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Students from rival high schools notch perfect ACT scores

 
John Felletter
John Felletter
Published May 25, 2017

TAMPA — For anyone achieving a perfect score in American College Testing (ACT), a rigorous standardized examination used for college admissions, the odds are statistically staggering.

Only one-tenth of 1 percent of 2.1 million students from the graduating class of 2016 were able to log a perfect composite score of 36 on the ACT.

So when ACT perfection was achieved this spring by Tampa Catholic's John Felletter and Jesuit's Matthew Tamashiro, whose campuses are less than three miles apart, testing officials searched for the proper perspective.

"I don't really have any data on the rarity of two students in neighboring (schools) earning a 36,'' said Ed Colby, the ACT's senior director of media and public relations. "But nevertheless, it is still a remarkable achievement for those two students.''

Indeed. Even more impressively, Felletter and Tamashiro, both juniors, each scored a 36 on their first ACT attempts. Many students take the test multiple times, attempting to learn from their mistakes and increase their score.

The ACT consists of tests in English, mathematics, reading and science, each scored on a scale of 1-36. The final composite score is an average of the four test scores.

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Felletter, a former TC football player, became a three-year letterman and junior captain in lacrosse for the Crusaders. He also joined the school's swimming team, although he never swam competitively until this year.

Additionally, Felletter was the only junior on TC's Science Bowl team and also served on the school's Campus Ministries team, helping to lead retreats for underclassmen. He's a member of the TC STEM Club and Debate team.

This summer, he will serve on the camp staff of the Society of American Military Engineers Engineering and Construction Camp at the Air Force Academy.

Felletter said he "felt pretty good'' about his test-day efforts. But when the results came in, his reaction was "mostly disbelief.''

"I always strive to be perfect and do as well as I can, although it's difficult to hit perfection,'' Felletter said. "For me, it's more about the process and what I'm able to learn. That's where I get the satisfaction.

"Don't get me wrong. It's very satisfying to get a 36 and it may open even more doors for me. But first and foremost, I want to learn and understand things.''

According to Felletter's teachers, that quality sets him apart.

Mark Jacim, in his 25th year at TC, is Felletter's teacher for his Anatomy and Physiology class, a dual-enrollment course that he describes as "really rigorous … where almost all of the students are seniors and there aren't a whole lot of A's.''

"But John gets A's pretty much on every test,'' Jacim said. "Some kids are just naturally smart. Some kids work very, very hard. John is willing to do both.

"He loves the process, but he's very concerned about performing (with a good grade). It's such an outstanding combination. A lot of things come easy to him. But if something is really tough, he works to figure it out and that's such a great thing to see.''

Ashley Martin, who is Felletter's Advanced Placement Biology teacher and the daughter of educators, said she remembers feeling intimidated by standardized tests. She called Felletter's ACT accomplishment "astonishing.''

"I remember thinking a perfect score on one of those tests seemed unattainable,'' Martin said. "But it doesn't surprise me with John.

"He catches on to the material so quickly. You can see it in his eyes. He's already thinking about ways it can be applied. He's already on to the bigger picture. His brain is going full speed. I guess if anybody can get a perfect score on the ACT, it would be John.''

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Tamashiro had designs on a perfect score while he was completing ACT practice tests. The night before his test, he told his mother he wanted a 36. He knew the statistical probability was unlikely, but he was hopeful.

"I'm incredibly proud of him, but I can't say I'm surprised,'' said Austin Freeman, who is Tamashiro's Advanced Placement Capstone teacher. "It's par for the course as far as I'm concerned.

"The nature of testing is to get a score and what do you need to do to get that score. But to me, Austin's major strength in the classroom is he's not afraid to be wrong. He takes risks. He's willing to put himself under more rigorous constraints in order to perform better. He doesn't put himself in a box. He puts himself outside the box. That's why I'm not surprised he can pull off a score like this.''

Tamashiro is one of eight Jesuit Ignatian Scholars (there are two in each grade), which is academic recognition with a financial award toward tuition. Tamashiro has met the Ignatian requirement throughout his Jesuit career by consistently being recognized as the top student in most of his courses. In the fall semester alone, he was the top student in four of his courses, while finishing second in two others.

For the past two years, Tamashiro has gone to Washington with the Jesuit Pro-Life Club to participate in the March for Life. In what Tamashiro called a "respect for the value of human life,'' the club visited the Holocaust Museum and prayed outside an abortion clinic.

Tamashiro also has an artistic side. He recently received an all-expenses paid invitation to the a five-week "Rising Star'' summer program at Savannah College of Art and Design. He's also in the Lyre, Jesuit's writing/literary club.

Tamashiro is considering the University of Florida or perhaps an Ivy League school, but he's not certain on his career path. Felletter hasn't narrowed down his school choices, but is leaning toward studies in medical research.

Contact Joey Johnston at hillsnews@tampabay.com.