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Gatton Academy awarded $15,000 grant by GM Bowling Green assembly plant for student academic enrichment

Jun 29, 2023 | 1:01 PM
Lyla Wood (Edmonson County High School) scans a historical map of Mammoth Cave from the curatorial archive during the internship.
(KARI LYNN SOMERS/WKU)

BOWLING GREEN — The Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science at Western Kentucky University was named one of eight organizations to receive a collective $100,000 from the GM Bowling Green Assembly Plant through the GM Community Impact Grants (CIG) Program. The Gatton Academy received $15,000 to support five students participating in summer academic opportunities across Kentucky and the United States.

Through the CIG Program, Bowling Green Assembly collaborated with GM Corporate Giving to identify programs that are helping to address local issues within the community.

Students benefiting from the awarded funds are pursuing research and engagement opportunities at Mammoth Cave National Park, Brown University, and Indiana University in Bloomington.

Recent Gatton graduate Kenyan Wood, also of Caverna High School, and rising Gatton senior Lyla Wood, also of Edmonson County High School, are conducting internships with Mammoth Cave National Park. Kenyan Wood is working in Communications and Social Media and Lyla Wood is working in Curation and Digital Services.

Cheryl Kirby-Stokes, Coordinator for Academic Opportunities at The Gatton Academy, said “Gatton is extremely grateful to GM for investing in our students. Their work at these institutions not only assists the faculty and staff, but also incentivizes our students to investigate future educational and career opportunities in STEM-related fields.”

Established in 2007, The Gatton Academy is Kentucky’s first residential two-year program for gifted and talented juniors and seniors. The Gatton Academy’s students enroll as juniors and are full-time WKU students pursuing their interests in advanced science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.