John Hardin High School freshman honored by Johns Hopkins for ACT score

A local freshman has been recognized by a prestigious university for her score on a college admissions test.

Amy Shank, a student at John Hardin High School, was recognized by the Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth for her scores on the ACT as an eighth-grader. She was among 900 students in the United States and across the globe who were invited to a medal ceremony at the university in Baltimore.

Shank took the ACT as part of an entrance requirement for a summer program for gifted students, and learned that her score of a 28 caught the attention of the university.

The Center for Talented Youth searches for middle school students who scored well on the SAT, ACT or a similar test. The scores the students earned put them in the top one half of 1 percent of their peers, according to a news release from the university.

Shank had no previous knowledge of the award until she was informed she had received it.

“It was a big surprise,” she said.

Shank, however, couldn’t attend the awards ceremony because of a band competition.

“Well, I was very honored to receive such an award, but flying to Maryland was just too inconvenient to do,” she said.

Shank would eventually like to attend medical school or go into a science-related field. She especially is interested in pediatrics.

“I have a big heart for helping people,” she said.

Kelly Cantrall can be

reached at (270) 505-1747 or kcantrall@thenewsenterprise.com.

Kelly Cantrall can be reached at (270) 505-1747 or kcantrall@thenewsenterprise.com.