Leadership Opportunities:

• Avatar:
  • Avatars are senior student leaders who act as ambassadors for The Gatton Academy program. Avatars interact with prospective students and their families through field trips, Preview Days, and other forward-facing opportunities. They are Gatton experts as they answer questions, provide campus tours, sit on panel discussions, and provide insight into the student experience of Gatton. Avatars also contribute posts to The Gatton Academy blog to showcase what Gatton can offer future Automatons.
• Community Developer:
  • Community Developers (CDs) are student leaders responsible for developing a healthy, supportive culture on their wings and throughout the building in keeping with Gatton’s values of Integrity, Compassion, and Respect (ICR) to help their peers be successful personally, socially, and academically. Community Developers collaborate with their Residential Counselors to plan activities for their floors, lead the building-wide cleaning responsibilities, and encourage a healthy and supportive community environment.
• Gatton Activities Board:
  • The Gatton Activities Board (GAB) are passionate students—juniors and seniors—who collaborate with the Residential Counselors to plan and implement free weekend activities and special events for the Gatton Academy community. GAB hosts two events each weekend and several special events throughout the academic year.
• Gatton Media Team:
  • The Gatton Media Team (GMT) is comprised of juniors and seniors who contribute to The Gatton Academy’s social media platforms: TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. Students on GMT take photos at Gatton events and create content that highlights what a typical Gatton student can experience. GMT students also participate in The Gatton Academy’s Yearbook Club.
• Student Development Committee:
  • Student Development Committee (SDC) is a small group of juniors and seniors who have a passion for community partnerships. Under the guidance of the Assistant Director for Alumni Relations and Outreach, students learn about the development process, share their stories about The Gatton Academy’s impact, and help build strong relationships with community partners.

Academic Competitions:

Gatton Academy students continue to compete in many academic competitions, both as individuals and as teams. Students can sit for exams through programs such as Olympiad or AMC or travel for competitions such as Envirothon. These competitions are coordinated based on the interest of the Gatton community and coordinated through the Assistant Director of Academic Services.

Activities and Clubs:

• Activities
  • Weekend Activities – The Gatton Academy offers organized activities every Friday and Saturday evening when students are in residence. These optional events are hosted by Residential Counselors and the Gatton Activities Board and provide opportunities for the entire community to relax, connect, and have fun together. Popular weekend activities include paint night, karaoke, video game tournaments, ice skating, trips to local theater performances, field day, and the annual Gatton Games.
  • Wing Activities – The Residential Counselor and Community Developers organize monthly events for their residential wing of ~25 students. These smaller events offer opportunities for students to bond with their close residential neighbors at Gatton. Some popular wing activities include game nights, arts and crafts, cookouts, bowling, organized sports, and activities in town.
• Clubs
  • Gatton Academy students are encouraged to form and participate in Gatton Academy clubs centered on activities and interests they are passionate about. Clubs are student-driven and reflect the interests of the current community. As a result, club offerings naturally evolve from year to year, allowing students ongoing opportunities to explore interests, develop leadership skills, and build community around shared passions.

Life at WKU:

• Gatton Academy students are granted access to most campus resources and provided to a typical WKU student. The Gatton Academy provides all Gatton students with a meal plan that provides three meals per day at WKU dining facilities. Students have free access to the Preston Health and Activities Center on campus, which includes a weight room, fitness room, gymnasium, track, dance studio, racquetball courts, swimming pool, and other facilities.

 

• In addition to Gatton Academy clubs and activities, Gatton students can participate WKU student organizations, with the exception of NCAA athletics and fraternity and sorority life. To find out more information regarding student organizations and activities at WKU, please visit WKU's Student Activities page at https://www.wku.edu/sao/.

 

Activities/Extracurricullar Questions?

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