WKU News

On Saturday, May 4, The Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science graduated 89 students from across Kentucky in their seventeenth graduating class. The ceremony took place at Van Meter Hall and was broadcast online for extended friends and family to enjoy. Dr. Lynette Breedlove, Director of The Gatton Academy, opened the day’s ceremony by recognizing Kentucky’s legislators, Western Kentucky University administrators and faculty, Gatton Academy staff and alumni, Kentucky educators, and the friends and family members of the Class of 2024.

Dr. Julia Roberts, Executive Director of The Gatton Academy and Director of The Center for Gifted Studies, echoed this recognition in her remarks, “Everyone here has played a significant role in the success of The Gatton Academy. Parents and family members, you have made The Gatton Academy a reality as you have trusted Gatton’s vision and mission…. The faculty at WKU has shown dedication to excellence in teaching and research which has provided the academic preparation for Academy students to soar.” To the graduating class, Roberts remarked, “Although you are being recognized as high school graduates today, you are atypical high school graduates. Congratulations to each of you!”

The Class of 2024 represents 42 counties from across the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Seventeen members of the class were National Merit semi-finalists and 81% of graduates participated in faculty-sponsored research during their Gatton Academy experience. Additionally, 14 graduates completed the STEM + Critical Languages sequences in either Mandarin Chinese or Russian. Among the graduates are five students who were named Kentucky Junior Academy of Science delegates and one who received Grand Prize at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair. Seven graduates won U.S. Department of State National Security Language Initiative for Youth scholarships. Seven graduates were awarded Questbridge full scholarships to top colleges. One graduate was named a Horatio Alger Kentucky State Scholar and another was awarded The Gates Scholarship. These seniors completed 5,516 hours of community service over two years, an average of nearly 62 hours per graduate.

The graduating class selected two student speakers: Albert Mbanfu, from Greenwood High School (Warren County), and Livi Ray, from University Heights Academy (Christian County).

Mbanfu reflected on the impact his peers had on his life during his time at Gatton. “The Gatton Academy is a lot of work, frustration, and humbling experiences, yet I find myself wanting to do it all again. Not because of all the challenges, but because of the graduates we are celebrating today. In front of me are the most talented, resourceful, funny, ridiculous, and of course intelligent people I have ever met. Because of every single one of you, Florence Schneider Hall is a special place to me."

Ray imparted words of advice to her fellow graduates, “As we pursue our next chapters, remember to stand firm in your beliefs but find the balance between intelligence and compassion. Being clever or kind alone isn’t enough. Rather, it’s the harmonious integration of both qualities that leads to genuine connection and understanding in our interactions with others…. I want to encourage you to take the passion you fostered here and carry it with you throughout your life. You may enter spaces where you are underestimated. Embrace that. Remember that tenacity is something no one can take away from you. Be clever. Be kind.”

The commencement speaker was Cheryl Kirby-Stokes, Gatton’s Coordinator of Academic Opportunities who is celebrating her retirement this year. Just as during her time at Gatton, she encouraged the Class of 2024 to share their stories and ask others about theirs. “Seniors, you have one more assignment. Sometime this week, I want you to ask someone in your family to tell you a story… because when you ask your family to tell you stories, you’re telling them that you care, that you want to know about them, and you want to know about yourself through those family stories. So go ahead, tell someone you love them, ask them to tell you a story.”

The following 89 students from across the Commonwealth make up the graduating class of 2024:

