Tim LaVelle. (PHOTO SUPPLIED)
Chicago Heights, IL-(ENEWSPF)-Striking fear in the hearts and minds of many high school juniors is the ACT test, the test which renders the number that will follow them through their senior year college application process and beyond. Fraught with dread, legions of students stumble bleary-eyed into testing centers across the nation, number two pencils and calculators in hand, hoping to score the magic number which will be acceptable for their preferred college’s entrance requirements.
Not so for Marian Catholic junior Tim LaVelle of Schererville, who is the first Spartan ever to score a perfect 36, the highest score possible, on the exam.
“There have been many students over the years who have scored 34s and 35s,” said Gerry O’Brien, MCHS Director of Guidance, “but Tim’s score is our first 36. As an ACT Test Administrator, it’s always a thrill to receive the scores and see how our students fared.”
“Last year, almost a million and a half students took the ACT exam and only 704 received a top score of 36,” O’Brien continued.
Having scored in the 99th percentile on the Marian Catholic entrance exam as an eighth grader and subsequently plowing through Honors and Advanced Placement classes, the number one ranked student in the class of 2013 takes it all in stride.
“Throughout my high school career, my self-assigned mantra has always been ‘work harder today than the day before,’” LaVelle stated.
“Taking the ACT test and getting a 36 was a great accomplishment,” he said, “and of course I’m very glad I was able to succeed in that regard, however, I know all it amounts to is one step on a long path. I must continue to exhibit personal responsibility in daily effort if I wish to achieve.”
Personal Responsibility In Daily Effort, or PRIDE, has been the driving force for generations of band members at Marian Catholic.
In addition to a heavy academic workload, LaVelle found his niche as a saxophone player in the nationally recognized and highly competitive Marian Catholic Marching Band. He also plays in the Concert Band, Jazz Band, and is a member of a saxophone quartet.
LaVelle’s other school affiliations include being a member of the eight-person Math Team that advanced to state competition at the University of Illinois, and serving as the newly-elected President of the National Honor Society. He is also a member of the Math National Honor Society (Mu Alpha Theta) and Spanish National Honor Society.
This is LaVelle’s third year as a member of the men’s tennis team, and although sidelined with an ankle injury as a sophomore, he has worked his way back and is a starter on the varsity squad this year in both singles and doubles competition.
Tennis coach and long time World History AP and Psychology AP teacher, Scott Bodnar, lauds LaVelle for his ACT score and his class rank.
“Tim is involved in co-curricular activities that require serious time commitments,” he said. “Yet he consistently maintains a high level of achievement in his schoolwork. He operates on a completely different plane than most students his age.”
Sister Kathleen Anne Tait, O.P., Marian Catholic Principal, was thrilled at hearing the news of LaVelle’s score saying, “This is a rare academic accomplishment that brings pride not only to Tim and his family, but to the entire Marian Community!”
It’s not all academics and extra-curriculars for LaVelle.
As a member of the recruitment corps, he has visited Catholic grade schools to speak with prospective students and is a seasoned tour guide for MCHS open houses. He is a member of the anti-racism committee, and early this summer, will travel to Harlan, Kentucky on a mission trip to rehab homes for people who have little or no resources.
Dr. Shirley Morris, Vice Principal for Academics, said “Tim’s performance demonstrates the epitome of an outstanding Marian student. In addition, he earned the Excellence in Academics Award which is the highest award given to students who maintain a grade point average of 4.0 and above for all semesters. He is a role model and exceptional scholar.”
