The Gatton Academy Selects 99 Students for Class of 2025
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. -- The Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky has selected 99 Kentucky sophomores for the Class of 2025, marking The Gatton Academy’s 18th incoming class.
“Each year we are reminded Kentucky is filled with remarkable students seeking advanced coursework and challenge in their education,” said the Director of The Gatton Academy, Dr. Lynette Breedlove. “The Class of 2025 are an inspiring group who have been supported and encouraged by many people in their local schools, districts, and communities.”
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 46 counties make up the Class of 2025. Among the students accepted include either the third or fourth students accepted in The Gatton Academy’s 15-year history from the following counties: Bourbon,Butler,McLean, and Wayne. Overall, The Gatton Academy has had students attend from 117 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.
“The young people in Gatton’s Class of 2025 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,” stated Dr. Julia Roberts, Executive Director of The Gatton Academy and Mahurin Professor of Gifted Education. “What a pleasure it is to welcome them to The Gatton Academy.”
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, 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 2025:
(Students are organized by county of residence, with their sending school in parenthesis.)
Allen County
Quinn Hartman (Allen County - Scottsville High School) – Steve and Julie Hartman of Scottsville
Barren County
Kate Hans (Glasgow High School) – Bryan and Melissa Baysinger of Glasgow, and Daniel Hans of Louisville
Boone County
Mike Bucks (Conner High School) – Joseph and Samantha Bucks of Hebron
Isabella Dilger (Larry A. Ryle High School) – Nikolaus and Tonya Dilger of Union
Brinkley Thompson (Conner High School) – Ashley and Carl Thompson of Burlington
Bourbon County
Jaime Pablo Mendez-Cano (Paris High School) – Pablo Mendez and Asunciona Cano of Paris
Bullitt County
Luna Asbell (Riverview Opportunity Center) – Jessie and Christina Asbell of Shepherdsville
Samantha Bowling (Bullitt Advanced Math and Science Program) – Jason and Michelle Bowling of Shepherdsville
Jennifer Naylor (Bullitt Advanced Math and Science Program/Riverview Opportunity Center) – Jeffrey and Jeramie Naylor of Shepherdsville
Butler County
Dastin Scott (Butler County High School) – Eric and Jennifer Scott of Morgantown
Calloway County
Elly Grogan (Murray High School) – Amy Grogan and Rick Grogan of Murray
Elizabeth Lanier (Calloway County High School) – Alan and Catherine Lanier of Murray
Campbell County
Yegor Lushpin (Campbell County High School) – Katya and Vlad Lushpin of Alexandria
Christian County
Cole Glover (University Heights Academy) – Eston and Misty Glover of Hopkinsville
Katie Isaacs (University Heights Academy) – Jennifer Cox and Josh Cox of Hopkinsville
Rudra Patel (University Heights Academy) – Bhupendra and Bhavna Patel of Hopkinsville
Daviess County
Thomas Ard (Apollo High School) – Donald Ard and Amanda Ard of Owensboro
Ellie Haleman (Owensboro Catholic High School) – Troy and Carol Haleman of Owensboro
Jace Hawkins (Daviess County High School) – David Hawkins, and Nicole Hawkins Luechtefeld and Jeff Leuchtefeld of Owensboro
Jackson Holman (Daviess County High School) – Jeremy and Anessa Holman of Owensboro
Elijah Johnson (Homeschool) – Stuart and Carrie Johnson of Maceo
Eric Mack (Apollo High School) – Trina Mack and Freddy Mack of Owensboro
Ethan Papp (Apollo High School) – Covena Cochran and Jeffery Cochran of Owensboro
Jill Patel (Daviess County High School) – Chiragi and Ashish Patel of Owensboro
Estill County
Madison Riddell (Estill County High School) – Bernece Burke and Larry Burke of Irvine
Fayette County
Palmer Cornett (Homeschool) – Randy and Tina Cornett of Lexington
Irv Mesias-Guzman (Carter G. Woodson Academy) – Sandra Guzman and Felix Mesias of Lexington
Franklin County
Mahmood Ateyah (Western Hills High School) – Ossama Ateyah and Ablah Atieh of Frankfort
Varshith Kotagiri (Western Hills High School) – Srikanth and Mamatha Kotagiri of Frankfort
Jonathan Edward Philpot II (Franklin County High School) – Jonathan and Casey Philpot of Frankfort
Fulton County
James T. Clark (Hickman County High School) – John and Necole Clark of Fulton
Grant County
Hannah Herrmann (Grant County High School) – Eric and Cara Herrmann of Crittenden
Grayson County
Elli Hester (Grayson County High School) – Jeff and Jodie Hester of Leitchfield
Eldon Williams (Grayson County High School) – Hank Williams and Lisa Woodrum-Williams of Leitchfield
Hancock County
Eli Mucker (Hancock County High School) – Deion and Caroline Mucker of Lewisport
Maddox Simpson (Hancock County High School) – Eric and Holly Simpson of Hawesville
Hardin County
Francis Peak (Central Hardin High School) – Frank and Danika Peak of Elizabethtown
Kenneth Richie Jr. (John Hardin High School) – Kenneth and Melissa Richie of Radcliff
C. Noelle Sanders (John Hardin High School) – John and Beth Sanders of Elizabethtown
Harrison County
Skylar Turner (Harrison County High School) – Levi and Tiffany Gallagher, and Brandon and Autumn Turner of Cynthiana
