Self-motivated seventh grader Helena Abernathy — here in her home learning garden — scored so well on the ACT test that she will be honored this month at Duke University.
Duke University will recognize home-schooled seventh grader and Lakewood resident Helena Abernethy for her exceptional performance on the ACT. Helena took the above-level college-entrance exam as part of the Duke University Talent Identification Program’s (Duke TIP) 7th Grade Talent Search.
Duke hosts annual recognition ceremonies to honor the seventh graders who score highest on these exams. This year, of the more than 63,000 participants nationally, only 2,085 students were invited.
Helena, whose interests include sustainable agriculture, math, and Japanese pop culture, says she was a little uncomfortable taking the test.
“I was in a room with all these older teenagers, and I was only 12. They kept looking over at me, like, ‘Who is this kid?’”
Awkward or not, she scored better than 90 percent of high school seniors and juniors. Her home schooling, she says, allows her to accelerate in math and literature.
“Right now, I’m teaching myself algebra, trigonometry, and geometry on this fun site called KhanAcademy.org. I’m enrolled in an online literature course through [University of Texas] and my mom and I are reading through the classics together,” Helena says.
The Abernathy family even turned their front yard into an organic learning garden for hands-on science and math.
Sandy Abernethy, Helena’s father, says the family is looking forward to the May 23 ceremony at Duke University in Durham, NC. “It’s a great opportunity for Helena to be recognized for her hard work and talents.”
