"The members of The Gatton Academy Class of 2027 are outstanding students from across the state. They have demonstrated interest in STEM careers and are motivated to pursue the most advanced academic opportunities available in Kentucky," said the Director of The Gatton Academy, Dr. Lynette Breedlove. "We are so excited to launch them toward their infinite possibilities."
Area students selected for the Class of 2027 include Adair County High School students Sophie M. Eaton and Ian Xander Benjamin Makranszky, Braylon Taylor from Casey County High School, Miley Constant from Green County High School, Sammy Brown from Russell County High School, and Ismail Gilani from Taylor County High School.
Students from 47 counties make up the Class of 2027. Among the students accepted, this class represents the first student to enroll from Leslie County and students among the first five from Caldwell, Casey, Garrard, and Green Counties.
Overall, The Gatton Academy has had students attend from 118 of Kentucky's 120 counties.
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.
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.
"What a pleasure it is to welcome a new class of students to The Gatton Academy. These exceptional young scientists and mathematicians will 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.
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 and an Associate Degree of Interdisciplinary Studies from Western Kentucky University.
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 2027: (Students are organized by county of residence, with their sending school in parenthesis.)
Adair County
Sophie M. Eaton (Adair County High School) - James and Ginger Eaton of Columbia
Ian Xander Benjamin Makranszky (Adair County High School) - Connie Makranszky and Leland Pryor of Columbia
Allen County
Sydney Bromwell (Allen County Scottsville High School) - Josh and Laura Hall of Scottsville
Barren County
Kohen Coffey (Barren County High School) - Brandon Coffey and Ashley Coffey of Glasgow
Boone County
Sai Charan Chouta (Larry A. Ryle High School) - Raja Chouta and Supriya Chouta of Union
Joel Stec (Larry A. Ryle High School) - Jeff and Kerri Stec of Florence
Bullitt County
Noxie Melton (Riverview Opportunity Center) of Mt. Washington
Allyse Raymer (Riverview Opportunity Center) - Heath and Lindsey Raymer of Lebanon Junction
Caldwell County
Landon Cunningham (Caldwell County High School) - Nikki and Tim Cunningham of Dawson Springs
Elijah Thomas (Caldwell County High School) - Brock and Malissa Thomas of Princeton
Calloway County
Nate Dyer (Murray High School) - Rebecca Dyer and Brad Dyer of Murray
Divine Ezinma (Calloway County High School) - Bellarmine Ezumah of Murray
Maya Munoz (Calloway County High School) - Julie and Angelo Munoz of Murray
Kade Wideman (Murray High School) - Frank Wiedeman and Shannon Mitchel of Murray
Sean Williams (Calloway County High School) - Chris and Katie Williams of Murray
Casey County
Braylon Taylor (Casey County High School) - Lori and Robbie Taylor of Liberty
Christian County
Addison Robertson (University Heights Academy) - Adam and Sara Robertson of Hopkinsville
Sophie Sandifer (Christian County High School) - Billie Sandifer of Hopskinsville
Daviess County
Samuel H. Gordon (Daviess County High School) - J. Sale Gordon of Utica and Julie H. Gordon of Maceo
Claudia Johnson (Owensboro High School) - Corey and Ashley Johnson of Owensboro
Franklin County
Malleshwar Jayaraman Suresh (Western Hills High School) - Suresh Mallichettiar Jayaraman and Bhuvana Gurusamy of Frankfort
Zoey Van Zee (Western Hills High School) - Erin Van Zee and Carl Van Zee of Frankfort
Garrard County
Luke Willis (Rockcastle County High School) - Kyle and Jessica Willis of Paint Lick
Graves County
Gwen May (Graves County High School) - Josh and Cindy May of Mayfield
Grayson County
Elizabeth Barnett (Grayson County High School) - Pat and Bethany Barnett of Clarkson
Green County
Miley Constant (Green County High School) - Brenda and Justin Constant of Greensburg
Hardin County
Alexander (Zander) Bundrick (Homeschool) - James and Christina Bundrick of Elizabethtown
Eaden Chang (John Hardin High School) - Jason Chang, Jeanie Chang of Elizabethtown
Ram Danturthi (John Hardin High School) - R. Sarma and Padma Danturthi of Elizabethtown
Ellie Evans (Elizabethtown High School) - Mark and Melanie Evans of Elizabethtown
Jada Gray (John Hardin High School) - James and Michelle Gray of Elizabethtown
Olivia Norris (Elizabethtown High School) - Alicia Lee, James Norris of Elizabethtown
Colton Smith (Central Hardin High School) - Josh and Tricia Smith of Elizabethtown
Hart County
Wyatt Cecil (Hart County High School) - Greg and Robin Cecil of Munfordville
Allie Poynter (Caverna High School) - Brandi Morrison and Chris Poynter of Horse Cave
Jaime Junior Ruiz (Hart County High School) - Elizabeth Parra and Jaime Ruiz of Bonnieville
Henderson County
Alex Francke (Henderson County High School) - Jill Brady and Kevin Francke of Henderson
Brady Francke (Henderson County High School) - Jill Brady and Kevin Francke of Henderson
Hopkins County
River McDurmon (Madisonville North Hopkins High School) - Eric and Kelly McDurmon of Madisonville
