Gatton Academy celebrates expansion
Several students, donors and community members gathered outside Florence Schneider Hall on Western Kentucky University’s campus Wednesday to celebrate the expansion of the Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science.
Dr. Julia Link Roberts, Executive Director of The Center for Gifted Studies and The Gatton Academy, welcomed everyone to the event and shared a brief history of the academy before introducing WKU President Dr. Gary Ransdell.
“He was a steady advocate for what has become The Gatton Academy from the time in 1997 when Professor Charles McGruder and I wrote a very small proposal that got the idea for a school for high school students with high interest and talent in science, technology, engineering and mathematical fields started,” Roberts said.
Ransdell recognized the donors that contributed to the expansion of the building and presented Mr. Carol Martin “Bill” Gatton with the 2016 WKU Philanthropist Of The Year Award. Before presenting the award he spoke on the importance of The Gatton Academy to Kentucky.
“The importance of The Gatton Academy to Kentucky cannot be over estimated. The value it brings to this state and what we’re doing to provide an opportunity for gifted and talented high school juniors and seniors to achieve their full intellectual potential in a cohesive environment,” he said. “The Gatton Academy, as those in the general assembly well know, over the years is an economic development strategy for the commonwealth.”
Ransdell also shared an interesting fact that when the building was first completed in 1928 the stone used is the same stone from the same place that was used for the expansion 90 years later.
After the presentation of the award, Gatton Academy student Lea Rhiannon Connor expressed her gratitude to Gatton and shared her perspective on the importance of the academy.
“Every student here made the choice when we came to Gatton to live in a space between where we were and where we want to be, a space of growth. Gatton Academy is this space,” Connor said. “Mr. Gatton’s vision and generosity have also created an entirely different space, one of growth and learning that we can’t necessarily move into or stand on the front steps of.”
In 2006, Gatton made a multi-million dollar gift to establish the academy with the doors opening in 2007 to 120 students. In 2013, Gatton made a second major gift for the expansion of the academy and the renovation that provided space for an additional 80 students. The two new buildings added honor his parents Edith Martin Gatton and Harry W. Gatton Sr.
“I’m thankful to have my name associated with something that’s so successful,” Gatton said. “The state needs to learn from this that this is one of the most productive things that the state can spend money on and there’s no excuse for not ever supporting higher education.”
— Follow faith/general assignments reporter Simone C. Payne on Twitter @_SimonePayne or visit bgdailynews.com.