LINCOLN — After acing the ACT, Nebraska students are off to Harvard, Yale, Georgetown and the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
The 22 students who earned perfect scores of 36 on the ACT college entrance exam are headed to different parts of the country filled with dreams, goals and, yes, a little uncertainty.
Jonah Turner from Millard West High School will attend the University of North Texas in the fall to study economics.
"And spend a lot of time in the career counseling center," Turner said.
Gov. Pete Ricketts, who honored the students in a ceremony Monday at the State Capitol, assured the students that they didn't have to figure it all out right away.
After all, the governor himself majored in biology for his undergraduate degree.
“You don’t have to be in any hurry to figure it out,” Ricketts told the students. “Sometimes life is a process of elimination.”
The ACT is the most popular college entrance exam for Nebraska students. It measures a student’s knowledge of English, mathematics, reading and science. There is an optional writing section.
Every high school junior in Nebraska public schools takes the ACT exam after state lawmakers voted in 2016 to replace the 11th-grade NeSA assessments with the college admissions test.
As he has in years past, Ricketts encouraged the students to return to keep Nebraska in their long-term plans even if life takes them away for college or even a first job.
"Wherever your college plans may take you, I hope you will continue to make Nebraska your home as you start your careers and raise a family,” he said.
The students graduating with perfect ACT scores:
Lauren Franzen, Elkhorn High School; Kaitlyn Ryan, Gretna High School; Jacob Mann, Gretna High; Calla Sullivan, Norris High School in Firth, Nebraska; John Brockmeier, Kearney High School; Jesse Lin, Lincoln East High School; Emma Jewell, Lincoln East; Ruby Hoffman, Lincoln High School; Cole Shank, Lincoln High; Aaron Haake, Lincoln Southwest High School; Jae Hyun Lim, Lincoln Southwest; Gregory Hubbard, Lincoln Northeast High School; Darin Schlautman, Lincoln Pius X High School; Vishnu Menon, Millard North High School; Daniel Fu, Millard North; Victoria Lei, Brownell-Talbot School; Bennett Wright, Elkhorn South High School; Joseph Hennessey, Creighton Prep; Gabriel Drew, Creighton Prep; Dawson Beutler, Millard West High School; Jonah Turner, Millard West; and Galdino Guzman-Navarro, South Sioux City High School.
Ricketts honors 22 Nebraska students who earned perfect ACT scores of 36
Gov. Ricketts on Monday with Nebraska students who earned perfect scores of 36 on the ACT college entrance exam. In all, 22 students earned perfect scores on the test and were honored by Ricketts at a ceremony at the State Capitol in Lincoln. (State of Nebraska)
