Published: January 14, 2007 12:01 am      

Academy of Mathematics and Science

Program at WKU will be 14th nationwide school

Ashland — The state’s first Academy of Mathematics and Science is taking applications.

The academy, which is funded by state legislature, will be the 14th nationwide residential school with a focus on math and science for 120 advanced high school students.

“Kentucky is getting on the cutting edge of education,” said Cory Alderdice, the academy’s planning coordinator. “Thanks to the support of Kentucky’s legislature, priority is back with students to ensure future success for the state.”

Tim Gotts, director of the program, reported that Kentucky ranks 47th in the number of scientists and engineers.

“There are several factors for this ranking,” Gotts said. “One is that the state has never fully promoted these studies and another is the fact that we are a small state. But because of that, we are capable of showing the greatest degree of increase. First fruits of this program should be evident within five years.”

Gotts said many people are just taking notice of the shift in economies in places such as China and India.

“The cause of this shift are countries with much higher expectations of students and the moments they’ve had to take off with engineering and technology.

The academy will be based at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green. WKU is also home of the Center for Gifted Studies for middle and high school students. The program is a residential early admissions college for 60 high school juniors and 60 high school seniors who have demonstrated interest in pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The goal is to enable exceptional young scientists and mathematicians to learn in an environment which offers advanced educational opportunities. After two years, academy students will have their high school diploma as well as any where between 60 to 70 college credit hours.

“There are students across the state with needs that cannot be met by traditional educational,” Alderdice said. “These students have outstripped their curriculum and schools don’t know what to do with them.”

Instead of spending their junior and senior years in traditional high schools, the students will live in Schneider Hall on WKU’s campus and take courses offered by WKU professors.

“Far more rigorous than traditional education, this is not just math and science — it’s engineering and technology. Students have to be able to step up their game and do it with enthusiasm,” Alderdice said.

Students will have the opportunity to take classes in a broad range of academic interests including humanities, languages, or social sciences, in addition to their focus on math and science. Interest and ability in math and science may be supplemented with opportunities for research during the academic year as well as in the summer. The academy also provides internship opportunities.

“There are two parts to what the academy strives achieve,” Gotts said. “We want it to be the most amazing tool for students to use in order to meet their academic needs and we want to provide them with the highest level of opportunities available.

“The academy is a gateway for the state to rise above the statistics and maximize the wealth of students prepared for leadership roles in Kentucky.”

Representatives from the academy will lead an informational session at 7 p.m. Feb. 5 at Russell Primary School.

SARAH LYNCH can be reached at slynch@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2650.