Gatton Academy student Gretchen Walch is pictured with Dr. Graham Hatfull, Professor of Biological Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh and Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Professor. Dr. Hatfull is the Principal Investigator for the HHMI Science Education Alliance-Phage Hunters Advancing Genomic and Evolutionary Science program, a research-based laboratory course aimed at undergraduate students who are new to college-level science and have had little or no independent research experience.

Walch received an honorable mention for her presentation titled “Isolation, Characterization and Genomic Analysis of Mycobacteriophages Achebe, MooMoo, Simpliphy and Updawg.”

The meeting took place June 7-9 at the Janelia Farm Research campus in Ashburn, Va. This year’s symposium featured more than 75 undergraduate poster presentations.

Dr. Rodney King and Dr. Claire Rinehart, professors in WKU’s Department of Biology, have co-mentored Walch over the past year and attended the symposium with her.

“Gretchen was chosen to represent the WKU Genome Discovery and Exploration class because she demonstrated enthusiasm, maturity, perseverance and genuine curiosity,” Dr. King said. “She spent many extra hours in the lab learning as much as she could about her phage and ensuring her lab notebook was complete and up-to-date. Gretchen also embraced the collaborative nature of the scientific process and willingly helped her classmates with laboratory protocols.”

The WKU Biology Department has participated in the SEA-PHAGES program since the fall of 2009. The Genome Discovery and Exploration Program at WKU is designed to engage freshman students in meaningful and authentic research that produces publishable results.

Course participants isolate and sequence novel viruses from the soil, contribute the genomic sequences to a public database and address scientific questions of viral diversity and evolution.

Walch came away from the SEA-PHAGES symposium with a renewed interest in continuing research.

“The SEA-PHAGES Symposium was inspiring,” she said. “The environment and guest speakers expanded my imagination in research. Every part of the program from the presentations and poster sessions to the meals and coffee breaks fostered the wonderful concept of scientific dialog. My mind has been racing with excitement since I heard the first talk.”

A number of additional Gatton Academy students contributed to the work presented on Walch’s poster. Gatton students who are co-authors on the presentation include: Corbin M. Allender, Grace E. Babbs, Barry C. Blair, Carolyn M. Clark, Joseph E. Crafton, Ajit R. Deshpande, Samantha M. Dinga, Hannah N. Graff, Alex W. Kearns, Azlin L. Lewis, Mary-Grace E. Luscher, Patrick G. Osterhaus, Lindsey R. Porter, Lindsey M. Shain, Domnique C. Thayer, Vishnuteja Tirumala and Connor M. VanMeter.

For information about WKU’s SEA-PHAGES research class, contact Dr. Rodney King at rodney.king@wku.edu or Dr. Claire Rinehart at claire.rinehart@wku.edu.

Contact: Chad Phillips, (270) 745-6565.

Melanie Eaton

Advancement to Fellow represents the highest level of membership in ACHCA and requires a record of participation in professional continuing education, suitable formal education, community service and at least two years of voting membership.

Eaton recently began her employment with WKU Aging after a professional career of more than 12 years in aging services and health care leadership and management. At her previous role with Christian Care Communities, Inc. in Bowling Green, Eaton was Executive Director of a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) that included nursing facility, transitional care, outpatient rehab, independent living, personal care, geriatric case management, home health and plans for expansion to include memory care and assisted living. As a MBA and Health Care Administration graduate of WKU, Eaton also was a part-time instructor for the Department of Public Health.

In addition to this recent achievement of Fellow status, Eaton has achieved national certification as a Nursing Home Administrator, is a graduate of the prestigious National Emerging Leadership Summit (NELS) and was recently appointed to a national professional practice analysis task force for the National Association of Long Term Care Administrator Boards (NAB), the nation’s leading authority on licensing, credentialing and regulating administrators of organizations along the continuum of long term care.

When asked what brought her to WKU, Eaton said: “I’ve always had a passion for working with students that want to enter the field of aging services, particularly in leadership or management roles. After over 10 years of success in my professional career, my current role with Dr. Dana B. Bradley, Director of the Center for Gerontology, allows me to spend more time working with students in a way that helps them to network and hopefully provide the tools and guidance they need to develop into successful individuals in this profession. Right now, I am still able to stay connected professionally while also being a resource to WKU and doing something I truly enjoy.”

Eaton said plans are under way to begin a pilot program at WKU that is associated with the ACHCA for which she is an adviser.

Founded in 1962, ACHCA is the only professional association devoted solely to meeting the professional needs of today’s long-term care administrators. ACHCA’s mission focuses on advancing leadership excellence in long term care through the provision of leadership education, promotion of professional advancement programs such as Fellowship and Certification, and facilitation of leadership development.

Contact: Melanie Eaton, (270) 745-2356 or melanie.eaton@wku.edu

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Contact: Bob Skipper, (270) 745-4295.