Lydia Vincent (Hopkins County Central High School) - Derek and Sarah Vincent of Nortonville
Sabrina Wang (Madisonville North Hopkins High School) - Bizhu Chen and Wei Wang of Madisonville
Jefferson County
Elika Amin (duPont Manual High School) - Vibha and Shailesh Amin of Louisville
Nishita Chaduvula (Eastern High School) - Rameswara Reddy Chaduvula and Swaroopa Rani Chaduvula of Louisville
Arthur Elliott (duPont Manual High School) - Justin and Angela Elliott of Louisville
Caroline Gallagher (J. Graham Brown School) - Beth and Jack Gallagher of Louisville
Harsh Gupta (duPont Manual High School) - Chandra Prakash and Gauri Gupta of Louisville
CJ Moody (Christian Academy of Louisville) - Jeff and Kelly Moody of Louisville
Michelle Morttey (Atherton High School) - John and Faustine Morttey of Louisville
Sofia Orlova (Atherton High School) - Georgiy and Brenda Orlov of Louisville
Jessamine County
Foyat Arega (West Jessamine High School) - Fasil Woldemariam and Rahel Woldeyesus of Wilmore
Kenton County
Hudson Feinauer (St. Henry District High School) - Julie and Jason Feinauer of Independence
Knox County
Henry Lee (Calvary Christian School) - Kyung Hoon Lee and Hee Jin Eum
LaRue County
Jonas Lamb (LaRue County High School) - Jason and Lora Lamb of Hodgenville
Soham Patel (LaRue County High School) - Ripal and Vardhman Patel of Hodgenville
Evan Self (LaRue County High School) - Mackenzie Self and Scotty Self of Magnolia
Leslie County
Isaac Owens (Leslie County High School) - Angie Salyers and William Owens of Hyden
Lincoln County
Rhyton Krug (Lincoln County High School) - Justin Krug and Shaina St. Andrews of Hustonville
Judah Thornton (Lincoln County High School) - Britt and Megan Ingram of Stanford
Madison County
Aleen Bakhos (Model Laboratory School) - William and Maggy Bakhos of Richmond
Jiwoo Kim (Model Laboratory School) - Jiyeon Park and Seungho Kim of Richmond
Erin Simpkinson (Model Laboratory School) - Damon and Laura Simpkinson of Richmond
Ainsley Woodward (Berea Community High School) - Joshua and Andrea Woodward of Berea
Marion County
Melina Kargarzadeh (Marion County High School) - Leila Modaber and Mojtaba Kargarzadeh of Lebanon
Marshall County
Scarlett Gardner (Marshall County High School) - David and Laura Gardner of Benton
Mason County
Sophia Mitchell (Mason County High School) - Amanda Supinger of Maysville
McCracken County
Hutch Brown (Paducah Tilghman High School) - Lindsay Michelson and Brian Brown of Paducah
Ryan Goins (St. Mary Catholic) - Rick and Kim Goins of Paducah
Meade County
John Stull (Meade County High School) - Joseph and Meranda Stull of Brandenburg
Mercer County
Eli Hancock (Mercer County Senior High School) - Joseph and Cassandra Hancock of Harrodsburg
Montgomery County
Adam Vernon (Montgomery County High School) - Wesley and April Vernon of Mt. Sterling
Muhlenberg County
Garrett Lambert (Muhlenberg County High School) - Jennifer and Lee Lambert of Greenville
Oldham County
Natalie Buehler (Oldham County High School) - Brian Buehler, Melanie Buehler of La Grange
Arabella Wilkins (Oldham County High School) - Phillip Wilkins, Britney Phillips of LaGrange
Owen County
Noah Wodrig (Owen County High School) - Jimi Sue Lynn of Owenton
Perry County
Khizar Sher (Hazard High School) - Huria Farhan and Farhan Fazal of Hazard
Rowan County
Ava Carver (Rowan County Senior High School) - Brandy and Jamey Carver of Morehead
Anthony Hao Lin (Rowan County Senior High School) - Shui Lin and Zhu Jiang of Morehead
Russell County
Sammy Brown (Russell County High School) - Baxter and Irma Brown of Russell Springs
Scott County
Brock Schreiner (Great Crossing High School) - Brandon and Amy Schreiner of Georgetown
Tommy Le (Great Crossing High School) - Thanh Le of Georgetown
Shelby County
Westley McInteer (Martha Layne Collins High School) - David and Jun McInteer of Shelbyville
Willard Ratliff (Martha Layne Collins High School) - Thomas Ratliff Jr., Christal Ratliff of Louisville
Simpson County
Sam Dunlap (Franklin-Simpson High School) - Amanda Dunlap and Robert Ard of Franklin
Spencer County
Ainsley Brakefield (Spencer County High School) - Kenny and Erica Brakefield of Taylorsville
Taylor County
) - Furqan Gilani and Fareena Gilani of Campbellsville
Trigg County
Kat Tellez (Trigg County High School) - Jordan and Robin Robison and Adam Tellez of Cadiz
Warren County
Cecelia Amorim (Warren Central High School) - Melynda Amorim of Bowling Green
Catherine Amos (Warren East High School) - Clifton and Lisa Amos of Bowling Green
Leah Chen (Bowling Green High School) - Tao Chen and Qin Zhao of Bowling Green
Suren Dhasarathan (Greenwood High School) - Dhasarathan Ranganathan and Padmini Dhasarathan of Bowling Green
Audrey Duvall (Warren East High School) - Kendall and Jason Duvall of Bowling Green
Roy David Lightfoot (Bowling Green High School) - Nicole Lightfoot and the late R.D. Lightfoot Jr. of Bowling Green
Maggie Lynch (Warren East High School) - Mike and Sarah Lynch of Bowling Green
Chris Nalley (Greenwood High School) - Ginger Nalley and Courtney Stevens, Charley Nalley and Cyndi Bell of Bowling Green
Burkley Owens (Greenwood High School) - Kevin and Kristeen Owens of Alvaton
Anik Pansuria (Greenwood High School) - Ashesh Pansuria and Neha Pansuria of Bowling Green
