2024. Overall, The Gatton Academy has had students attend from 117 of Kentucky’s 120 counties.

The mission of The Gatton Academy is to provide a residential program on the campus of Western Kentucky University for bright, highly motivated Kentucky high school students who have demonstrated interests in pursuing advanced careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Students enhance their creativity, curiosity, reasoning ability, and self-discipline through the companionship of peers, university courses, faculty-led research, and study abroad, preparing them for leadership roles in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Moreover, The Gatton Academy assists in preparing Kentucky to compete in a knowledge-based economy by increasing the number of scientists and engineers with ties to the state.

“What a pleasure it is to welcome the 2024 class of The Gatton Academy,” stated Dr. Julia Roberts, Executive Director of The Gatton Academy and Mahurin Professor of Gifted Education.  “These young people represent Kentucky geographically as well as in other characteristics, carrying out the goal of The Gatton Academy to enable Kentucky’s exceptional young scientists and mathematicians to learn in an environment that offers advanced educational opportunities and develop as future leaders for the Commonwealth.”

Students will complete their junior and senior years of high school living in Florence Schneider Hall.  At the end of their two-year course of study, students will graduate from high school with a minimum of 60 college credit hours.

The Gatton Academy provides a rich living and learning environment designed specifically for academically talented adolescent students that features clubs, organizations, and community service. Additionally, students are able to participate in advanced research with WKU faculty members. Research conducted during students’ time at The Gatton Academy has been honored in the nationally competitive Regeneron Science Talent Search, Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair, and published in scientific journals. Study abroad opportunities are resuming, allowing students to participate in study abroad or global learning experiences in locations such as Costa Rica and England.

The Gatton Academy is Kentucky’s first state-supported, two-year residential program for high school students with interests in advanced science and math careers and is one of only 15 such programs in the nation. The Gatton Academy has been named to Jay Mathews of The Washington Post’s list of top-performing schools with elite students for eleven consecutive appearances and received the National Consortium for Secondary STEM School’s Innovation Partnership Award.

Students selected for The Gatton Academy’s Class of 2024:

(Students are organized by county of residence, with their sending school in parenthesis.)

Barren County

• Presley Neagle (Barren County High School) – Amy and Troy Neagle of Glasgow
• Caleb Neitzel (Barren County High School) – Stacy and Chris Neitzel of Glasgow
• Zachary VanderMolen (Glasgow High School) – Yertty VanderMolen and Ronald VanderMolen of Glasgow

 Boone County

• Sara Nath (Larry A. Ryle High School) – Anuj Mohan and Sarika Srivastava of Union

Boyle County

• Henry Hurley (Danville High School) – Julie and Jonas Hurley of Danville

Breckinridge County

• Om Patel (Breckinridge County High School) – Harry and Shilpa Patel of Irvington

Bullitt County

• Nevaeh Ricketts (Bullitt East High School) – Tonya and Emmanuel Ricketts of Mt. Washington

Christian County

• Daniela Lopez Llorens (Hopkinsville High School) – Luis Lopez and Yasmary Llorens of Oak Grove
• Livi Ray (University Heights Academy) – Paul and Dawn Ray of Hopkinsville
• Angela Rutherford (Hopkinsville High School) – Charles and Victoria Rutherford of Hopkinsville

Clark County

• Gabriel Ramey (George Rodgers Clark High School) – Lonnie and Louella Ramey of Winchester

Daviess County

• Liz Burgan (Daviess County High School) – Richard and Amy Burgan of Owensboro
• Gunny Howard (Owensboro Innovation Academy) – Rebecca Howard of Owensboro and Lee Howard of Louisville
• Jacob Ladwig (Owensboro High School) – Sarah Morton Ladwig and Don Ladwig of Owensboro

Edmonson County

• Brycen Daniels (Barren Academy of Virtual and Expanded Learning) – Matt and Lysette Daniels of Smiths Grove
• Emma Sackett (Edmonson County High School) – Jon and Michelle Sackett of Brownsville
• Lyla Wood (Edmonson County High School) – Michelle Wood and the late Jeremy Wood of Smiths Grove

Fayette County

• Gabriel Cammack-Coleman (Paul Laurence Dunbar High School) – Joseph Coleman and Craig Cammack of Lexington
• Gabriel Hranicky (Paul Laurence Dunbar High School) – Jody and Erika Hranicky of Lexington

Garrard County

• Vivianna Weaver (Garrard County High School) – Tisha and Douglas Weaver of Berea

