SCATS campers hail from seven states

By Tucker Allen Covey

With the Summer Camp for Academically Talented Middle School Students now in its 34th summer, gifted middle school students have come from near and far to be surrounded by their intellectual peers. This summer, students have come from seven states to attend SCATS.

Coming from Overland Park, Kansas, Rafi Barreto is in his first year at SCATS. "This is the longest time I have spent away from home," he said. "I thought I would get homesick but I'm not, it's great!" (Photo by Tucker Allen Covey) — Coming from Overland Park, Kansas, Rafi Barreto is in his first year at SCATS. “This is the longest time I have spent away from home,” he said. “I thought I would get homesick but I’m not; it’s great!” (Photo by Tucker Allen Covey)

Coming from Birmingham, Alabama, Addie Blankinship is at SCATS for the first time. Blankenship found out about SCATS through research her parents did on summer activities, and her grandmother attended WKU, making it an easy choice to attend SCATS. (Photo by Tucker Allen Covey)

Aaron Suggs from Louisville is at SCATS for the first time. Suggs heard about SCATS through his teachers and mother, who thought the experience would be beneficial for him. "This is the longest I have spent away from home," he said. "The food is good, so that is a good thing." (Photo by Tucker Allen Covey) — Aaron Suggs from Louisville is at SCATS for the first time. Suggs heard about SCATS through his teachers and mother, who thought the experience would be beneficial for him. “This is the longest I have spent away from home,” he said. “The food is good, so that is a good thing.” (Photo by Tucker Allen Covey)

Elizabeth Moots from Kirksville, Missouri, is at SCATS for the first time. She was a member the United Kingdom team during the SCATS Olympics, "It felt good to get third," she said. Elizabeth said she enjoys WKU's campus and has fond memories of other times spent on campus with her grandmother, who works at WKU. (Photo by Tucker Allen Covey) — Elizabeth Moots from Kirksville, Missouri, is at SCATS for the first time. She was a member the United Kingdom team during the SCATS Olympics, “It felt good to get third,” she said. Elizabeth said she enjoys WKU’s campus and has fond memories of other times spent on campus with her grandmother, who works at WKU. (Photo by Tucker Allen Covey)

An eighth grader from Nashville, Tennessee, Trevor Zou is at SCATS for the first time and hopes to come to VAMPY in the future. "My favorite parts of SCATS are lunch and optionals," he said. "My favorite optional was ultimate frisbee." (Photo by Tucker Allen Covey) — An eighth grader from Nashville, Tennessee, Trevor Zou
is at SCATS for the first time and hopes to come to VAMPY in the future. “My favorite parts of SCATS are lunch and optionals,” he said. “My favorite optional was ultimate frisbee.” (Photo by Tucker Allen Covey)

An eighth grader from Cincinnati, Ohio, Lily Jones is at SCATS for the first time. "My favorite parts of SCATS are art classes and optionals," she said. "My favorite optional so far has been chips & dips." (Photo by Tucker Allen Covey) — An eighth grader from Cincinnati, Ohio, Lily Jones is at SCATS for the first time. “My favorite parts of SCATS are art classes and optionals,” she said. “My favorite optional so far has been chips & dips.” (Photo by Tucker Allen Covey)

Coming from Boonville, Indiana, Samuel McGuire is at SCATS for the second year. McGuire was a member of team Belize during the SCATS Olympic Games. "We lost," he said. (Photo by Tucker Allen Covey) — Coming from Boonville, Indiana, Samuel McGuire is at SCATS for the second year. McGuire was a member of team Belize during the SCATS Olympic Games. “We lost,” he said. (Photo by Tucker Allen Covey)