Two Marist High School juniors joined an elite group of students this year after earning perfect scores on the ACT, a milestone reached by only a small percentage of test takers nationwide.
Kenny Dewes and Olivia Winstead, both members of the Class of 2027 at Marist High School, each received a composite score of 36 on the college entrance exam, the highest score possible.
School officials said the achievement reflects years of academic discipline and commitment inside and outside the classroom.
“It’s an incredible accomplishment,” Marist Principal Meg Dunneback said in a statement. “Their hard work and dedication truly represent the spirit of our students.”
Dewes, who attended St. Catherine of Alexandria School before enrolling at Marist, balances academics with a busy extracurricular schedule. He participates in the school’s Math Team and National Honor Society and serves as a section leader in the marching, concert and jazz bands, where he plays trombone.
The junior said he hopes to study aerospace engineering and eventually work for NASA.
Winstead, a graduate of Most Holy Redeemer School, is also a member of the National Honor Society and competes on Marist’s cross country team. School officials praised her consistency in both academics and athletics.
The ACT measures student performance in English, mathematics, reading and science reasoning. Earning a perfect composite score requires top marks across all sections of the exam.
The accomplishment places Dewes and Winstead among the highest-performing high school students in the country and adds to a growing list of academic honors for Marist students this school year.