WKU News

The 78 members of The Gatton Academy Class of 2021 were offered $21,960,872 in college scholarships and accepted $7,580,818 to fund their undergraduate study.

Scholarships offered included premier university scholarships such as the Morehead-Cain scholarship at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the William T. Young Scholarship at Transylvania University, the Eminence Fellows Program scholarship at The Ohio State University, the Alumni Distinguished Scholarship at Michigan State University, the Peabody Dean’s Achievement Scholarship at Vanderbilt University, the Noblitt Scholars Program scholarship at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, and the Brown Fellows Program scholarship at Centre College. Graduates also received prestigious college placement scholarships such as Questbridge, the Gates Scholarship, and competitive merit scholarships from the Regeneron Science Talent Search and National Security Language Initiative for Youth.

In addition, several of the 18 graduates designated National Merit Finalists were awarded full tuition or full ride National Merit scholarships to Arizona State University, University of Alabama, University of Alabama at Birmingham, University of Central Florida, University of Cincinnati, University of Kentucky, University of Louisville, University of New Mexico, University of Texas at Dallas, and Washington State University.

Graduates will attend 32 different colleges and universities this fall. Similar to recent years WKU and other KY colleges continue to retain top talent in the Commonwealth.

Fifty-six percent will attend college in Kentucky, including Western Kentucky University (19), University of Kentucky (15), and University of Louisville (7). Other matriculating Kentucky schools include Centre College, Murray State University, and Transylvania University. WKU, UK, UofL, and Transylvania offer Gatton Academy graduates significant targeted merit scholarships based on their GPA and standardized test scores as a way of encouraging the exceptional students to enroll at in-state colleges and universities.

Gatton Academy staff and many WKU faculty work with students, helping them apply to colleges matching their interests and building on their advanced academic experiences at The Gatton Academy.

“The Gatton College Counseling program is unique in that all staff members participate in helping students with college advising and counselor recommendation letters,” said Tracy Harkins, Gatton Coordinator for College Counseling. “While some students will complete their undergraduate studies outside Kentucky, many will return for graduate programs at our state universities or move back to Kentucky to establish careers in STEM and other fields.”

Students from The Gatton Academy Class of 2021 will attend the following: Auburn University, Case Western Reserve University, Centre College, College of William and Mary, Columbia University, George Washington University, Kenyon College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Michigan State University, Murray State University, Princeton University, Purdue University, Rice University, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Stanford University, Transylvania University, United States Military Academy West Point, University of Alabama, University of Alabama in Huntsville, University of Chicago, University of Cincinnati, University of Kentucky, University of Louisville, University of Michigan, University of Mississippi, University of New Mexico, University of Notre Dame, University of Vermont, University of Virginia, Vanderbilt University, Western Kentucky University, and Yale University.

About The Gatton Academy: Established in 2007, The Gatton Academy is Kentucky’s first residential two-year program for gifted and talented junior 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 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.