The Gatton Academy's News Archive

The Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky has selected 102 Kentucky sophomores for the Class of 2022.

"The Commonwealth is full of outstanding students and we are thrilled to welcome 102 of them to the Gatton Class of 2022! This class, like those who have come before them, is from all across the state and made up of students with wide ranging interests in STEM fields,” said Director of The Gatton Academy, Dr. Lynette Breedlove.   “There are always more talented students searching for advanced learning opportunities than we can serve. We recognize that public schools in Kentucky are working hard to find innovative ways to support the needs of all their students.”

Applicants were evaluated based on ACT/SAT scores, high school grades, awards, extracurricular activities, responses to essay and short answer questions, and letters of recommendation. In addition to these criteria, earlier this month, 189 candidates were invited to interview with WKU faculty members, community leaders from across the Commonwealth, and Gatton Academy alumni.

The selected students scored an average composite of 30.58 on the ACT and 30.23 on the mathematics portion of the exam. The highest possible score is a 36. 

“I am thrilled that each one of the 102 students has agreed to be a part of our community for the next two years,” states Assistant Director for Admissions and Public Relations Zack Ryle.  “The ability to offer this opportunity these 102 bright students, which brings The Gatton Academy to our funded capacity, is truly exciting.  I look forward to seeing each student grow in immeasurable ways over their next two years and beyond!”

Students from 47 counties represent the Class of 2022.  Among those students accepted include either the second or third students accepted in The Gatton Academy’s thirteen-year history from the following counties: Clay, Floyd, Green, Hickman, Jackson, Menifee, Metcalfe, Rockcastle, and Webster.  All told, The Gatton Academy has had students attend from 117 of the 120 counties in Kentucky.

“This year, we not only saw a strong number of total applications started and completed, but we saw students from 81 counties start the application,” states Ryle.  “Our goal is always to represent the entire Commonwealth of Kentucky, and this class certainly is strong and diverse.  From McCracken and Hickman counties in the west to Pike County in the east, we have students from all throughout the Commonwealth.  In the last 6 years, I can honestly say that this is one of our strongest and most diverse classes.”

The goal of The Gatton Academy is to enable Kentucky’s exceptional young scientists and mathematicians to learn in an environment that offers advanced educational opportunities, preparing them for leadership roles in Kentucky. Moreover, The Gatton Academy assists in preparing Kentucky to compete in a knowledge-based economy by increasing the number of scientists and engineers who live and work in the state.

“What a pleasure it is to welcome the 2022 class of The Gatton Academy,” stated Dr. Julia Roberts, Executive Director of The Gatton Academy and Mahurin Professor of Gifted Education.  “These young people represent Kentucky geographically as well as in other characteristics, carrying out the goal of The Gatton Academy to enable Kentucky’s exceptional young scientists and mathematicians to learn in an environment that offers advanced educational opportunities and develop as future leaders for the Commonwealth.”

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.

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, Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program, and Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. The majority of Gatton Academy students also participate in a study abroad or global learning experience 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 has been named to Jay Mathews of The Washington Post’s list of top-performing schools with elite students for ten consecutive appearances.

 

Students selected for The Gatton Academy’s Class of 2022:

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

 

Allen County

• Leah Hartman (Allen County-Scottsville High School) – daughter of Steve and Julie Hartman from Scottsville

Boone County

• Connor Flick (Conner High School/Ignite Institute) – son of Dan and Shireen Flick from Hebron
• Tristan Fuchs (Walton-Verona High School) – son of Steven and Janet Fuchs from Walton
• Jana Hebenstiel (Randall K. Cooper High School) – daughter of Katrin and Bjoern Hebenstiel from Union
• Kentaro Kawata (Larry A. Ryle High School) - son of Chie and Ayumu Kawata from Union
• Avery Lenihan (Villa Madonna Academy) - daughter of Jason and Brandi Lenihan from Florence
• Allen Lin (Larry A. Ryle High School) - son of Jinying and Zhang Lin from Union
• Claire Lusk (Randall K. Cooper High School) - daughter of Kelly and Todd Lusk from Florence
• Kaleb Workman (Randall K. Cooper High School) - son of James and Amanda Workman from Union

Boyle County

• Trinyte Welch (Danville High School) – daughter of Toya Trumbo from Danville

Bullitt County

• Isaac Gray (Bullitt East High School/Bullitt Advanced Math and Science (BAMS)) – son of Roy and Karen Gray from Mt. Washington
• Katherine G. Vanderpool (Riverview High School/Bullitt East High School) – daughter of Robert and Sarah Vanderpool from Mt. Washington

Calloway County

• Apirada Chetawatee (Murray High School) – daughter of Mayuree and Apichai from Murray
• Chaney Robinson (Calloway County High School) – daughter of Brad and Deanna Robinson from Murray

Campbell County

• Lance Borden (Highlands High School) – son of Allison and Jeff Borden from Fort Thomas

Christian County

• Chetas Chavda (Hopkinsville High School) – son of Sanjay Chavda from Hopkinsville

