WKU News

On Saturday, May 9, The Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science graduated 82 students from across Kentucky in their nineteenth 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 2026. 

Dr. Julia Roberts, Executive Director of The Gatton Academy and Director of The Center for Gifted Studies, applauded the Class of 2026’s accomplishments and recognized the continuous impact those in Gatton’s community make on Gatton’s legacy, “Everyone 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, as well as the staff, to be everything they said they would be.”

The Class of 2026 represents 36 counties from across the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Twenty-one members of the class were selected as National Merit semi-finalists. 62% of graduates participated in faculty-sponsored research during their Gatton Academy experience. Among the graduates are 14 students who presented at the Kentucky Academy of Science KJAS Meeting and one who was selected as an American Junior Academy of Science delegate. One graduate qualified for the HOSA-Future Health Professionals national competition. Three graduates won U.S. Department of State National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) scholarships. One graduate was awarded a Questbridge full scholarship to a top college. One graduate was named a Horatio Alger Kentucky State Scholar. These seniors completed 2,644 hours of community service over two years, representing an economic value of approximately $71,905.

The graduating class selected two student speakers: Charles Maddux from Hopkinsville High School (Christian County) and Korrin Green from South Warren High School (Warren County). 

Maddux expressed gratitude for his graduating class, the inspiration he carries with him from their time together, and the journey that Gatton has provided, “…most important of all, you have shown and instilled within me an unbreakable drive and determination. During my time at Gatton, I have watched as you have all completed groundbreaking research projects, learned complicated new languages, or devoted yourself to specific subjects or to the community at large. Seeing this dedication has not only taught me to push myself but also conveyed to me the importance of devotion and tenacity.” 

Green spoke of poetry and enjambment: the continuation of one line into another without pause. “Gatton has taught me that art, its conventions, and its labels are some of the clearest indicators of life. Enjambment represents momentum. It represents a refusal to stop, and a stubbornness that has inspired me throughout my time here. Enjambment forces the reader to keep their eyes moving even when the margins tell them to stop.”

Dr. Michael Muscarella, a longstanding supporter of Gatton and former Executive Director of Ambulatory Services with the Baptist Health System, was invited to be the commencement speaker this year. Muscarella reflected on all that Gatton can offer students who complete the rigorous program: opportunity, challenge, resilience, confidence, and independence. In closing, he shared, “So take what you’ve gained here and use it. Take the opportunities and create more. Take the challenges and meet them. Take the relationships and nurture them. Take the person you’ve become and keep growing.”

In celebration of Dr. Lynette Breedlove’s twelve years of service as the Director of The Gatton Academy, Ashley Taylor, Assistant Director of Alumni Relations and Outreach, presented Breedlove with an honorary Gatton diploma on behalf of Gatton’s staff and advisory board as her tenure at Gatton concludes in June. “Twelve years of navigating the highest highs and lowest lows plus everything in between, all of which landed squarely on her capable and willing shoulders. It is only fitting that today, as we celebrate not only this graduating Class of 2026 but also the 18 others that paved the way for them, that we recognize her as well before she begins her next adventure.”

Gatton graduates may earn recognition as research, global, and/or service scholars during their two years at Gatton and honor cords represent these achievements. Research scholars complete two semesters of research with an outcome that is presented to a professional audience after acceptance through a vetting process. Global scholars complete four semesters of STEM + Global Studies or completing an NSLI-Y program. Service scholars complete a minimum of 60 hours of community service while attending Gatton. 

The following 82 students from across the Commonwealth make up the graduating class of 2026:

Areej Ali, Research and Service Scholar, North Laurel High School, Laurel County

Rowan Bailey, Research and Global Scholar, Paris High School, Bourbon County

Alaina Victoria Bowers, Research Scholar, John Hardin High School, Hardin County

Rue Brown, Bullitt East High School, Bullitt County

Hosamulhaq Brula, Research Scholar, South Warren High School, Warren County

Kambree Bunch, Global Scholar, Whitley County High School, Whitley County

Isiah Byrd, Research Scholar, Spencer County High School, Spencer County

Jacob Cano Mauricio, Spencer County High School, Spencer County

Trisha Arya Chhabra, Research Scholar, Bowling Green High School, Warren County

Aryan Chinthala, Larry A. Ryle High School, Boone County

Natalie R. Clark, Research Scholar, Garrard County High School, Garrard County

Justin Colgate, Caverna High School, Barren County

Cameron J. Collett, Research Scholar, Whitley County High School, Whitley County

Macie Katherine Conger, Research and Service Scholar, Crittenden County High School, Crittenden County

Flynn William Cook, Global and Service Scholar, Highlands High School, Campbell County

Krish Dukka, Research and Service Scholar, duPont Manual High School, Oldham County

