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The Avon Local Schools is pleased to announce that a remarkable four Avon High School juniors have earned the highest possible ACT Composite Score of 36. The students are Ishani Kishorepuria, 16; Jay Kneiss, 17; Cameron Lam, 16; and Justin Schwab, 17.
About one-quarter of 1 percent of students who take the ACT earn a top score. In the U.S. high school graduating Class of 2022, only 3,376 out of 1.34 million students who took the ACT earned a top Composite Score of 36.
“It is very exciting for our school to have four students in the same year earn a perfect 36 on the ACT,” said Kristina Dobos Buller, Avon High School principal. “These students excel both in and outside of the classroom. This achievement is a testament to the hard work and dedication they place on their academics. They are all friends and it is truly a pleasure to watch them share this achievement together. I look forward to many more great things next year when they are seniors. Congratulations also to their parents and families.”
The ACT consists of tests in English, mathematics, reading and science, each scored on a scale of 1–36. A student’s Composite Score is the average of the four test scores.
“Earning a top score on the ACT is a remarkable achievement,” said Janet Godwin, ACT CEO. “A student’s exceptional score of 36 will provide any college or university with ample evidence of their readiness for the academic rigors that lie ahead.”
Ishani Kishorepuria, 16
Favorite subject: Math
High school activities: Tennis, Future Scholars of Medicine Club, Model UN (United Nations)
Hobbies: Indian dancing
College(s) of interest: The Ohio State University, Case Western Reserve University, Duke University
Possible major(s): Biology or chemistry. She would like to be a doctor.
Advice for peers: “Don’t put that much pressure on yourself…you might end up surprising yourself.”
Parents: Praveen and Avantika Kishorepuria
Jay Kneiss, 17
Favorite subject(s): Math science, physics
High school activities: Tennis, Avon Electric Orchestra (guitar), Model UN (United Nations)
Hobbies: Tennis, guitar, writing, travel (has been to several national parks)
College(s) of interest: University of Rochester, Brown University
Possible major(s): Astrophysics. He would also like to be a physics professor at a college
Advice for peers: “At Avon we have a good education system. If you just listen to your teachers and try on your homework, you are going to be fine.”
Parents: John and Karen Kneiss
Cameron Lam, 16
Favorite subject: Math
High school activities: Orchestra (violin), Avon Electric Orchestra, tennis, Esports Team
Hobbies: Tennis, violin, Esports
College(s) of interest: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Northwestern University, University of Rochester
Possible major(s): Something math-related
Advice for peers: “Take classes you enjoy. Find people that do the same stuff as you. I am in the same classes with at least one of these people (the three other perfect ACT students). I am never alone in my classes.”
Parents: Simon and Lois Lam
Justin Schwab, 17
Favorite subject(s): English, AP (Advanced Placement) seminar
Activities: Environmental Club (president), Avon Electric Orchestra, Student Council, Book Club, Literature Club
Hobbies: Writing (Justin has won numerous national and regional scholastic writing honors)
College(s) of interest: Kenyon College, Princeton University
Possible major(s): Possibly something in Humanities or Sociology
Advice for peers: “It’s a good idea to play to your strengths. Find something that you are really interested in, then find a way to relate that to school and then you are going to be actually enjoying the things that you have to do.”
Parents: John and Tiffany Schwab
Kishorepuria, Kneiss, and Lam have attended the Avon Local Schools since kindergarten. Schwab moved to Avon when he was in eighth-grade. The students hope to start a Pickleball Club at the school in the fall.