Clay County

• Michael Bowling (Clay County High School) – son of Isabelle Bowling from Manchester

Crittenden County

• Ryleigh Tabor (Crittenden County High School) – daughter of Jayna and Greg Tabor from Marion

Daviess County

• Shaleena Millay (Daviess County High School) – daughter of Jennifer and Andrew Millay from Owensboro
• Hunter Wimsatt (Owensboro Catholic High School) – son of Brad and Alissa Wimsatt from Owensboro

Edmonson County

• Taylor Dooley (Edmonson County High School) – daughter of Jennifer and Jason Dooley from Smiths Grove

Fayette County

• Haven Romero (Lafayette High School) – daughter of Henry and Aileen Romero from Lexington

Floyd County

• Matthew Pimienta (Pikeville High School) – son of Ian and Gloria Pimienta from Prestonsburg
• Lucy Rosys (The Piarist School) – daughter of Gary and Jean Rosys from Banner

Franklin County

• Nikhil Akula (Western Hills High School) – son of Praveena Adabala and Satish Akula from Frankfort
• Hithan Garla (Western Hills High School) – son of Krishna and Neeraja Garla from Frankfort
• Chloe Murphy (The Frankfort Christian Academy) - daughter of Vaughn and Kristen Murphy from Frankfort
• Marcus Negrón (Western Hills High School) – son of Angel and Laura Negrón from Frankfort
• Anish Penmecha (Western Hills High School) - son of Dilip and Usha Penmecha from Frankfort
• Sahil Shaik (Western Hills High School) - son of Shamshad and Fairoj Shaik from Frankfort

Green County

• Keiley Johnson (Green County High School) - daughter of Missy and Brian Johnson from Greensburg

Hardin County

• Isabel Ocegueda (Fort Knox Middle High School) – daughter of Elizabeth and Edgar Ocegueda from Fort Knox
• Nathan Turlington (Central Hardin High School) – son of Christiane and Lance Turlington from Cecilia
• Brendan White (Central Hardin High School) – son of Christopher and Danelle White from Elizabethtown

Harrison County

• Rowen Farmer (Harrison County High School) – daughter of Heather Ladick and Ben and Kristin Farmer from Cynthiana

Hart County

• Shaylyn Avery (Hart County High School) - daughter of Devon and Dillon Avery from Munfordville

Hickman County

• Emma Harris (Hickman County High School) - daughter of Wynn and Janel Harris from Clinton

Jackson County

• Emily Tutt (Jackson County High School) - daughter of Tony and Lynn Tutt from Annville

Jefferson County

• Aidan Kash (St. Francis School) – daughter of Andrea and Phillip Kash from Louisville
• Tommy Kolb (Louisville Classical Academy) – son of Bridget and Christopher Kolb from Louisville
• Sahil Krishnani (duPont Manual High School) – son of Shweta and Naresh Krishnani from Louisville
• Sarisha Lohano (Kentucky Country Day School) – daughter of Suresh and Kavita Lohano from Louisville
• Kaaustaaub Shankar (Eastern High School) – son of Shankar Ranganathan and Srilalitha Venkatraman from Louisville
• Christina Thao-Mi Tran (duPont Manual High School) – daughter of Kenneth Tran and Hao My Chu from Louisville
• Bhavya Vyas (duPont Manual High School) – daughter of Vishal Bharatkumar Vyas and Vaishali Vishal Vyas from Louisville

Kenton County

• Molly Clements (Beechwood High School) – daughter of Martin and Nicole Clements from Fort Mitchell
• Keegyn Fields (Lloyd Memorial High School) - son of Greg and Sarah Fields from Elsmere
• Jax Ludmann (Beechwood High School) - son of Doug and Jodi Ludmann from Fort Mitchell

Knott County

• Kole Ingram (Knott County Central High School) – son of Jamie and Stacey Combs from Hindman

Laurel County

• Cristina Isabel C. Pauig (Corbin High School) – daughter of James and Cristina Pauig from London
• Lauren Sotingeanu (North Laurel High School) – daughter of Dan Sotingeanu from London

Logan County

• Promise Willhite (Logan County High School) – daughter Martina Willhite from Russellville

Madison County

• Christopher Davis (Berea Community High School) - son of Dreama Gentry and Hasan Davis from Berea
• Lydia Peach (Berea Community High School) – daughter of Amanda and Douglas Peach from Berea
• Orina Singai (Lexington Catholic High School) – son of Betty Ikunyua and Joash Orina from Richmond

Marion County

• Kayla Lancaster (Bethlehem High School) – daughter of Leah and Rob Lancaster from Lebanon

Marshall County

• Hayden Flickinger (Marshall County High School) – daughter of Pamela and Brian Flickinger from Calvert City

Mason County

• Katherine Parker (St. Patrick High School) – daughter of Malgorzata and Glynn Parker from Dover
• Emma Stone (Mason County High School) – daughter of Clint and Masako Stone from Ewing

