This year’s class of Craft Academy for Excellence in Science and Mathematicsarrived Sunday, Aug. 7, on the campus of Morehead State University.
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The Craft Academy for Excellence in Science and Mathematics was designed to meet the unique educational needs of academically gifted and talented high school juniors and seniors in the Commonwealth. A college-level curriculum allows students to finish high school while also completing up to two years of university coursework.
“We are delighted to have the students and their families here on campus. The Craft Academy has added to Morehead State University's rich history," said Dr. Wayne D. Andrews, president. "The Academy could have never come to fruition without the inspiration and leadership provided by Sen. (Robert) Stivers, Rep. (Rocky) Adkins, the Kentucky General Assembly and through the generosity of Joe Craft.”
State lawmakers have allocated $2.8 million to support the Academy. Businessman Joe Craft pledged $4 million during the next several years in support of the Academy. Craft's gift is the single largest cash gift in the history of MSU.
The Craft Academy offers unique, project-based STEM+X courses that enrich educational experiences and develop competencies in entrepreneurship and innovation, design and creativity, and civic and regional engagement.
Students live on campus in Grote-Thompson Hall, which has been remodeled with meeting and social space and 24/7 staffing. Counselors and advisors also are available.
"This class of scholars includes some of the most academically talented students from across the Commonwealth, and we couldn't be prouder of them," said Dr. Carol Christian, director of the Craft Academy. "Our staff has done a tremendous amount of work preparing and we are looking forward to getting classes underway."
Students were selected based on ACT and SAT scores, academic grades from their first two years of high school, interest in advanced STEM careers, responses to application essay questions, interview by the Academy selection committee and recommendations from teachers and others who could attest to the student's need and preparedness for the program.
At the end of the two years, students will have earned a minimum of 60 credit hours, finished high school and have the opportunity to further their education at MSU or transfer to any other college/university in Kentucky or elsewhere.
Students selected for the Craft Academy Class of 2018 are:
Bath: Margaret Hughes, daughter of Freda and Steven Hughes from Bath County High School
Boone: Emmi Fish, daughter of Doug Fish and Kaye Tyler Fish from Ryle High School
Bourbon: Anne Park, daughter of Harry and Vivian Park from Paris High School
Boyd: Isaac Vinson, son of Angela and Zach Vinson from Ashland Blazer High School
Bullitt: Ishika Patel, daughter of Kammi I. Patel and Ishwar M. Patel from Riverview High School
Bullitt: Garrett Jones, son of Tammy Scrogham and Gary Jones from Riverview High School
Carter: Cade Clark, son of Kimberly and Todd Clark from East Carter High School
Carter: Grace Edens, daughter of Beth and Neil Edens from East Carter County High School
Carter: Abigail Gillispie, daughter of Wayne and Darlene Gillispie from West Carter County High School
Clark: Xan Arnett, son of Aaron and Selina Arnett from George Rogers Clark High School
Crittenden: Landon Brooks, son of Jeff and Julie Brooks from Crittenden County High School
Crittenden: Corbin Wilson, son of William and Mary Wilson from Crittenden County High School
Elliott: Haley Dennis, daughter of Lesa and Jeff Dennis from Elliott County High School
Fayette: Sam McInteer, daughter of Richard and Deb McInteer from STEAM Academy
Fayette: Caroline O'Neil, daughter of Brent and Tammi O'Neil of LaFayettte High School
Fayette: Christian Trowel, son of Calvin Trowel and Melanie Trowel from Paul Lawrence Dunbar High School
Fleming: J.D. Kincaid, son of Danny Kincaid, Diane Kincaid (step mother) and Sarah Kincaid from Fleming County High School
