A pair of perfect ACT surprises

Audrey Kleckner couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Josie Knepp was in less denial but not any less ecstatic.

Both Grafton High School seniors were surprised to learn that they scored a perfect 36 on the ACT, a multiple-choice college entrance exam covering English, math, reading and science.

About 3,041 students, or 0.22%, achieve perfect scores on the ACT, according to PrepScholar, a test prep and college admissions guidance company founded by Harvard University graduates.

Kleckner and Knepp took similar routes to reach the milestone, but how they learned of their scores differed.

They were honored on Monday by the Grafton School Board.

The wizard of the ACT

Kleckner checked the test result link on her phone last spring while working at the Grafton Public Library.

“I got it and I thought it was a loading screen — this is what your score will look like,” she said.

Then she realized that was her score.

“I was freaking out in the middle of the children’s library. There was no one down there so it was OK,” she said.

She went home to surprise her parents.

“I have a really fun video of them just being completely shell shocked,” she said.

Then, she went to the “Wizard of Oz” musical to play with the pit orchestra.

“I got to surprise all the people in band who I’m super close with and who have been super influential in my academic growth,” she said. “It was a great night. I think it definitely helped the joyous nature of the ‘Wizard of Oz.’”

What’s the password?

Knepp was at a track meet she didn’t enjoy because it was cold and pouring rain. Others inside the team tent were receiving their scores, but not her.

“I could not for the life of me figure out what my password was,” Knepp said.

She and her best friend Leanna Weinhold went inside the school’s nearby gym, trying to get a cell connection so she could reset her password. They sat on the only bleacher that was pulled out.

“I was just like, ah, this is crazy. I was so excited,” Knepp said. “I was there with my closest friend. She was the first one who found out.”

Practice makes perfect

Kleckner spent a year going through the entire curriculum of mini-practice tests online — “a couple of minutes a night really helped in the long run,” she said — and took advantage of every practice opportunity the school provided.

Knepp went through the online math curriculum but found the other subjects came easier. She, too, did all the school practice tests and bought the big red ACT official prep guide to do more math.

She remembers studying on spring break, sitting on a porch by herself at her brother’s house in Colorado.

“I was sitting so still with my hand on my arm that when I finally got up to go inside I had a hand print. I tanned all around my hand,” she said.

Day of the test

Knepp went to bed early. She is often excited and nervous before taking standardized tests — something she enjoys.

“I have to have a lot of sleep to do well on these types of things,” she said.

She thinks she had oatmeal for breakfast.

Kleckner went to bed early as well and said she probably had pancakes that morning before heading to school.

The four-hour test had two sections with one break that included a Rice Krispie treat and water.

Both said math was the hardest part, and Knepp fretted about it to math teacher Mike Bergmann, who reassured her before she saw her score that she did just fine.

Study habits

Kleckner listens to indie pop, wind ensemble songs and jazz music while doing homework.

For easier work, Knepp will have a TV show on in the background. The latest was “House.” For harder work, she needs “absolute silence” since she gets easily distracted.

They really hit the books in spring to prep for Advanced Placement tests. Kleckner studied three hours a night and Knepp at least two.

“I call it the AP slog,” Kleckner said.

Both are in extracurricular activities at school, including ACT Olympics (their four-member team won). Knepp is president of Model UN and co-president of Student Council. Kleckner plays alto sax in band and piano in the jazz band.

Career aspirations

Kleckner wants to be an aerospace engineer to design rockets or parts for NASA. She has been to Space Camp in Huntsville, Ala., but won’t go into space.

“I’m OK on the ground,” she said.

Knepp wants to be a chemical or nuclear engineer and work in either pharmaceutical development or nuclear research and development.

Neither has chosen a college yet.

Family and school support

Both emphatically cited support from their families and teachers as keys to their academic success, and both praised science teacher Melissa Staude for going above and beyond. 

“They care about you and not just what you’re doing,” Kleckner said of Grafton High’s teachers.

Knepp said their enthusiasm for their subjects makes her more interested.

“Once I realized it matters to these people, it started mattering to me more,” she said.