McCracken County

• Abby Beth (McCracken County High School) – daughter of Holly Kelly and Adam Beth from Paducah
• Jacob Harris (McCracken County High School) – son of Andrew and Joy Harris from Kevil

Meade County

• Brendan Allison (Meade County High School) – son of Todd and Andrea Allison from Vine Grove

Menifee County

• Seth Smallwood (Menifee County High School) – son of Randy and Larissa Smallwood from Frenchburg

Metcalfe County

• Anna Humphrey (Metcalfe County High School) – daughter of Rosa Humphrey from Center

Muhlenberg County

• Yasmina Muradova - (Muhlenberg County High School) – daughter of Johongir Muradova and Margarita Asranbayeva of Greenville

Nelson County

• Parker Hall (Nelson County High School) - son of Corrie and Lyle Hall from Bardstown
• John Kellogg (Nelson County High School) - son of Pam Kellogg from Bardstown
• Ella Sweeney (Thomas Nelson High School) - daughter of Olivia and Chad Sweeney from Cox’s Creek

Ohio County

• Bella Karn (Owensboro High School) – daughter of Allyson and John Karn from Whitesville
• Landon Littleton (Ohio County High School) - son of Terry and Lisa Littleton from Utica

Oldham County

• Peyton Ash (South Oldham High School) – daughter of Greg and Shannon Ash from Crestwood
• Thomas Doligale (North Oldham High School) – son of Alicia and Bob Doligale from Prospect
• Brooke Haden (North Oldham High School) – daughter of Stephen and Christy Haden from Goshen
• Donovan Marcum (Oldham County High School) – son of Gregory and Tanya Marcum from LaGrange
• Andrew Park (South Oldham High School) – son of Sam Park and Mihwa Lee from Crestwood
• Seren Semrau (South Oldham High School) – daughter of Robert and Nancy Semrau from Crestwood
• John Logan Stewart (Oldham County High School) – son of John and Emily Stewart from LaGrange
• Satyasree Vangoor (North Oldham High School) – daughter of Swapnasree and Janakiramreddy Vangoor from Prospect
• Dexter Vilt (Oldham County High School) – son of James and Kimberly Vilt from Crestwood

Pike County

• Anaya Ali (Pikeville High School) – daughter of Ahsen Ali and Munizeh Haider from South Williamson
• Katie Compton (Belfry High School) – daughter of Tolby and Angela Compton from Ransom

Pulaski County

• Alexzander Castle (Southwestern High School) – son of Suzanne and Scott Castle from Somerset

Rockcastle County

• Reina Lykins (Rockcastle County High School) – daughter of Justin Lykins and Bonnie Mathews from Mount Vernon
• Elizabeth Mikeworth (Rockcastle County High School) – daughter of Sofya and Thomas Mikeworth from Mount Vernon

Rowan County

• Xander Jarvis (Rowan County Senior High School) – son of Mark and Melanie Jarvis from Morehead
• Helen Xu (Rowan County Senior High School) – daughter of Zhenhua Sun and Qingzhou Xu from Morehead

Shelby County

• Ezekiel Salama (Louisville Collegiate School) – son of Kimberly and Nyembo Salama from Shelbyville

Todd County

• Owen Craig (Todd County Central High School) – son of Sarah Craig and Ryan and Jenni Craig from Elkton

Trimble County

• Keegan Congleton (Trimble County Junior/Senior High School) – son of Lee and Frederica Congleton from Bedford

Warren County

• Sahil Chhabra (Bowling Green High School) – son of Sandeep and Shalini Chhabra from Bowling Green
• Jaxon Gann (Warren East High School) – son of Clinton and Jannina Gann from Bowling Green
• Harrison Taylor Gover (Bowling Green High School) – son of Elizabeth and Dr. John Gover from Bowling Green
• Maya Lebedinsky (Bowling Green High School) - daughter of Alex and Cameron Lebedinsky from Bowling Green
• Jackson McDaniel (Warren East High School) – son of Shannon and Bobbye McDaniel from Bowling Green
• Ashley Morgan (Greenwood High School) – daughter of Andrea Morgan from Bowling Green
• Bella Norman (Greenwood High School) – daughter of Keith and Nicole Norman from Alvataon
• Samirah Salifu (Greenwood High School) – daughter of Zakare and Rainatou Salifu from Bowling Green
• Arivumani Srivastava (Greenwood High School) – son of Dr. Ajay and Wendy Srivastava from Bowling Green
• Kimberly Turner (Greenwood High School) - daughter of Steve and Nichole Turner from Bowling Green

Webster County

• Eli Piercefield (Webster County High School) – son of Keith and Megan Piercefield from Wheatcroft

Whitley County

• Barrett Gibbs (Corbin High School) – son of Eric and Mickie Gibbs from Corbin
• Madison Thacker (Whitley County High School) – daughter of Wanda and Paul Thacker from Williamsburg

 

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, marking the tenth consecutive appearance.