Mattoon High School (MHS) is proud to recognize 111 students who earned national recognition for their achievements on the PreACT 8/9 exam. The PreACT Rising Stars program 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 instruction strategies and demonstrating to students that college could be in reach should they decide to pursue that path.
“Early insights into college and career readiness are essential for helping students stay on track and feel supported in their goals,” said Catherine Hofmann, senior vice president of government and public relations at ACT. “The PreACT 8/9 and PreACT Rising Stars program gives educators and families a meaningful way to understand students’ strengths, celebrate their achievements, and guide them toward informed decisions about their futures.”
Mattoon High School Principal Rich Stuart echoed those priorities. “It’s exciting to see our students recognized through the Rising Stars program and have their hard work reflected in their PreACT results,” Stuart said. “The PreACT provides students with valuable experience that can help build confidence and develop essential test taking skills.”
The PreACT Rising Stars program recognizes students at three levels:
Distinguished Scholars Award, recognizing students who score in the top 3% of test takers by U.S. Rank.
Rising Scholars Award, for students who score in the top 4-10% of test takers by U.S. Rank.
Early Scholars Award, honoring students who score in the top 11-50% of test takers by U.S. Rank.
At MHS, the total number of students who achieved each of these recognitions includes:
Distinguished Scholars Award, received by 4 students: Beckett Hild, Rachel Catt, William Spracklen, and Madelyn Weaver
Rising Scholars Award, received by 9 students: Noah Freeman, Leila Westra, Summer Birdwell, Brooklyn Poorman, Luke Spitz, Hallie Bell, Knox Hayes, Evan Shanks, and Carter Weber.
Early Scholars Award, received by 98 students: Clayton Allison, Oliver Baker, Kristen Diedrich, Indigo Doucette, Avery Peters, Sage Carter, Lucas Compton, Layne Kircher, Ava Leo, Adely Lopez, Charles Mueth, Savana Rardin, Rylen Vang, Harrison Willingham, Noah Wilson, Lexie Bailey-Burch, Chevelle Cisna, Ava Davis, Ryland Decker, Isaiah Eaton, Laila Fultz, Hudson Golden, Jude Lauter, Garret Tracy, Nektarius Welton, Harley Winn, Paisley Bone, Annabel Broome, Bryar Clark, Cale Frantz, Braylon Hooker, Annabelle Howell, Jaxton Howell, Kynlee Kuhl, Xander Labarbera, Ty Lytle, Tyler McKee, Imama Rana, Travyn Sharp, Rylan Spencer, Hadley Tracy, Beckett Westra, Haley Brent, Grant Gagliardo, Sofia Gomez, Grant Jackson, Aidan Lowe, Bryson Lucier, Sophie McDaniel, Kash Miller, Gia Nasir, Belle Powers, Cruz Roderick, Rylee Shutts, Rhett Bradley, Grayson Brant, McKell Burks, Liam Clark, Tessa Cook, Nathan Coverstone, Alissa Ealy, Zeniyah Fleming, Elle Gardner, Nyariah Gipson, Brayden Goonan, Kayley Griffin, Gavin Hale, Kaden Hawn, Gabriella Heiman, Memphis Howell, Lillian Livesay, Savannah McCormick, Joscelin Nastal, Owen Nolte, Erikah Sharp, Aubrie Tolliver, Harlow Willingham, Gracie Wilson, Layna Adele, Kessa Anderson, Jaxson Bagwell, Riley Cease, Layla Cole, Mia Cornwell, Louie Durbin, Payton Echols, Blaze Edwards, Kameron Haws, Devin Heimlich, Braylon Holt, Austin Joyner, Ivan Mayhall, Diana Melnyk, Jaxon Niewinski, Charlie Poorman, Hannah Ramsey, Zoie Snyder, and Joseph Webner.
“This year, 48 more students received recognition over last year, which demonstrates how much the hard work of our students and educators is paying off.”
Students who qualified for the Distinguished Scholars Award received a lapel pin and certificate; Rising Scholars Award recipients received a lapel pin and certificate; and Early Scholars Award winners received a certificate.
The PreACT 8/9 assessment and the Rising Stars program were created to help identify areas of academic strength and opportunity. This assessment provides a starting point to postsecondary pathways, helping educators, students, and parents get a better understanding of a student’s college and career readiness early in their academic career.
For more information on the PreACT Rising Stars program, visit act.org/rising-stars. For more information on PreACT assessments, visit act.org/preact.