WKU News

On Saturday, May 6, The Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science graduated 90 students from across Kentucky in their sixteenth graduating class. The ceremony took place at Van Meter Hall and was broadcast online for extended friends and family to enjoy. After welcoming everyone and acknowledging all the people instrumental in supporting the students, Dr. Lynette Breedlove, Director of The Gatton Academy reflected on the history of Gatton and the current students’ success,

“The students of The Gatton Academy have built upon the initial foundation and have excelled in their endeavors both in and out of the classroom… They have continued to establish the path that countless classes will follow. They will leave today as ambassadors for The Gatton Academy while growing as innovators for this great Commonwealth.”

The Class of 2023 represents 45 counties from across the Commonwealth of Kentucky and includes The Gatton Academy’s thousandth graduate. Fifteen members of the class were National Merit semi-finalists and 77% of graduates participated in faculty-sponsored research during their Gatton Academy experience. Additionally, 19 graduates completed the STEM + Critical Languages sequences in either Arabic, Mandarin Chinese, or Russian. Among the graduates are two students who advanced to the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) and a Regeneron Science Talent Search Top 300 Teen Scientist. Graduates won U.S. Department of State National Security Language Initiative for Youth scholarships, and one was named YMCA Greater Louisville’s Youth Achiever of the Year. These seniors completed 3,759 hours of community service over two years, an average of 41.8 hours per graduate.

The graduating class selected two student speakers: Dane Le, from Warren Central High School (Warren County), and Femi Obielodan, from Frankfort Christian Academy (Franklin County).

Le shared of the changes she anticipates after graduation, the people she will miss, and advice for the future:

“There are very few things we as individuals can control, but we can control our actions and what we do right now. As many regrets as we do or don’t have, it’s too late for us to change it now. We have to continue looking toward the future because we have the ability to make that future ours.”

Obielodan highlighted core memories of Gatton and the importance people play in our lives:

“To me, The Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science is not a school; it is a group of people. It’s you guys, my classmates…. What I want you to realize and appreciate is the community we are all a part of. For the past two years, we’ve really gone through it, but we’ve gone through it together. Many of us have celebrated you at your best and helped you at your worst. We’ve been each other’s lab partners, significant others, peer tutors, room/suite mates, etc. And soon we’ll be leaving it all behind to pursue greater things.”

The commencement speaker was Senator David Givens, the President Pro Tempore of the Kentucky Senate and father of a 2020 Gatton Academy graduate. Since his election in 2009, Senator Givens has been a supporter of the Gatton Academy. In his speech titled “Three Charges and One Plea,” he addressed the graduates:

“Amid the chaos, the anxiety, the stress, the challenge, and the noise of our world today, we need you to share with the world what it means to care for yourself, to take life-giving risks, to marvel at the beauty all around around us… take those things and share it with the world.”

Educators from around the Commonwealth were nominated by members of the Class of 2023 who have played an important role in their journey to Gatton. 32 educators were invited to attend the ceremony, acknowledged during the ceremony, and will receive certificates of excellence for their dedication to the success of young people in Kentucky.

The following 90 students from across the Commonwealth make up the graduating class of 2023:

