Joe Imel/Daily News Emily Peeler of Bowling Green High School carries some of her belongings into Schneider Hall today. Peeler is one of 120 high school seniors attending the Academy of Mathematics and Science.

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Mounds of clothing, containers, microwaves, fans and other items used to deck out a dorm room were moved into Western Kentucky University's Florence Schneider Hall today as the inaugural class of Academy of Mathematics and Science at WKU checked in.

The class has 120 students from 62 counties across the state.

“This is the fun day for us,” said Deborah Guffy, assistant director of student life for the academy. Guffy has worked at four different academies elsewhere. “This place doesn't become a school until we get everybody moved in. The students waited so long to be here. This is the final step.”

The class visited Western in May for orientation and to register for the upcoming year. Now, with renovations to the hall nearly complete, students and WKU faculty were anticipating the move in.

Academy Director Tim Gott said looking forward to this day is an understatement. He said it's a culmination of so much, and being a part of it gives him joy.

“For many people who've worked with the academy, this is a decade of work coming to fruition,” said Corey Alderdice, assistant director admissions and public relations for the academy. “There's a lot of excitement. We have some extremely talented students. They bring passion, enthusiasm and a sense of pride to what they can accomplish here.”

The academy allows high school juniors and seniors gifted in math and science to learn in an environment that allots advanced educational opportunities, said Stephanie Davis, residential counselor, who attended the Missouri Academy. She said the students will be given an opportunity to develop their talents in math and science, where they wouldn't have at their home schools, which may lack resources.

In addition to taking classes offered by WKU, at the end of two years, they will be high school graduates and will have earned at least 60 college credit hours.

“I'm really excited,” said Glasgow High School student Brittany Stone, 16. “It's been a long time coming, and now it's finally here. I think this will be a good opportunity and a good experience. I'm ready to start classes. I'm a little afraid it'll be difficult, but I'm sure I'll be OK.”

The move in was staggered according to distance from the campus, Guffy said. She said that was to ease the flow of traffic coming into the building - making it easier for parents and students to check in. She said usually move in days are hectic, but with “lots” of people helping with the load, it should go great.

“The only thing is that it's hot, but we have no control over the weather,” she said.

Stone was accompanied by her parents, Daryl and Abby Stone.

“I brought way too much stuff with me,” she said. “I don't know if it will all fit in my room.”

Gott said there was some concern with having juniors and seniors on a college campus, but with the security systems in place and ample staffing, those concerns waned.

And, although Daryl Stone said the concern of having his 16-year-old daughter on a college campus is still there, the opportunity she has means more.

“We'd rather she be at home, but that's part of living I guess,” he said. “I think this is an unbelievable opportunity, and we feel education is the most important part of growing up, and her emphasis will be that here.”

Davis said the students will blend well with the college students. However, the privileges college students have, the academy students won't - well not all of them. The students in the academy will have curfews and rules, Davis said.

The students know it's a privilege to be here, and they won't do anything to compromise that, she said.

“I'm looking forward to this year,” said Warren Central High School student Juliya Grigoryan, 16. “I know it'll be hard and stuff, but I'm ready.”

Grigoryan said people can come visit whenever they want and she can go home on the weekends. She said she'll like being in the college atmosphere.

“I'll miss my family, but I think I'll like it here. I'll be able to study,” she said. “It's been pretty good so far. It was well -organized, which made it efficient. I bought all my stuff, and I like my room.

“It's clean.”

Western will dedicate the academy with a special ceremony at 1 p.m. Thursday that will include a major leadership gift, resulting in its naming.

Scheduled speakers include Kentucky Education Secretary Laura Owens, House Speaker Jody Richards, WKU President Gary Ransdell and Julia Roberts, Mahurin Professor of Gifted Studies at WKU and executive director of WKU's Center for Gifted Studies and the Academy.