WKU News

The Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky has selected 98 Kentucky sophomores for the Class of 2027, marking The Gatton Academy’s 20^th incoming class.

“The members of The Gatton Academy Class of 2027 are outstanding students from across the state. They have demonstrated interest in STEM careers and are motivated to pursue the most advanced academic opportunities available in Kentucky,” said the Director of The Gatton Academy, Dr. Lynette Breedlove. “We are so excited to launch them toward their infinite possibilities.”

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 47 counties make up the Class of 2027.  Among the students accepted, this class represents the first student to enroll from Leslie County and students among the first five from Caldwell, Casey, Garrard, and Green Counties. Overall, The Gatton Academy has had students attend from 118 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 a new class of students to The Gatton Academy. These exceptional young scientists and mathematicians will learn in an environment that offers advanced educational opportunities and develop as future leaders for the Commonwealth,” stated Dr. Julia Roberts, Executive Director of The Gatton Academy and Mahurin Professor of Gifted Education. 

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 and an Associate Degree of Interdisciplinary Studies from Western Kentucky University.

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 allow students to participate in 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 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.

Students selected for The Gatton Academy’s Class of 2027:

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

Adair County

• Sophie M. Eaton (Adair County High School) – James and Ginger Eaton of Columbia
• Ian Xander Benjamin Makranszky (Adair County High School) – Connie Makranszky and Leland Pryor of Columbia

Allen County

• Sydney Bromwell (Allen County Scottsville High School) – Josh and Laura Hall of Scottsville

Barren County

• Kohen Coffey (Barren County High School) – Brandon Coffey and Ashley Coffey of Glasgow

 Boone County

• Sai Charan Chouta (Larry A. Ryle High School) – Raja Chouta and Supriya Chouta of Union
• Joel Stec (Larry A. Ryle High School) – Jeff and Kerri Stec of Florence

Bullitt County

• Noxie Melton (Riverview Opportunity Center) – John Melton and Nicole Nickel-Melton of Mt. Washington
• Allyse Raymer (Riverview Opportunity Center) – Heath and Lindsey Raymer of Lebanon Junction

Caldwell County

• Landon Cunningham (Caldwell County High School) – Nikki and Tim Cunningham of Dawson Springs
• Elijah Thomas (Caldwell County High School) – Brock and Malissa Thomas of Princeton

Calloway County

• Nate Dyer (Murray High School) – Rebecca Dyer and Brad Dyer of Murray
• Divine Ezinma (Calloway County High School) – Bellarmine Ezumah of Murray
• Maya Muñoz (Calloway County High School) – Julie and Angelo Muñoz of Murray
• Kade Wideman (Murray High School) – Frank Wiedeman and Shannon Mitchel of Murray
• Sean Williams (Calloway County High School) – Chris and Katie Williams of Murray

Casey County

• Braylon Taylor (Casey County High School) – Lori and Robbie Taylor of Liberty

Christian County

• Addison Robertson (University Heights Academy) – Adam and Sara Robertson of Hopkinsville
• Sophie Sandifer (Christian County High School) – Billie Sandifer of Hopskinsville

Daviess County

• Samuel H. Gordon (Daviess County High School) – J. Sale Gordon and Julie H. Gordon of Owensboro
• Claudia Johnson (Owensboro High School) – Corey and Ashley Johnson of Owensboro

Franklin County

• Malleshwar Jayaraman Suresh (Western Hills High School) – Suresh Mallichettiar Jayaraman and Bhuvana Gurusamy of Frankfort
• Zoey Van Zee (Western Hills High School) – Erin Van Zee and Carl Van Zee of Frankfort

Garrard County

• Luke Willis (Rockcastle County High School) – Kyle and Jessica Willis of Paint Lick

Graves County

• Gwen May (Graves County High School) – Josh and Cindy May of Mayfield

Grayson County

• Elizabeth Barnett (Grayson County High School) – Pat and Bethany Barnett of Clarkson