Nishchal Yogesh Anekere*, Conner High School, Boone County

Ananthakrishna Emilie Aditya Angal*, North Oldham High School, Oldham County

Aathman Bhavaraju*, Western Hills High School, Franklin County

Chezney Suzanne Boothe*, Hazard High School, Perry County

Ivy Jane Bowers*, Lawrence County High School, Lawrence County

Thorin Bowman*, Bardstown High School, Nelson County

Madisyn Brooke Braden, Graves County High School, Graves County

Drake Anniston Calhoon*, Calloway County High School, Calloway County

Amir Note Mustafa Campbell*, St. Francis High School, Scott County

Scarlett Jian Zhi Marie Compton*, Belfry High School, Pike County

Justin Brooks Constant, Jr., Green County High School, Green County

Elijah David Cossel, Frankfort High School, Franklin County

Anna Beatrice Crimmins*, Beechwood High School, Kenton County

Elliott Parker Crouch, Walton Verona High School, Boone County

Emily Grace Davis*, Harrison County High School, Harrison County

Rasesh Mihir Desai*, Eastern High School, Jefferson County

Dimple Pragna Doppalapudi, Western Hills High School, Franklin County

Katie Lynn Dudgeon*, Grayson County High School, Grayson County

Sierra Irene Durkee*, Greenwood High School, Warren County

Gabe Edward Fortier*, LaRue County High School, LaRue County

Pranav Gangumolu*, duPont Manual High School, Jefferson County

Oliver Coralina Ghrist, Oldham County High School, Oldham County

Jiali Denese Liang Graham*, Model Laboratory School, Clark County

Hayden Haden, North Oldham High School, Oldham County

Desmond Keith Harris, Ballard High School, Jefferson County

Henry Joseph Helmers*, Danville High School, Boyle County

Matthew Phelps Hendrix*, Daviess County High School, Daviess County

Ericka Nicole Hoppes*, Marion County High School, Marion County

Addison Haze Hoskins*, Harrison County High School, Harrison County

Siheon Im, South Warren High School, Warren County

Brody Landrum Johnson*, Edmonson County High School, Edmonson County

Abby Grace Jones*, South Warren High School, Warren County

Hadley Hagan Jones*, Central Hardin High School, Hardin County

Lila Kerry Jones*, Owensboro High School, Daviess County

Hakeem Kalik, Daviess County High School, Daviess County

Dunil Dinusara Kasturiratna, Campbell County High School, Campbell County

Chris Dongwook Kim*, Greenwood High School, Warren County

Sean Stephan Korner, duPont Manual High School, Jefferson County

Hannah Elisabeth Laney*, Paul G. Blazer High School, Boyd County

Dana Nguyen Le*, Warren Central High School, Warren County

Elena Siobhan Ley, Randall K. Cooper High School, Boone County

Flora Lin*, Glasgow High School, Barren County

Caden James Lucas*, Breckinridge County High School, Breckinridge County

Gavin Vincent Mattingly, Doss High School, Jefferson County

Holly Grace McClure*, Russell County High School, Russell County

Brennan Adam McElfresh*, East Jessamine High School, Jessamine County

Marietta Magdalena McGaha, Berea Community High School, Madison County

Isabella JoLee McIntosh, Campbell County High School, Campbell County

Jordan Maxwell Mehnert, Carter G. Woodson Academy, Fayette County

Quinn Wagner Miller*, Hopkinsville High School, Christian County

Alex Minter*, Bowling Green High School, Warren County

Lee Monroe, Spencer County High School, Spencer County

Saibra Sheila Mallory Moore, Lawrence County High School, Lawrence County

Diego Moreno, Elizabethtown High School, Hardin County

Lauren Michelle Morris*, Frederick Douglass High School, Fayette County

Aubrey Mae Morse, Graves County High School, Graves County

Divya Sai Naidugari*, Randall K. Cooper High School, Boone County

Brian Thanh An Nguyen, South Warren High School, Warren County

Gabriel Ayden Nowaskie, Bardstown High School, Hardin County

Olufemi Omokhoje Obielodan*, Frankfort Christian Academy, Franklin County

Natasha Otieno*, Shelby County High School, Shelby County

Jarrett James Packwood, Atherton High School, Jefferson County

Kareena Ashesh Pansuria*, South Warren High School, Warren County

Neel Patel, LaRue County High School, LaRue County

Kellen Maxwell Patterson*, South Warren High School, Warren County

John Carter Patton, Great Crossing High School, Scott County

Joaquin Santiago Cabral Pauig, Corbin High School, Laurel County

Shelby Ann Peak*, Union County High School, Union County

Maria Katherine Pfeifer*, Owensboro Catholic High School, Daviess County

Reagan Jo Phelps, Bardstown High School, Nelson County

Blair Noelle Verne Pickle, Rockcastle County High School, Rockcastle County

Abigail Raianne Nicole Portmann, BAVEL Virtual School, Warren County

Naman Rao, South Laurel High School, Laurel County

Trinity Grace Ray*, Livingston Central High School, Livingston County

Jonathon Patrick Reilly*, Central Hardin High School, Hardin County

Zach Benedict Romero, Lafayette High School, Fayette County

Ellen Patricia Sego, Central Hardin High School, Hardin County

Samuel Calvin Sherrard, East Carter County High School, Carter County

Xavier Kenneth Simpson, Hancock County High School, Hancock County

Albert Dale Terry, Carlisle County High School, Carlisle County

Nihar Tulapati, Western Hills High School, Franklin County

Mia Grace MeiLi West*, Lawrence County High School, Lawrence County

Carolina Grace Wheeler*, Greenwood High School, Allen County

Sophia Wielawski*, Allen County Scottsville High School, Barren County

Kenyan Maurice Wood*, Caverna High School, Hart County

Mason Tyler Wooldridge*, Western Hills High School, Franklin County

Marissa Xia, South Warren High School, Warren County

Eric Xing*, South Warren High School, Warren County

Kaden Mathew Yonts, Logan County High School, Logan County

*Community Scholars footnote: These graduates are recognized for completing two semesters of research with a research outcome that is presented to a professional audience after being accepted through a vetted process OR four semesters of participation in STEM+, AND documenting 60 hours of service.

About The Gatton Academy: Established in 2007, The Gatton Academy is Kentucky’s first residential two-year program for gifted and talented juniors and seniors. The Gatton Academy’s students enroll as juniors and are full-time WKU students pursuing their interests in advanced science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The Gatton Academy is a recipient of the 2022 Inspiring Programs in STEM Award from Insight Into Diversity Magazine and the Innovation Partnership Award from the National Consortium for Secondary STEM Schools.