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Six RVC students join 100 per cent club

Six students from Rocky View County high schools were recognized for scoring 100 per cent on their January diploma exams at the May 16 meeting of the Rocky View Schools (RVS) Board of Trustees.

The bright young minds included Colby Coopersmith and Emily Trew from Chestermere High School, Mackenzie Davis and Brooke Kindleman from Cochrane High School, Janae Richards from Springbank Community High School and Kendra Allyson O’Hearn from Bow Valley High School.

Richards, who scored 100 per cent on her Chemistry 30 exam, said she was surprised when she learned she wrote a perfect test, but was excited by the result.

“It feels kind of weird,” she said. “I didn’t expect this to happen, but I put in a lot of hard work, so it’s definitely rewarding.”

Her preparation started a month before the exam, according to Richards, who said she started studying during the 2018 Christmas break.

“I’d sit down every night and go through everything,” she said. “It’s not really rocket science – just constantly reviewing.”

Richards said she hopes to attend the University of Calgary next year and plans to pursue a career in nursing.

From Cochrane High School, Kindleman scored 100 per cent on her Biology 30 exam. She attributed the perfect score to staying on top of homework assignments, engaging in deep inquiry and asking for help when she needed it.

Davis said studying beyond what was assigned, along with strong time-management skills, helped her achieve 100 per cent on the Biology 30 exam. A decorated student-athlete, Davis plays soccer, softball and volleyball, and has a black belt in karate. She also volunteers, tutors students at Elizabeth Barrett Elementary School and is a member of the Cochrane Youth Council, as well as her school’s Sustainable Development Committee.

Another representative from Cochrane was Bow Valley High School’s O’Hearn, who earned a perfect score on her Math 30-1 exam. She credited the result to a thorough review of the course material. She hopes to attend either the University of Calgary or the University of British Columbia and intends to focus her studies on math and statistics.

Coopersmith, who earned a perfect mark for his Chemistry 30 diploma, is no stranger to RVS’ 100 per cent club – he was recognized by the school district in November 2018 for acing the Math 30-1 diploma exam last spring, when he was in Grade 11.

“I never thought I’d achieve something like this once, let alone twice, so it feels pretty good,” said Coopersmith, who said he felt the Math 30-1 exam was more difficult.

The Grade-12 student attributed his success to the people who helped him learn and study the material.

“It’s a combination of my teachers, who always helped me, supported me and answered my endless questions,” he said. “Also my friends and family, who were there supporting me when I was freaking out before and after my diploma exams.”

Coopersmith has two more chances to re-join the 100 per cent club before he graduates – he’s slated to write the Biology 30 and English 30 exams in June.

He said his ambition after high school is to obtain a medical degree from the University of Alberta and eventually become a neurosurgeon. 

Trew, another student the Chestermere High School, said using past diploma exams helped her prepare for the Biology 30 diploma. She said she never second-guessed her answers while writing the test, as she felt confident in her knowledge of the subject matter and her test-taking strategies. She said she plans to attend the University of Calgary and pursue a career in medicine.

RVS Superintendent Greg Luterbach said he was impressed not only by the students’ academic abilities, but also their commitment to extracurricular activities. He noted all six of the students are involved in clubs and organizations outside of school, whether it’s playing on sports teams, volunteering for charities or non-profit organizations, performing in musical theatre or working part-time jobs.

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