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Three Airdrie students join RVS' 100 per cent club

Three students from Airdrie 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 Katie Keller and Alex Thorpe from George McDougall High School, and Amtul Saddiqa from W.H. Croxford High School.

Thorpe, a Grade-12 student who achieved a perfect score on his Math 30-1 diploma, said it felt amazing to join what RVS deems “the 100 per cent club.”

“I’m super happy and honoured,” he said. “All the perseverance and work we put in over the semester, I think it really paid off.”

Thorpe said he started studying two weeks before the exam.

“I just did a little bit every day,” he said. “I also partook in the diploma prep at the University of Calgary, and I think that was a great help.”

While he plans to take a gap year after graduating from high school, Thorpe said his long-term goal is to attend the University of British Columbia or University of Victoria to study international business or engineering.

Also from George McDougall, Grade-11 student Keller received a perfect score on the Biology 30 exam.

“It was my first diploma exam, so I was a little nervous,” she said. “To see the result I got – I was really surprised. But I’m excited to write my other ones, and hopefully I can do it again.”

Keller credited her perfect score to her studying method. She said she began preparing for the test a week in advance – reviewing all the course material but focusing on sections she understood least.

“I had done unit tests and everything throughout the year, so I already knew what areas I needed to work on more and what I already knew well,” she said.

“I’d say just a lot of hard work and time put into studying, and just being on top of things, to stay with everything I’m learning. Also, just asking questions when I needed help and just repeating the course material so that I’d know everything really in depth.”

Keller, who plays volleyball for both the Mustangs and a competitive club team, said she plans to pursue a career in sports medicine or surgery. She also volunteers as a volleyball scorekeeper and as a reading buddy for elementary students.

The lone student from W.H. Croxford to earn a perfect score, Saddiqa, said she employed various strategies to help her prepare for the Biology 30 exam – taking detailed notes, writing practice quizzes and diligently reviewing the KEY study guide.

But she said it was her support system of family and friends that helped her the most.

“Teachers, admin, my parents, family, friends – they all contributed to [my success],” she said. “They supported me when I needed it and I asked a lot of questions.

“I didn’t think I’d be able to do it, but pulling it off makes me really proud of myself.”

Saddiqa said she had perfect attendance throughout the semester, which helped when it came time to review the course material.

In her free time, she said, she teaches at weekly religion classes and is a math tutor.

The Grade-12 student said she plans to attend the University of Calgary next year, though she’s still undecided on her field of study.

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