Tobi Akangbe*, South Warren High School, Warren County

Savanna Jo Arnold*, Spencer County High School, Nelson County

Elena Beth Baggett*, Greenwood High School, Warren County

EB Barrett*, Marshall County High School, Marshall County

Daniel Berry*, South Warren High School, Warren County

Elizabeth Burgan*, Daviess County High School, Daviess County

Mykah Carden*, Russellville High School, Muhlenberg County

Landon Carlton*, Rockcastle County High School, Rockcastle County

Ansh A. Chhabra*, Bowling Green High School, Warren County

Thomas Clark*, Madisonville North Hopkins High School, Hopkins County

Gianna Claros*, duPont Manual High School, Jefferson County

Tyler Clifton*, Corbin High School, Knox County

Kal-El Cline*, Warren East High School, Warren County

Corey D. Coleman, Rockcastle County High School, Madison County

Evan Conge*, Berea Community High School, Madison County

Juma Conn*, Model Laboratory School, Madison County

Brycen Scott Daniels*, Bavel Virtual School, Edmonson County

Massia Diomande, John Hardin High School, Hardin County

Allison J. Dixon*, Central Hardin High School, Hardin County

Tristan Dunn, Trinity High School, Jefferson County

René East*, Warren East High School, Warren County

Grace Engelhardt*, Simon Kenton High School, Kenton County

Devin J. Frazier, Rowan County High School, Rowan County

Nolan French, Hancock County High School, Hancock County

Amelie Fuentes, Atherton High School, Jefferson County

Ariti Tasnia Gani*, Bowling Green High School, Warren County

Sophie Gnadinger*, South Oldham High School, Oldham County

Braydon Gross, Somerset High School, Pulaski County

Mason Hartlage*, Highlands Latin School, Jefferson County

Ansley Marie Hoagland, Franklin-Simpson High School, Simpson County

Jacob Houk*, Rockcastle County High School, Knox County

Gunny Howard, Owensboro Innovation Academy, Daviess County

Cat Hranicky, Paul L. Dunbar High School, Fayette County

Henry E. Hurley*, Danville High School, Boyle County

Dain Im, South Warren High School, Warren County

Alexa Jameson-Limpp, Spencer County High School, Spencer County

Lukas Johnson, South Laurel High School, Laurel County

Michaela Kenady, Home School, Simpson County

Nikhil D. Kumar*, duPont Manual High School, Jefferson County

Jacob Ladwig*, Owensboro High School, Daviess County

Ashlynn Linet*, duPont Manual High School, Jefferson County

Lillian Long*, Ballard High School, Jefferson County

Daniela Lopez Llorens*, Hopkinsville High School, Christian County

Evie Maddox*, McCracken County High School, McCracken County

Sarah Maloney, Franklin-Simpson High School, Simpson County

Albert-Presley Mbanfu*, Greenwood High School, Simpson County

Ben McMahan, Spencer County High School, Spencer County

Chayce Paresh Semmler Merchant, Owen County High School, Owen County

Cameron B. Miller*, Central Hardin High School, Hardin County

Sara Nath*, Larry A. Ryle High School, Boone County

Mara Jade Neace*, Model Laboratory School, Jackson County

Presley Rae-Ann Neagle*, Barren County High School, Barren County

Caleb Neitzel, Barren County High School, Barren County

George Nguyen*, Warren Central High School, Warren County

Amy Pan*, Bowling Green High School, Warren County

Elizabeth Parker*, Boyle County High School, Washington County

Om Hasmukh Patel*, Breckinridge County High School, Breckinridge County

Braeden Patrick, Southwestern High School, Pulaski County

Addie Leigh Patterson*, Woodford County High School, Woodford County

Laurel Patterson*, North Oldham High School, Oldham County

Roseanna Danielle Peterson*, Marion County High School, Marion County

Lincoln J. Potts*, Oldham County High School, Oldham County

Parmeshvar Prakash*, duPont Manual High School, Jefferson County

Gabe Ramey, George Rogers Clark High School, Clark County

Christian Rara, Russell County High School, Russell County

Livi Ray*, University Heights Academy, Christian County

Ellie Roppel-Wolf, Henderson County High School, Henderson County

Angela Ahmie Kim Rutherford*, Hopkinsville High School, Christian County

Jacob Sanders, John Hardin High School, Hardin County

Braydon Scott*, John Hardin High School, Hardin County

Bailey M. Seadler*, John Hardin High School, Hardin County

Jocelyn Seadler*, John Hardin High School, Hardin County

Sofia Danielle Sileo*, Henry County High School, Shelby County

Hunter Cole Smith*, West Jessamine High School, Jessamine County

Atiana Spivey*, Monroe County High School, Monroe County

Tori Stein*, Shelby County High School, Shelby County

Melanie K. Stewart, Oldham County High School, Oldham County

Jacob J. Thomas*, St. Xavier High School, Jefferson County

Jayne Mary Thompson*, Spencer County High School, Spencer County

Suchita Tipirneni*, Ballard High School, Jefferson County

Zachary A. VanderMolen*, Glasgow High School, Barren County

Hayden VanHook*, Pulaski County High School, Pulaski County

Gracie Veith*, South Warren High School, Warren County

Ethan Bower Vietze, Mason County High School, Mason County

Macey Ryan Weaver*, Marshall County High School, Lyon County

Vivianna Weaver*, Garrard County High School, Garrard County

Levi Willgruber, Greenwood High School, Warren County

Jordan Wonka, North Oldham High School, Oldham County

Lyla Rose Marie Wood*, Edmonson County High School, Edmonson 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.