Students ace ACT with a perfect score of 36

Two students in the Walled Lake Consolidated School District were among the top 0.1 percent of students taking the American College Testing (ACT) test this year, receiving a perfect score of 36.

Walled Lake Northern High School junior Valerie Coldren and Walled Lake Central High School junior Christina “Caroline” Malmgren each achieved perfection on the college admissions test.

According to the ACT testing organization, “On average, less than one-tenth of one percent of all test takers earn the top score. Among the high school graduating class of 2011, more than 1.6 million graduates took the ACT. Of that number, just 704 students earned a perfect score of 36.”

Coldren has participated in cross country and indoor track for three years and has been in the marching band for three seasons. She also plays the flute in the wind ensemble; played in the pit orchestra for the spring musical, “Anything Goes;” and is a member of the National Honor Society and the Spanish National Honor Society.

Coldren is currently looking to attend the University of Michigan, but is keeping her options open. She plans to study science or engineering.

Malmgren didn’t speak any English when she immigrated to the United States with her family from Sweden when she was 8-years-old.

She is involved with the Swedish Women’s Educational Association, the Swedish School in Michigan, varsity girls tennis, the Spanish Club, and is a member of the National Honor Society.

Although considering her options, Malmgren is looking into both the University of Michigan and the University of Chicago. She hopes to major in some branch of science.