Spirit Masters are the official ambassadors of WKU, work with the administration, alumni and community to provide a warm reception for guests and welcome every opportunity to promote WKU and exemplify the University’s motto, “The Spirit Makes the Master.”

Students selected as new Spirit Masters for 2013-14 are:

• Haddy Badjie of Lewisville, Texas, a sophomore broadcast news major and communication studies and political science minor.
• Taylor Bowling of London, a sophomore civil engineering major and legal studies minor.
• Paige Freeman of Louisville, a senior communication studies major and facility and event management minor.
• Stephanie Gaiko of Bowling Green, a senior health sciences major.
• Jana Harrison of Owensboro, a senior English major and professional writing minor.
• Ellie Jolly of Cadiz, a junior biology major and broadcasting minor.
• Alyson Manley of Morganfield, a senior public relations major and marketing minor.
• Eric Marr of Glasgow, a junior chemistry major and business administration minor.
• Grace McCullough of Louisville, a junior psychology major and business administration minor.
• Matthew Purdom of Shelbyville, a senior political science major and entrepreneurship minor.
• Charlie Rhea of Louisville, a junior public health major.
• Ben Richardson of Kennesaw, Ga., a junior chemistry major with pre-pharmacy concentration.
• Olivia Sharp of Louisville, a junior corporate and organizational communication major and nonprofit administration minor.
• Catherine Stone of Scottsville, a junior economics and agriculture major.
• Kirsten Tarter of Leitchfield, a senior psychology major.
• Ryan Vennell of Chatham, Ill., a senior broadcasting major and marketing minor.

Contact: Lucinda Anderson, (270) 745-5309.

A group from The Center for Gifted Studies at WKU recently spent 10 days in France.

“Travel to France with 25 others was so enjoyable and educational,” Dr. Julia Roberts said. “There were many highlights of the trip which included visiting the beaches of the D-Day landings, walking in Monet’s gardens, viewing the Eiffel Tower with colored lights at night, and seeing the recently cleaned Chartres Cathedral.”

The Center for Gifted Studies’ Travel trips are meant for students, parents and educators. Madi Miller of Richmond is a repeat traveler with The Center who went on this most recent trip to France.

“I’ve traveled with the Center three times now, and each time it was been a new adventure,” Miller said.  “We not only get to see some of the most amazing and impressive landmarks from history, but also experience the modern culture of these places.”

“It has been a privilege to be able to meet and interact with the adults and students who go on these trips, and a great opportunity to draw on the knowledge and experience of both Dr. Roberts.”

The Center started the trip in route to Caen, where the group visited Monet’s Garden.  After visiting Monet’s Garden, the Center made its way to the Beaches of Normandy, just a few days before the 69^th anniversary of D-day. Following Normandy, the Center traveled to Paris to see the Eiffel Tower, to Versailles to see the palace, and then back to Paris to visit Notre Dame, the Orsay Museum and the Louvre Museum.  Following Paris, the group also traveled to the Loire Valley to see the Chartres Cathedral and the Chateau Chenonceau.

While the trips are fun, they also have educational opportunities at every turn.

“The goal for students is to enhance their understanding of world history, art, and politics,” Dr. Roberts said.

The Center’s next study abroad trip is scheduled for Oct. 4-13 to Germany.

To see pictures of the Trip to France, visit the Center’s Flickr site at http://www.flickr.com/photos/giftedstudieswku/sets/72157633966595213/.

For information on The Center’s May 27-June 5 trip to France or a trip next spring to Italy, contact Zack Ryle at (270) 745-3014 or at zachary.ryle@wku.edu.

About The Center for Gifted Studies: Located on the WKU campus in Bowling Green, The Center for Gifted Studies has been serving children who are gifted and talented, their educators, and their parents for 30 years. The Center provides exciting educational opportunities for gifted young people, rigorous professional development for teachers, and support for parents of gifted young people. Under the direction of Dr. Julia Roberts, The Center has become one of the preeminent advocates for gifted education in the United States.  The Center believes that when gifted young people meet their extraordinary potential, our communities, our state, our nation—even our world—become better places. That is why each school year, The Center renews its commitment to encouraging excellence by providing quality programming and resources for gifted students, their teachers, and their parents.

The camp teaches students of all skill levels proper technique, chord and scale shapes, basic music theory, rhythm, performance and more.

The camp takes place July 15-19, with morning camp for ages 7-11 from 8:30-11:30 and afternoon camp for ages 12-18 from 1-4:30. Instruction takes place at the Music Rehearsal Hall on the WKU campus, and the camp is led by Don Hicks and John Martin.

Students may rent an instrument for $10 through an agreement with Royal Music. For rental information, call (270) 842-9435 or stop by Royal Music at 830 Fairview Ave.

Big Red Gig is available through a partnership with WKU Lifelong Learning, a unit of Extended Learning & Outreach (DELO).

Camp fee is $90. Registration takes place through July 1. For information, including the registration form and camp schedule, visit www.wku.edu/guitar.