Green County

• Miley Constant (Green County High School) – Brenda and Justin Constant of Greensburg

Hardin County

• Alexander (Zander) Bundrick (Homeschool) – James and Christina Bundrick of Elizabethtown
• Eaden Chang (John Hardin High School) – Jason Chang, Jeanie Chang of Elizabethtown
• Ram Danturthi (John Hardin High School) – R. Sarma and Padma Danturthi of Elizabethtown
• Ellie Evans (Elizabethtown High School) – Mark and Melanie Evans of Elizabethtown
• Jada Gray (John Hardin High School) – James and Michelle Gray of Elizabethtown
• Olivia Norris (Elizabethtown High School) – Alicia Lee, James Norris of Elizabethtown
• Colton Smith (Central Hardin High School) – Josh and Tricia Smith of Elizabethtown

Hart County

• Wyatt Cecil (Hart County High School) – Greg and Robin Cecil of Munfordville
• Allie Poynter (Caverna High School) – Brandi Morrison and Chris Poynter of Horse Cave
• Jaime Junior Ruiz (Hart County High School) – Elizabeth Parra and Jaime Ruiz of Bonnieville

Henderson County

• Alex Francke (Henderson County High School) – Jill Brady and Kevin Francke of Henderson
• Brady Francke (Henderson County High School) – Jill Brady and Kevin Francke of Henderson

Hopkins County

• River McDurmon (Madisonville North Hopkins High School) – Eric and Kelly McDurmon of Madisonville
• Lydia Vincent (Hopkins County Central High School) – Derek and Sarah Vincent of Nortonville
• Sabrina Wang (Madisonville North Hopkins High School) – Bizhu Chen and Wei Wang of Madisonville

Jefferson County

• Elika Amin (duPont Manual High School) – Vibha and Shailesh Amin of Louisville
• Nishita Chaduvula (Eastern High School) – Rameswara Reddy Chaduvula and Swaroopa Rani Chaduvula of Louisville
• Arthur Elliott (duPont Manual High School) – Justin and Angela Elliott of Louisville
• Caroline Gallagher (J. Graham Brown School) – Beth and Jack Gallagher of Louisville
• Harsh Gupta (duPont Manual High School) – Chandra Prakash and Gauri Gupta of Louisville
• CJ Moody (Christian Academy of Louisville) – Jeff and Kelly Moody of Louisville
• Michelle Morttey (Atherton High School) – John and Faustine Morttey of Louisville
• Sofia Orlova (Atherton High School) – Georgiy and Brenda Orlov of Louisville

Jessamine County

• Foyat Arega (West Jessamine High School) – Fasil Woldemariam and Rahel Woldeyesus of Wilmore

Kenton County

• Hudson Feinauer (St. Henry District High School) – Julie and Jason Feinauer of Independence

Knox County

• Henry Lee (Calvary Christian School) – Kyung Hoon Lee and Hee Jin Eum

LaRue County

• Jonas Lamb (LaRue County High School) – Jason and Lora Lamb of Hodgenville
• Soham Patel (LaRue County High School) – Ripal and Vardhman Patel of Hodgenville
• Evan Self (LaRue County High School) – Mackenzie Self and Scotty Self of Magnolia

Leslie County

• Isaac Owens (Leslie County High School) – Angie Salyers and William Owens of Hyden

Lincoln County

• Rhyton Krug (Lincoln County High School) – Justin Krug and Shaina St. Andrews of Hustonville
• Judah Thornton (Lincoln County High School) – Britt and Megan Ingram of Stanford

Madison County

• Aleen Bakhos (Model Laboratory School) – William and Maggy Bakhos of Richmond
• Jiwoo Kim (Model Laboratory School) – Jiyeon Park and Seungho Kim of Richmond
• Erin Simpkinson (Model Laboratory School) – Damon and Laura Simpkinson of Richmond
• Ainsley Woodward (Berea Community High School) – Joshua and Andrea Woodward of Berea