Henderson County
Maggie Ford (Henderson County High School) – Chris and Laney Ford of Henderson
Saylor Wagner (Henderson County High School) – Jennifer and Mike Wagner of Henderson
Henry County
Bruno Castaneda (Henry County High School) – Luis and Suzanne Castaneda of Smithfield
Michael Thompson (Henry County High School/iLEAD Academy) – Michael and Kathy Thompson of Campbellsburg
Hopkins County
Harlee Evans (Madisonville North Hopkins High School) – Marvin and Kelly Evans of Manitou
Jefferson County
Zahra Chasmawala (duPont Manual High School) – Alifya and Munaf Chasmawala of Louisville
Flynn Harris (duPont Manual High School) – Andrew and Clara Harris of Louisville
Ally Hauber (duPont Manual High School) – Elizabeth Kotheimer of Louisville
Emma Hyman (duPont Manual High School) – Bernadett and Michael Hyman of Louisville
Rehan Shaikh (Ballard High School) – Musa and Kousarbanu Shaikh of Louisville
Jessamine County
Jack Bowles (West Jessamine High School) – Jason and Kathryn Bowles of Nicholasville
Juwon Joung (West Jessamine High School) – Jaewoo Joung and Yunjeong Go of Wilmore
Taylor Roberts (East Jessamine High School) – Derek and Kelly Roberts of Nicholasville
LaRue County
Emily Detre (LaRue County High School) – Jason and Natalie Detre of Hodgenville
Abby Goodin (LaRue County High School) – Bob and Jen Goodin of Hodgenville
Lincoln County
Olivia Sousis (Lincoln County High School) – Rhonda and James OBrien of Waynesburg
Logan County
Samantha Williams (Logan County High School) – Victoria Thomas and Donald Williams of Auburn
Madison County
Chealsea Gachagua (Model Laboratory School) of Richmond
Mark Kipelio (Madison Central High School) – Jairus and Hilda Kipelio of Richmond
Michael Kipelio (Madison Central High School) – Jairus and Hilda Kipelio of Richmond
Leo Lewis (Berea Community High School) – Michael Lewis and Krista Lewis of Berea
Lesley Morgan (Berea Community High School) – Debra Morgan of Berea
Marshall County
Clark Pullen (Marshall County High School) – Scott and Lisa Pullen of Benton
Mason County
Lainie Forsythe (Mason County High School) – Daniel and Devin Forsythe of Dover
McCracken County
Bailey Amyx (McCracken County High School) – Josh and Jessica Amyx of Paducah
Maggie Rowton (Paducah Tilghman High School) – David and Lisa Rowton of Paducah
McLean County
Aiden Robertson (McLean County High School) – Christopher Robertson of Owensboro and Tabitha Sallee of Calhoun
Mercer County
Sydney Putnam (Mercer County Senior High School) – Jennifer Putnam of Harrodsburg
Nelson County
Gavin Vittitow (Thomas Nelson High School) – Stacie Vittitow and Trey Vittitow of Bardstown
Ohio County
Ashley Gledhill (Owensboro Innovation Academy) – Christina and Mike Gledhill of Beaver Dam
Oldham County
Matthew Clark (South Oldham High School) – Stephen and Marita Clark of Crestwood
Jacob Dant (Oldham County High School) – Scott and Elizabeth Dant of LaGrange
Koah Ghrist (Oldham County High School) – Hillary and Cody Ghrist of Crestwood
Gabriel Scott Wang Gooden (Oldham County High School) – Anthony and JoAnna Gooden of Smithfield
Nihal Jacob (South Oldham High School) – Diksha Katwal and Neville Jacob of Crestwood
Mabel Vilt (Oldham County High School) – Kimberly and James Vilt of Crestwood
Owen County
Carson Cram (iLEAD Academy) – Ryan Cram and Beth Cram of Owenton
Pulaski County
Maura Larney (Somerset High School) – Keara Larney and Jason Larney of Somerset
Rowan County
Ava Blackledge (Rowan County Senior High School) – John and Cynthia Blackledge of Morehead
Scott County
Braydon Smith (Scott County High School) – Steve and Rashell Smith of Georgetown
Simpson County
Kirstin Johnson (Franklin Simpson High School) – Shane and Jennifer Johnson of Franklin
Taylor County
Jacob DeBrot (Campbellsville High School) – David and Lam DeBrot of Campbellsville
Warren County
Ibrahim Ali (South Warren High School) – Mohammad Ali and Shabeena P. Ali of Bowling Green
Austin Anderson (Warren Central High School) – Kevin Anderson and Misty Lightfoot of Bowling Green
Aanyaa Arora (Greenwood High School) – Sandeep and Manisha Arora of Bowling Green
Asa Ashley (Bowling Green High School) – Noah Ashley and Mandy Ashley of Bowling Green
Brighton Bergner (South Warren High School) – Jason and Jody Bergner of Bowling Green
Alper Er (Bowling Green High School) – Aynur and Ali Er of Bowling Green
Lola Norman (Greenwood High School) – Keith and Nicole Norman of Bowling Green
Emma O’Nan (Greenwood High School) – Tamara O’Nan and Steven O’Nan of Rockfield
Mallory Quinn (Bowling Green High School) – Erin and Shaun Quinn of Bowling Green
Jackson Sternberg (Bowling Green High School) – Drs. Tom and Liz Sternberg of Bowling Green
Wayne County
Sophia Beaudoin (Wayne County High School) – Amy Beaudoin and Joseph Beaudoin of Monticello
Whitley County
Caitlyn A. Peters (Homeschool) – James Hinkle, Shelly Hinkle, James Peters of Williamsburg
Daniel Thelen (Corbin High School) – Dania Egedi and Doug Thelen of Corbin
Woodford County
Luke Cissell (Woodford County High School) – Mark and Brenda Cissell of Versailles
Molly Jo Elmore (Woodford County High School) – Jason and Monica Elmore of Versailles
Chaz Stout (Woodford County High School) – Charles and Stephanie Stout of Versailles