Contact: Cindy Ehresman, (270) 745-1910

The WKU storm chasers documented four tornadoes including this EF-4 tornado near Bennington, Kan. (Photo by Dr. Josh Durkee)

The May 2013 summer term was the fourth year that Dr. Josh Durkee’s Field Methods in Weather Analysis and Forecasting class set out across the Great Plains, forecasting and verifying a wide variety of severe weather. As with previous years, the WKU group accomplished much success in their mission.

This year Dr. Durkee, along with Dr. Grady Dixon and eight students, traveled 7,115 miles across 10 states (Kentucky, Missouri, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado, Arkansas and Tennessee) to apply various forecasting techniques with regard to severe weather, and to analyze and document the hazardous outcomes as they unfolded. The group documented up to four confirmed tornadoes, including an EF-4 quasi-stationary tornado near Bennington, Kan., as well as number of damaging hail and wind events and flash floods.

The overall purpose of this class is to provide a unique and practical capstone learning experience beyond a traditional classroom setting for students studying meteorology.

The WKU group viewed mammtus clouds near Ogallala, Neb. (Photo by Josh Durkee)

“As opposed to many traditional college courses where the instructor makes most of the decisions, in this course the students make many of the decisions,” Dr. Durkee said. “This gives each student a true sense of the real responsibility that goes into weather analysis and forecasting, and forces them to put forth their best efforts at all times. Consequently, the students often finish the course with skill sets well ahead of others who have not taken the class.”

While the decision-making is largely left up to the students, Dr. Durkee still guides their decisions toward the most ideal and safe outcomes.

“As with any field intensive class, the number one rule for this is course is to always practice the best safety measures while targeting the optimal environment from which to learn from,” Dr. Durkee said. “There is a lot more than weather forecasting that goes into the daily routine. We always consider the array of potential obstacles that may hinder our safety and/or learning environment. Such obstacles include navigable roadways, topography, population density, traffic, among others. If any one or combination of these factors intrudes on our ‘classroom,’ we simply avoid that area.”

A wedge tornado near Bennington, Kan. (Photo by Ilea
Schneider)

This year has been a particularly troublesome year as many devastating storms and tornadoes repeatedly hit urban areas surrounding Oklahoma City, which Dr. Durkee’s class avoided altogether.

“I cannot stress enough that our mission for this course is not to test our limitations in the face of these storms in order to see what Mother Nature has to offer,” Dr. Durkee said. “Rather, we follow along from the back row so to speak, in order to comfortably observe, learn from, and respect these incredible and powerful events.”

This year’s group included WKU students Ryan Difani of Pocahontas, Ark.; Will Paschall of Germantown, Tenn.; Tyler Smith of Russellville; Colton Lindsey of Mount Vernon, Ind.; Andrew Schuler of Independence; Tara Wagoner of Lafayette, Tenn.; Ilea Schneider of Lewisport; and Veronica Hall of Livonia, Mich.

Dr. Durkee is assembling the forecast analyses, surface, upper-air, radar, satellite, and GPS data, along with the photography and video documentation to prepare students for upcoming research endeavors, as well as to use these data as learning devices for courses in the upcoming academic school year. Read the student blog entries and view more photos from the 2013 journey on the WKU Meteorology Blog at http://meteorology.blog.wku.edu/, on Twitter at https://twitter.com/wkustormchase and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/wkumetclimsci

Contact: Josh Durkee, (270) 745-8777.

Brent Björkman

The American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress awards the Green fellowships to stimulate research in occupational folklore across the country. Only four fellowships were awarded for 2013.

In cooperation with state and national park personnel, Björkman and collaborator Jon Kay, director of Traditional Arts Indiana at Indiana University, will conduct ethnographic and oral history interviews documenting the occupational traditions and experiences of park rangers working in their neighboring states. In addition to fostering cooperative regional research, this study is particularly timely since both the National Park Service and the Indiana State Parks and Reservoirs system will celebrate their centennials in 2016.

Archie Green, the scholar for which the fellowship was named, was a pioneering folklorist who championed the establishment of the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress. As a scholar, he documented and analyzed the culture and traditions of American workers and encouraged others to do the same.

The Kentucky Folklife Program moved to WKU’s Department of Folk Studies and Anthropology in Potter College of Arts & Letters in 2012 after 20 years as a successful interagency program of the Kentucky Historical Society and Kentucky Arts Council. The Kentucky Folklife Program remains dedicated to the mission of identifying, documenting and conserving the Commonwealth’s diverse cultural traditions. In October 2012, the archives of the Kentucky Folklife Program merged with the existing WKU Folklife Archives at the Kentucky Museum to create one of the most extensive and dynamic archives of culture and folklife in Kentucky.

The research produced by Björkman and Kay will be preserved in both the American Folklife Center archive in Washington, D.C., and at the Kentucky Folklife Program Archive and made available to researchers and the public.

Contact: Brent Björkman, (270) 745-4133.