Hancock County

• Nolan French (Hancock County High School) – Crystal Bell and Jared French of Lewisport

Hardin County

• Gracie Ashlock (North Hardin High School) – Amy and Nathan Ashlock of Vine Grove
• Massia Diomandé (John Hardin High School) – Andrea and Eric Watson of Elizabethtown and Kossa Diomandé of Bechel, Alaska
• Allison Dixon (Central Hardin High School) – Elizabeth Bivins of Elizabethtown
• Cameron Miller (Central Hardin High School) – James Miller of Elizabethtown
• Jacob Sanders (John Hardin High School) – Jeanie and Eric Chastain of Elizabethtown and Thomas Sanders of Carrier Mills
• Braydon Scott (John Hardin High School) – Richard and Shelby Teolis of Elizabethtown
• Bailey Seadler (John Hardin High School) – Kevin and Celeste Seadler of Elizabethtown
• Jocelyn Seadler (John Hardin High School) – Kevin and Celeste Seadler of Elizabethtown

Henderson County

• Ben Frederick (Henderson County High School) – Brian and Beth Frederick of Henderson
• Jude Roppel-Wolf (Henderson County High School) – Stacia Wolf and Cory Roppel of Henderson

Hopkins County

• Thomas Clark (North Hopkins High School) – Timothy and Rebecca of Madisonville

Jackson County

• Mara Neace (Model Laboratory High School) – Starla Sizemore of McKee

Jefferson County

• Gianna Claros (duPont Manual High School) – Yolanda and Chester Nava of Louisville
• Tristan Dunn (Trinity High School) – Brian and Stacy Dunn of Louisville
• Amelie Fuentes (Atherton High School) – Celia Puig of Louisville
• Mason Hartlage (Highlands Latin School) – Erin-Grace Hart and Barry Hartlage of Louisville
• Nikhil Kumar (duPont Manual High School) – Dileep and Sheela Kumar of Prospect
• Ashlynn Linet (duPont Manual High School) – Jenny Kline of Louisville and Peter Linet of Fisherville
• Lillian Long (Ballard High School) - Abbi Long of Louisville and Brennan Long of Jeffersonville, Indiana
• Parmeshvar Prakash (duPont Manual High School) – Prakash Bathimaraj and Sangeeta Prakash of Louisville
• Jacob Thomas (St. Xavier High School) - Jose and Julie Thomas of Louisville
• Suchita Tipirneni (Ballard High School) – Anu and Vish Tipirneni of Louisville

Jessamine County

• Hunter Smith (West Jessamine High School) – Anna Marie Roberts-Smith and John Smith of Nicholasville

Kenton County

• Grace Engelhardt (Simon Kenton High School) – William and Brandy Engelhardt of Morning View

Knox County

• Tyler Clifton (Corbin High School) – Keith and Laura Clifton of Corbin
• Zachary Clifton (Corbin High School) – Keith and Laura Clifton of Corbin

LaRue County

• Anthony Pike (Elizabethtown High School) – Leslie and Angela Pike of Hodgenville

Laurel County

• Lukas Johnson (South Laurel High School) – Daniel Stacy and Sandra Kay Johnson of London

Logan County

• Mykah Carden (Russellville High School) – Heather Carden and Michael Carden of Russellville

Lyon County

• Macey Weaver (Marshall County High School) – Kelly and Mark Weaver of Kuttawa

Madison County

• Corey Coleman (Rockcastle County High School) – Adam and Debbie Coleman of Berea
• Evan Conge (Berea Community High School) – Anna Lee Serrano of Berea
• Juma Conn (Model Laboratory High School) – Mary Mikiugu and Michael Conn of Richmond

Marion County

• Roseanna Peterson (Marion County High School) – Theresia and Donald Peterson of Loretto

Marshall County

• Elizabeth Barrett (Marshall County High School) – Joel and Andrea Barrett of Calvert City

Mason County

• Ethan Vietze (Mason County High School) – Deanna and Stephen Vietze of Maysville

McCracken County

• Evelyn Maddox (McCracken County High School) – John Maddox of Paducah

McLean County

• Jack Smith (McClean County High School) – Jacquelyn Smith of Island

Monroe County

• Atiana Spivey (Monroe County High School) – Toni Hanks of Tompkinsville

Montgomery County

• Danika Sparks (Montgomery County High School) – Shannon Bailey of Mount Sterling and Adam Sparks of Jeffersonville

Nelson County

• Savanna Arnold (Spencer County High School) – Amanda and Joe Arnold of Coxs Creek

