ECHS Student Accepted Into WKU's Gatton Academy

Only 102 Students In Commonwealth Accepted

WKU's Gatton Academy

Edmonson Voice Report:
Taylor Dooley, a sophomore at Edmonson County High School, has been accepted into Western Kentucky University's Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science for the class of 2022.

Applicants were evaluated based on ACT/SAT scores, high school grades, awards, extracurricular activities, responses to essay and short answer questions, and letters of recommendation. In addition to these criteria, earlier this month, 189 candidates were invited to interview with WKU faculty members, community leaders from across the Commonwealth, and Gatton Academy alumni.

The selected students scored an average composite of 30.58 on the ACT and 30.23 on the mathematics portion of the exam. The highest possible score is a 36. 

“What a pleasure it is to welcome the 2022 class of The Gatton Academy,” stated Dr. Julia Roberts, Executive Director of The Gatton Academy and Mahurin Professor of Gifted Education.  “These young people represent Kentucky geographically as well as in other characteristics, carrying out the goal of The Gatton Academy to enable Kentucky’s exceptional young scientists and mathematicians to learn in an environment that offers advanced educational opportunities and develop as future leaders for the Commonwealth.”

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.

Taylor is the daughter of Jason and Jennifer Dooley of Chalybeate. Her older brother, Gavin Dooley, will graduate from Gatton Academy and ECHS in 2020, where he was named a National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist. 

She will also join ECHS student Ava Kate Lich, who was accepted into the program last year. Mackenzie Daniels, 2017 valedictorian of ECHS, was also a recent Gatton Academy student.