Allen County-Scottsville High School sophomores Olivia Hawkins, Grace Jones, and Solomon Kieffer will trade the halls of AC-S for the hill at Western Kentucky University for their last two years of high school.
The students were recently notified that they had been accepted for Class of 2018 at the Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky. The trio has confirmed their attendance and, starting in August, will become students at the prestigious high school.
The Bowling Green based school brings juniors and seniors from across the Commonwealth together for focused studies on the campus of WKU.
Hawkins, Jones, and Kieffer are beyond excited for the forthcoming opportunity. For each, the chance to attend Gatton marks the beginning of a new era of their educational process
“I just wonted the chance to find a new way to learn,” Jones answered when asked about her reason for applying to Gatton. “The trips and the opportunities at Gatton can change your life. For example, here at AC-S you can have four AP classes a year. At Gatton, all of your classes are AP classes. The college credit itself will help.”
Hawkins points out that going to Gatton is the fulfillment of a dream birthed many years ago and the opportunity to further her education in a more advanced setting.
“I have known about Gatton since I was like six and I was like I want to go there,” Hawkins added. “I have always been interested in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) stuff. Though our school is better than some schools in our area, it has room to improve. We have a good science department but they don’t have the ability to provide what Gatton is able to. I feel like it will help me on the way to my career.”
Kieffer sees Gatton as a way to get a head start on college.
“The classes at Gatton are practically college classes,” Kieffer added. “It’s a science and mathematics school and that will give me much more opportunities to pursue my interest in computer science.”
The trio of stellar sophomores have varied academic background. Jones---the daughter of Sharon and Steve Jones---has grown up in Allen County. Kieffer---the son of Ann and Jerry Kieffer---spent the first nine years of school in private school before transferring to AC-S for his freshman year. Hawkins---the daughter of Jennifer and Robert Hawkins---was in public school in Monroe County before moving to Allen County four years ago.
Despite their varied academic backgrounds, the trio was united last fall with the opportunity to apply for Gatton. The students soon learned that the process would be lengthy and very involved.
“We had to submit our application by February 1 but we had to start months before,” Jones explained. “It took months.”
In addition to the basic application, the process involved submitting grade reports, test scores, and writing requirements.
“You had to write four essays and a short answer,” Hawkins noted. “The essays were about what we are interested in, how we can contribute to the Gatton community, and the short answer was how you would describe yourself in a Tweet. I’m a bad procrastinator and waited to the last week to get all my essays together.”
The final part of the application process for the students involved the candidates interviewing with a panel of evaluators.
“The interview wasn’t what I expected,” Kieffer explained. “They are always talking about wanting to get to know you. So we come to the interview and I’m thinking that the questions will be about me, my interests, and why I wanted to be here. The only question I was expecting that I was asked was why you want to go to Gatton. The four other questions had to do with how you lead and how you deal with stressful situations. They never asked about yourself that much.”
Jones pointed out that her interview included questions about how she would respond to situations which could arise once accepted.
“They wonted to get a feel about how you would fit in and deal with certain things that might arise,” Jones noted.
The interview also included spending a day at the school. The applicants were given a tour of the classrooms and learned about the study abroad opportunities that came with Gatton. The day brought even more excitement about the possibility which was ahead.
“I got excited about meeting the people,” Jones said. “I said something about a book I had read and someone there had read the same book. I felt like I would fit in.”
Once the application and interviews was complete, the waiting phase began. Hawkins, Jones, and Kieffer continued to go about their classes at AC-S for several weeks. At WKU, Gatton administrators made their decisions---and began to notify those students accepted. Jones and Kieffer received word of their acceptance.
“I was expecting the worse but praying for the best,” Jones acknowledged. “I gave up after that interview. It went well but after talking to the other kids I was like man, everyone so much better. I also felt my ACT score might not be higher enough or I don’t have enough experience in this area. So when I got the email I cried, jumper up and down, and couldn’t even believe it,”
On the opposite end of the spectrum, Hawkins was not notified of her acceptance.
“I was wait-listed at first so I thought I had not gotten in,” Hawkins said
While Jones and Kieffer shared the good news with family and friends, Hawkins began to go on with her life. Then, out of the blue, Hawkins received word on March 11 that she too was headed to Gatton.
