Two Grayson County High School sophomores have been selected to enroll in WKU’s prestigious The Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science.
In total, The Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science selected 95 Kentucky sophomores for the Class of 2026, marking The Gatton Academy’s 19th incoming class.
The Grayson County High School students selected were Morgan Glasscock and Katie Morgan.
“The Class of 2026 is made up of remarkable young people interested in pursuing STEM careers and who are looking for advanced academic opportunities,” said the Director of The Gatton Academy, Dr. Lynette Breedlove. “These outstanding students have been engaged in their communities and sought opportunities to grow and help others.”
The selected 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 WKU.
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 WKU campus 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 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 from nearby counties accepted into The Gatton Academy’s Class of 2026 were Talia Ellis (Hart County High School), Tyler Robert Harper (Hart County High School) and Brayden Johnson (Edmonson County High School).
By Ken Howlett, News Director and WKU
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