Talia Raelynne Ellis, Hart County High School, Hart County

Sena B. Er, Research Scholar, Bowling Green High School, Warren County

Rose Ferguson, Graves County High School, Graves County

Harper Lynn Valentine Ferrell, Research and Global Scholar, Bowling Green High School, Warren County

Lori Jane Fitzgerald, Research and Global Scholar, Fern Creek High School, Jefferson County

Grace Fulkerson, Service Scholar, LaRue County High School, LaRue County

Chris Ndirangu Gachagua, Service Scholar, Madison Central High School, Madison County

Himani Gangumolu, Research and Service Scholar, Ballard High School, Jefferson County

Vedant Garg, Research Scholar, duPont Manual High School, Jefferson County

Keaton Austin Garrison, Research Scholar, South Warren High School, Warren County

Lucy Gast, Research Scholar, Madisonville N. Hopkins High School, Hopkins County

Korrin Elise Green, Global and Service Scholar, South Warren High School, Warren County

Vidhi Grover, Research and Service Scholar, duPont Manual High School, Jefferson County

Quinn Hall, duPont Manual High School, Jefferson County

Rowan Hall, duPont Manual High School, Jefferson County

Roby Liam Hardesty, Research Scholar, Dixie Heights High School, Kenton County

Eric Hebenstiel, Randall K. Cooper High School, Boone County

Dylan Henry, Research Scholar, Trinity High School, Jefferson County

Robert Holley, Bowling Green High School, Warren County

Eric Huang, Greenwood High School, Warren County

Noah Jent, Perry County Central High School, Perry County

Youngwoo Kim, Research Scholar, Model Laboratory School, Madison County

Elijah Clayton King, Thomas Nelson High School, Hardin County

Sanam Naresh Krishnani, Research and Service Scholar, Sacred Heart Academy, Jefferson County

Ben Lee, Global and Service Scholar, duPont Manual High School, Jefferson County

Charles Thomas Maddux, Hopkinsville High School, Christian County

Mitchell D. Marcum, Oldham County High School, Oldham County

Leo Martinez, Warren East High School, Warren County

Katie Morgan, Global and Service Scholar, Grayson County High School, Breckinridge County

Prthu Naik, Research Scholar, duPont Manual High School, Jefferson County

Virginia Laine Nance Woehler, Global and Service Scholar, Madisonville N. Hopkins High School, Hopkins County

Alrose Maria Noronha, Research and Service Scholar, South Oldham High School, Oldham County

Adelaide Ogilvy, Research, Global, and Service Scholar, Hopkinsville High School, Christian County

Amogh Patnaik, Research Scholar, South Warren High School, Warren County

Lex Patterson, Riverview Opportunity Center, Bullitt County

Landon Patton, Scott County High School, Scott County

Logan Potts, Oldham County High School, Oldham County

Enmanuel Ramirez, Greenwood High School, Warren County

Neha G. Reddy, Bowling Green High School, Warren County

Antonio Reyna, Barren County High School, Barren County

Addison Roberts, Marshall County High School, Marshall County

Logan Robinson, Daviess County High School, Daviess County

Helen Warwick Rose, Research and Global Scholar, Henry Clay High School, Fayette County

Ethan Rosenbaum, Oldham County High School, Oldham County

Zaid Abdullah Salim, North Laurel High School, Laurel County

Andrea Grace Shaw, Research Scholar, Great Crossing High School, Scott County

Ash Sheehan, Research Scholar, Frederick Douglass High School, Fayette County

Dominic Sileo, Henry County High School, Shelby County

Anderson Leea Slinker, Barren County High School, Metcalfe County

Ava Smith, Research and Global Scholar, Mayfield High School, Marshall County

Kendall Smith, Lincoln County High School, Lincoln County

Quin Suchy, South Warren High School, Warren County

Nicholas Sugimoto, Larry A. Ryle High School, Boone County

Serenity Tate, John Hardin High School, Hardin County

Sophia K. Thomas, Research and Service Scholar, Sacred Heart Academy, Henry County

Anabelle Sophia Thompson, Spencer County High School, Spencer County

Maxwell B. Tolar, Paducah Tilghman High School, McCracken County

Adriana Williams, Global Scholar, Franklin-Simpson High School, Simpson County

Lydia Willmes, Global and Service Scholar, Berea Community High School, Madison County

Becca Wills, Global Scholar, Henry Clay High School, Fayette County

Cameron Wood, Central Hardin High School, Hardin County

Austin Wooden, Research Scholar, Riverview Opportunity Center, Bullitt County

Amber Wu, Research and Global Scholar, Calloway County High School, Calloway County

Ryan Shuo Yang, Research Scholar, Rowan County Senior High School, Rowan County

Elaine Zeiser, Global Scholar, Simon Kenton High School, Kenton County

Michael Zimmerman, Todd County Central High School, Todd County

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.