“I guess someone choose not to come so that opened up a spot.” Hawkins said.
Making the commitment to attend Gatton means change for the students. Gatton kids are required to live on campus at Western Kentucky University. The students can come home on weekends and are required to come home to family and friends on “closed weekends.” However, the high-level course work, study time, and class requirements will consume students’ time.
The AC-S students understand that and are willing to leave behind things they enjoy for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
“I wont be able to do marching band,” Hawkins pointed out. “I really enjoy marching band but I’m willing to give it up for Gatton. I’ll also miss my friends. I do know a few people that were accepted but I am a little apprehensive going to a new place.”
Likewise, Jones is finding it a little tough thinking about what she will leave behind.
“I have a lot of peer relationships here with teachers and my club involvement,” Jones added. “One of the first things I was sad about when I was accepted was that I had planned to go for president of SkillsUSA. But when you balance it out, you can’t compare it. But you are going to an amazing place.”
Kieffer admits that he does have some reservations.
“The only two reservations I have are that I’m leaving behind a friend and that I’m not going to be able to drive while on campus,” Kieffer admitted. “Of course my mother has reservations. She has already saying that she will be calling every day and have the room person checking up on me.”
Still, each are quick to point out that the positives out weight the negatives. The trio understands that Gatton will offer many new doors to walk through while learning and growing.
“I’m excited about the research,’ Jones admitted. “You have to do research and also go to a conference and talk about your research. Also, the stuff WKU has to do research is unreal. It’s like a playground. I think the atmosphere is going to be great. It’s not that everyone is there because they have to be there. They are there because they want to be there.”
“You get to do research on something that interests you,” Kieffer said. “They will actually send you to professors that have experience in that area. I also like the fact that we will have acess to the college-level resources. WKU has a super computer on campus. If you are into anything science, they have everything at WKU.”
“I’m looking forward to getting a head start on my college education,” Hawkins said. “I do want to also apply to some other colleges other than Western but regardless of where I go, Gatton will give me a leg up on everything. I am also really excited about having independence. I like to have my own routine. It will be a welcome change.”
Attending Gatton carries with it multiple opportunities---both as current students and as college students going forward. Hawkins notes that, for her, this opportunity is the chance of a lifetime that might not have been available otherwise.
“It will give me the opportunity to do things like going to England for my English 200 credit,” Hawkins said. “I can do that for just a little bit of money. I wouldn’t have been able to do that before
Gatton because my parents couldn’t afford to send me to England. I think I can expand my horizons a whole lot more than I would by spending the last two years of high school here.”
In the spring of 2018, Hawkins, Jones, and Kieffer will receive their diplomas from Gatton. In addition, the trio will also graduate with their current sophomore classmates---as they will also receive their diploma from AC-SH as well. Following graduation, the three will be on to college. Gatton graduates are assured WKU admission or Gatton students can choose to apply for college anywhere in the world.
Jones, Kieffer, and Hawkins have already made decisions about their career goals.
“I have always wanted to be a vet,” Jones said. “I’m sticking to that. I think other things will come. They will be other pieces that will come. I think long-term I will be a vet but just more advanced.”
Kieffer’s ambition is to change the world as Bill Gates and Steve Jobs have done.
“I hope to one day start a technology company,” Kieffer said. “I’m going to be the next Microsoft and Apple.”
Hawkins says her career choice might be computer science but her first interest is in the science field.
“I’m thinking about going into molecular biology and into genetics,” Hawkins noted.
Hawkins, Jones, and Kieffer enter Gatton this year as the Gatton Academy is expanding. In the past, Gatton has accepted 60 students per year. This year, 50 girls and 50 boys will be enrolled. Currently, renovations are underway on Florence Schneider Hall to help house the Gatton students.
Hawkins, Jones, and Kieffer join Jackeline Orozco Cruz (Class of 2015) and Seth Tooley (Class of 2008) as Allen County-Scottsville High School students that have attended the Gatton Academy. Allen County home-schooled student Aaron Bell also was part of the Class of 2008.