Oldham County

• Sophia Gnadinger (South Oldham High School) – Tom and Noël Gnadinger of Crestwood
• Zachary Mushkin (South Oldham High School) - Jeff and Julie Mushkin of Pewee Valley
• Laurel Patterson (North Oldham High School) - Crystal and Philip Patterson of Prospect
• Lincoln Potts (Oldham County High School) – Jeremy and Leah Potts of LaGrange
• Melanie Stewart (Oldham County High School) – Don and Mandy Stewart of LaGrange
• Jordan Wonka (Oldham County High School) – Raymond and Rebecca Wonka of LaGrange

Owen County

• Chayce Merchant (Owen County High School) – Paresh and Carol Merchant of Owenton

Pulaski County

• Cassie Dick (Southwestern High School) – Noah and April Dick of Nancy
• Brayden Gross (Somerset High School) – Kim and Chris Gross of Somerset
• Braeden Patrick (Southwestern High School) – Drew and Shawna Patrick of Ferguson
• Hayden Van Hook (Pulaski County High School) –Lojuanna Van Hook of Somerset and Matthew Van Hook of Eubank

Rockcastle County

• Landon Carlton (Rockcastle County High School) – Crystal Bullock of Mount Vernon
• Jacob Houk (Rockcastle County High School) – Kacee Gilliam of Brodhead and Bryan Houk of Corbin

Rowan County

• Devin Frazier (Rowan County Senior High School) – Mary Beth Lawson and Eddie Frazier of Morehead

Russell County

• Jess Christian Rara (Russell County High School) – Avellino Jess and Diana Rara of Russell Springs

Shelby County

• Sofia Sileo (iLEAD Academy and Henry County High School) – Dan and Michele Sileo of Shelbyville
• Tori Stein (Shelby County High School) – Jillian and Jeffrey Stein of Shelbyville

Simpson County

• Ansley Hoagland (Franklin-Simpson High School) – Will and Erica Lambert of Franklin and Martin and Megan Hoagland of Hendersonville, Tennessee
• Michaela Kenady (Homeschool) – Rachel and Kevin Kenady of Woodburn
• Sarah Maloney (Franklin-Simpson High School) – Sally and John Maloney of Franklin

Spencer County

• Alexandria Jameson-Limpp (Spencer County High School) – Chris and Jessica Limpp of Taylorsville
• Ben McMahan (Spencer County High School) – Jacob and Jennifer McMahan of Taylorsville
• Jayne Thompson (Spencer County High School) – Jayme Galloway of Taylorsville

Warren County

• Tobi Akangbe (South Warren High School) – Tolu and Yemi Akangbe of Bowling Green
• Elena Baggett (Greenwood High School) – Lisa and Dave Baggett of Bowling Green
• Daniel Berry (South Warren High School) – Bobby and Amy Berry of Bowling Green
• Ansh Chhabra (Bowling Green High School) – Shalini and Sandeep Chhabra of Bowling Green
• Kal-El Cline (Warren East High School) - Kate and Ken Cline of Smiths Grove
• René East (Warren East High School) – June Powell of Bowling Green
• Ariti Gani (Bowling Green High School) – Nahid and Royhan Gani of Bowling Green
• Dain Im (South Warren High School) – Kumsook Han and Sungjin Im of Bowling Green
• Albert-Presley Mbanfu (Greenwood High School) – Albert Mbanfu Sr. and Marie-Louise Mallah-Mbanfu of Bowling Green
• George Nguyen (Warren Central High School) – Ngoc Dung and Thi Tran of Bowling Green
• Amy Pan (Bowling Green High School) – Houyin Zhao and Jikai Pan of Bowling Green
• Gracie Veith (South Warren High School) – Melissa and Chris Vieth of Bowling Green
• Levi Willgruber (Greenwood High School) - Amy and Matthew Willgruber of Bowling Green

Washington County

• Elizabeth Parker (Boyle County High School) – Brandon and Christa Parker of Springfield

Woodford County

• Addie Patterson (Woodford County High School) – Amy and James Patterson of Versailles

About The Gatton Academy: Established in 2007, The Gatton Academy is Kentucky’s first residential two-year program for gifted and talented high school students. The Gatton Academy’s students enroll as juniors and are full-time WKU students pursuing their interests in advanced science, technology, engineering and mathematical careers. The Gatton Academy has been named to Jay Mathews’ list of top-performing schools with elite students for eleven consecutive appearances and received the National Consortium for Secondary STEM School’s Innovation Partnership Award.