Fleming: Nathanael Watkins, son of James and Christy Watkins from Fleming County High School
Garrard: J.T. Fitzpatrick, son of Leigh Ann and Tommy Fitzpatrick from Garrard County High School
Greenup: Brandon Staton, son of Kim Staton and James Staton from Russell High School
Hardin: Caleb Buchanan, son of Craig and Carrie Buchanan from John Hardin High School
Hardin: Rhianna Clemons, daughter of Angela Mullens and Rickey Clemons from Elizabethtown High School
Hardin: Mason Harris, son of Tony and Stacie Harris from Central Hardin High School
Hardin: Lenna Yong, daughter of Lisa Yong and Inn Hoe Yong from Elizabethtown High School
Jefferson: Melaine Brazel, daughter of Michael and Kristen Brazel from Eastern High School
Jefferson: Hayden Hubbuch, daughter of Jan Youngblood and Mike Hubbuch from Atherton High School
Jefferson: Alex Jetter, son of Beth Immerso from Brown School
Jefferson: Alden Loring, son of Mark and Karen Loring from Brown School
Jefferson: Nate Murray, son of David and Karen Murray from Louisville Collegiate School
Jessamine: Cameron Arthur, son of George and Tracy Arthur from East Jessamine High School
Johnson: Sarrisa Hale, daughter of Sandra Hale and William Hale from Johnson Central High School
Johnson: Brooke Hall, daughter of Deanna Hall and Ronnie Hall from Johnson Central High School
Kenton: David Chai, son of Lucy Hu and Fengming Chai from Simon Kenton High School
Kenton: Michael Mardis, son of Jenny Hardorn, Todd Schulkers from Scott High School
Kenton: Haylee Mitchell, daughter of Dwight and Angela Mitchell from Simon Kenton High School
Kenton: Brooklyn Sauer, daughter of Frank and Maryann Sauer from Simon Kenton High School
Knott: Nadia Richardson, daughter of Stephen and Pamela Richardson from Knott County Central High School
Lawrence: Billie McCoy, daughter of Bobbie and Oscar McCoy from Lawrence County High School
Madison: Stefan Kwiecinski, son of Jaana Kwiecinski and John Kwiecinski from Madison Central High School
Madison: Abigail Williams, daughter of Marty and Christine Williams from Madision Southern High School
Meade: Cody Madden, son of John and Patricia Madden from Meade County High School
Meade: Michael Thoma, son of James and Melanie Thoma from Meade County High School
Meade: Shane Walsburger, son of C. Paul Walsburger from Meade County High School
Montgomery: Callie Arnold, daughter of Brad and Norma Arnold from Montgomery County High School
Montgomery: Jacquelyn Crump, daughter of Jeff and Brenda Crump from Montgomery County High School
Montgomery: Dalton Sparks, son of Debbie Sparks and Charlie Sparks Jr from Montgomery County High School
Oldham: Sierra Hauck, daughter of Charles and Jennifer Hauck from Oldham County High School
Pendleton: Cullen Beard, son of Douglas and Laura Beard from Pendleton County High School
Perry: Alex Vermillion, son of Melissa and Kevin Vermillion from Hazard High School
Powell: Graham Fizer, son of Barbara Graham and Barry Fizer from Powell County High School
Pulaski: Kelly Brunson, daughter of Diane and Craig Brunson from Pulaski County High School
Rowan: Sean Daugherty, son of Donald and Michelle Daugherty, Nicholas and Michelle Whitley from Rowan County Sr. High School
Rowan: Trevor Past, son of Melodie Past and Michael Harford from Rowan County Senior High School
Scott: Kaylee Whitenack, daughter of Darrell Whitenack and Nina Johnson-Whitenack from Scott County High School
Shelby: Jack Dorman, son of Kelly Dorman from Shelby County High School
Union: Jolie Baird, daughter of Joe and Cara Beth Baird from Union County High School
Wolfe: Makayla Bush, daughter of William and Melissa Bush from Wolfe County High School
Wolfe: Savannah Perkins, daughter of Darrell Perkins and Elsie Mullins Perkins from Wolfe County High School
Woodford: McKenna Jobe, daughter of Susie and Ben Stivers / Jeff Jobe from Woodford County High School
Woodford: Gloria Mullins, daughter of Chris and Hope Mullins from Woodford County High School
Additional information on the Craft Academy for Excellence in Science and Mathematics is available by calling 606-783-9025 or at www.moreheadstate.edu/craft-academy.