Mission

Each year the Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky admits 60 Kentucky students who apply during their sophomore year and are awarded admission based on standardized test scores, grades, responses to essay questions, personal interviews, and recommendations.

Instead of spending their junior and senior years in traditional high schools, students enroll in the Gatton Academy and live in a uniquely dedicated Gatton Academy residence hall.

Taking courses offered by WKU, their classmates are fellow Gatton Academy students and WKU undergraduate students.

At the end of two years, Gatton Academy students will have earned sixty college credit hours in addition to completing high school.

Academy graduates may choose to stay at WKU or transfer to other universities to complete their bachelor’s degrees. (Just a note: For the past few years, the North Carolina School for Science and Mathematics has awarded full scholarships to any NCSSM graduate to attend any university in the North Carolina system. This could be a wonderful precedent for the Gatton Academy.)

Gatton Academy students’ scholastic test scores and nationally recognized achievements such as CATS scores, ACT/SAT scores, and national merit awards will be credited to the home high school.

Academy students will be able to participate in their home high school senior class ceremonies.

“The Gatton Academy will help many students across our state raise the bar of achievement. I know that in my school, I had reached many goals in my sophomore year that teachers set for seniors. This would have been an excellent way for me to excel past the expectations of many and reach higher goals.”

Chase Childers,
Student from Pikeville, KY
Scored perfect 36 on ACT in mathematics section as high school sophomore

WKU houses the Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky. The mission is to offer a residential program for bright, highly motivated Kentucky high school students who have demonstrated interest in pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

The Gatton Academy also seeks to provide its students with the companionship of peers; to encourage students to develop the creativity, curiosity, reasoning ability, and self-discipline that lead to independent thought and action; and to aid students in developing integrity that will enable them to benefit society.

The goal is to enable Kentucky’s exceptional young scientists and mathematicians to learn in an environment which offers advanced educational opportunities, preparing them for leadership roles in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

“The Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky is a beacon for excellence in the Commonwealth. It can be the catalyst for raising interest and achievement in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.”

Dr. Julia Roberts,
Director of The Center for
Gifted Studies at WKU

 

Logo: The Sierpenski Triangle

The Sierpenski triangle is often used as an elementary example of fractals. A fractal is a geometric object that is similar to itself on all scales. If you zoom in on a fractal object, it will look similar to the original shape. The Sierpenski triangle is formed by connecting the midpoints of each side of an equilateral triangle and removing the middle triangle. This removal of triangles repeats indefinitely, and the resulting pattern is the Sierpenski triangle. The Sierpenski triangle is a basic pattern that can be used to teach in-depth concepts. When repeated an infinite number of stages, the Sierpenski triangle has a number of triangles approaching infinity but an area approaching zero. It has connections to other patterns and applications to real world modeling.

The Sierpenski triangle is a simple concept that opens doors to a vast number of connections and applications. The Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky is a simple concept that opens doors for young people to discover connections with others like themselves and to be challenged academically, applying their intellects in a setting designed to meet their interests, needs, and abilities. Students will realize all sorts of connections and applications for their lives at the Gatton Academy.

Renee Watkins, math instructor
Bowling Green, KY