Marion County

• Melina Kargarzadeh (Marion County High School) – Leila Modaber and Mojtaba Kargarzadeh of Lebanon

Marshall County

• Scarlett Gardner (Marshall County High School) – David and Laura Gardner of Benton

Mason County

• Sophia Mitchell (Mason County High School) – Amanda Supinger of Maysville

McCracken County

• Hutch Brown (Paducah Tilghman High School) – Lindsay Michelson and Brian Brown of Paducah
• Ryan Goins (St. Mary Catholic) – Rick and Kim Goins of Paducah

Meade County

• John Stull (Meade County High School) – Joseph and Meranda Stull of Brandenburg

Mercer County

• Eli Hancock (Mercer County Senior High School) – Joseph and Cassandra Hancock of Harrodsburg

Montgomery County

• Adam Vernon (Montgomery County High School) – Wesley and April Vernon of Mt. Sterling

Muhlenberg County

• Garrett Lambert (Muhlenberg County High School) – Jennifer and Lee Lambert of Greenville

Oldham County

• Natalie Buehler (Oldham County High School) – Brian Buehler, Melanie Buehler of La Grange
• Arabella Wilkins (Oldham County High School) – Phillip Wilkins, Britney Phillips of LaGrange

Owen County

• Elizabeth Newell (iLEAD Academy – Owen County) – Marsha Newell and Rachelle Ketron of Owenton
• Noah Wodrig (Owen County High School) – Jimi Sue Lynn of Owenton

Perry County

• Khizar Sher (Hazard High School) – Huria Farhan and Farhan Fazal of Hazard

Rowan County

• Ava Carver (Rowan County Senior High School) – Brandy and Jamey Carver of Morehead
• Anthony Hao Lin (Rowan County Senior High School) – Shui Lin and Zhu Jiang of Morehead

Russell County

• Sammy Brown (Russell County High School) – Baxter and Irma Brown of Russell Springs

Scott County

• Tommy Le (Great Crossing High School) – Thanh Le of Georgetown
• Brock Schreiner (Great Crossing High School) – Brandon and Amy Schreiner of Georgetown

Shelby County

• Westley McInteer (Martha Layne Collins High School) – David and Jun McInteer of Shelbyville
• Willard Ratliff (Martha Layne Collins High School) – Thomas Ratliff Jr., Christal Ratliff of Louisville

Simpson County

• Sam Dunlap (Franklin-Simpson High School) – Amanda Dunlap and Robert Ard of Franklin

Spencer County

• Ainsley Brakefield (Spencer County High School) – Kenny and Erica Brakefield of Taylorsville

Taylor County

• Ismail Gilani (Taylor County High School) – Furqan Gilani and Fareena Gilani of Campbellsville

Trigg County

• Kat Tellez (Trigg County High School) – Jordan and Robin Robison and Adam Tellez of Cadiz

Warren County

• Cecelia Amorim (Warren Central High School) – Melynda Amorim of Bowling Green
• Catherine Amos (Warren East High School) – Clifton and Lisa Amos of Bowling Green
• Leah Chen (Bowling Green High School) – Tao Chen and Qin Zhao of Bowling Green
• Suren Dhasarathan (Greenwood High School) – Dhasarathan Ranganathan and Padmini Dhasarathan of Bowling Green
• Audrey Duvall (Warren East High School) – Kendall and Jason Duvall of Bowling Green
• Roy David Lightfoot (Bowling Green High School) – Nicole Lightfoot and the late R.D. Lightfoot Jr. of Bowling Green
• Maggie Lynch (Warren East High School) – Mike and Sarah Lynch of Bowling Green
• Chris Nalley (Greenwood High School) – Ginger Nalley and Courtney Stevens, Charley Nalley and Cyndi Bell of Bowling Green
• Burkley Owens (Greenwood High School) – Kevin and Kristeen Owens of Alvaton
• Anik Pansuria (Greenwood High School) – Ashesh Pansuria and Neha Pansuria of Bowling Green

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.