Mattoon Community Unit School District 2

Sixty-three Mattoon High School students have earned national recognition for their achievements on the PreACT 8/9 exam in the 2024-25 school year. The PreACT Rising Stars program, in its inaugural year, honors students who score in the top half of all U.S. students who take the PreACT 8/9 Assessment. That exam provides a preview of the ACT test experience, along with a highly reliable prediction of how students might perform on the ACT. The information is critical in helping schools adjust learning plans and demonstrating to students that college could be in reach should they decide to pursue that path. 

“More than anything, we want to support conversations between students and their families, educators, and guidance counselors about what’s next after high school, so students feel more secure about their postsecondary options,” said ACT CEO Janet Godwin. “Students who take PreACT also have the opportunity to share their information with colleges and scholarship agencies, which can increase their chances for early college recruitment and financial support.” 

The PreACT Rising Stars program recognizes students at three levels: 

• Distinguished Scholars Award, recognizing students who score in the top 5% of test takers. 

• Rising Scholars Award, for students who score in the top 6-15% of test takers. 

• Early Scholars Award, honoring students who score in the top 16-50% of test takers. 

At Mattoon High School, the total number of students who achieved each of these recognitions includes: 

• Distinguished Scholars Award, received by 3 students: Matthew Hampton, Beckett Hild, and Owen Matthews.

• Rising Scholars Award, received by 12 students: Adam Burrell, Hunter Connour, Jennaca Gibson, Lauryn Hampton, William Hayden, William Kai, Evan Overmyer, Cole Scheffer, Andrea Schrock, Melody Tucker, Matilda Westra, and Jackson Zike,

• Early Scholars Award, received by 48 students: Laina Anderson, Breyer Antrim, Conlan Armer, Emilia Ballinger, Reya Boyer, Liam Bozinoski, Madison Carrell, Aaron Clark, Alexis Cooley, Ethan Courtney, Pierce Dorner, Avery Fonner, Khloe Frederick, Andrew Gilliland, Rayshawn Glen, Brayden Hackett, Khloe Hall, Daijuan Hester, Eilley Hughes, Layla Hurst, Noah James, Carson Kimbro, Emery Kohrs, Amelia Kousma, Kourtney Lauter, Olivia Manion, Brooklynn McDowell, Mariah Moore, Olivia Morgan, Maisey Norton, Dayana Peach, Jacob Philpott, Alexander Pike, Makiah Princko, Jeramiah Pruitt, Ayden Scott, Adalyn Smith, Christopher Stein, Raylee Stewart, Zoe Taylor, Carter Tibbs, Alexander Turner, Maxwell Wetzel, Brooklyn Whalin, Mark Winans, Caden Wirth, Elijah Wright, and Jude Wright

Students who qualified for the Distinguished Scholars Award received a gold medal and certificate; Rising Scholars Award recipients received a silver medal and certificate; and Early Scholars Award winners received a certificate.