Five of Lincoln’s high school seniors -- who dream of being writers and philosophers, who love theater and international studies and economics -- got a good start on those dreams by acing their college preparatory exams.
They were among 15 Nebraska seniors honored by Gov. Pete Ricketts Thursday for getting perfect scores: 14 students aced the ACT; one student got a perfect score on the SAT; and two of the 15 got perfect scores on both tests.
A perfect score on the ACT is 36; on the SAT, it's 2400. The ACT is the more common exam taken in Nebraska; SAT exams are required more often by schools on the coasts.
The students from Lincoln, Omaha, Hastings and Plainview are among a select few to get those scores. More than 1.8 million students take the ACT nationwide, and about 1,400 get a perfect score. In Nebraska, the 15 students with perfect scores are among 17,768 who took the ACT.
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Worldwide, nearly 1.7 million students took the SAT, including 772 Nebraska students, three of whom got perfect scores.
Those recognized at Lincoln East High School were:
*Erin Cooney, Lincoln East High School (perfect ACT and SAT)
High school: Played flute in the marching band; worked as a theater technician for high school productions.
Plans: To study English at the University of Southern California.
Dreams: To be a writer, something she’s loved since she was little.
Advice: “Don’t procrastinate! I say that from experience. Get in the habit of planning ahead.â€
*Emma Cooney, Lincoln East High School (perfect ACT)
High school: Played violin in the orchestra; competed on the speech team; involved in theater as actor and technician.
Plans: To study theater design and production at Boston University.
Dreams: To be a stage manager in a big city such as Boston, New York or Chicago.
Advice: “Take driver’s education when you are 15, then get your license, because doing it in the fourth quarter of your senior year sucks†(also from personal experience).
*Daniel Parr, Lincoln East High School (perfect ACT)
High school: Played baseball four years; also played football and was on the swim team; participated in “We the People†competition.
Plans:Â Attend New College of Florida; major still undecided but interested in philosophy.
Dreams: To be in academia in some capacity, perhaps in philosophy, and to be a writer.
Advice: “Whatever you’re worried about doing, you should probably worry less, including grades.â€
*Shuowei Qin, Lincoln East High School (perfect ACT)
High school:Â Competed on speech team and in national tournaments.
Plans: To study economics and public health at Brown University.
Dreams: To become a lawyer, or work in nonprofits.
Advice: “Do what makes you happy.  ... The experiences you have, the people you meet are what you make of your high school experience worthwhile and something to cherish.â€
*Anna Russert, Northeast High School (perfect ACT, not present at ceremony)
High school: Voices ‘N’ Harmony varsity show choir; competed in State Fair academic competitions.
Plans: To go into international studies at Macalester College.
*Ryder Mays, Hastings Senior High School (perfect ACT)
High school:Â On football and track teams; member of National Honor Society; a freshman mentor and member of History Club.
Plans: To study English at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Dreams: To write young adult novels.
Advice: “Don’t be afraid to try new things and meet new people.â€
Students who were recognized at Omaha’s Westside High School for perfect ACT scores were: Jack Bruck of Creighton Preparatory School; Shaket Chaudhary and Jennifer Solheim of Westside High School; Jonathan Collins of Mount Michael Benedictine High School; Anne Stratman of Duchesne Academy; Jainaha Srikumar of Brownell-Talbot School; and Zachary Warneke of Millard South High School. Also recognized at Westside: Timothy “Cooper†Knaak of Plainsview, for a perfect SAT score; and Celine Qui of Millard North High School who earned perfect scores on both the ACT and SAT.