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New Brush Alumna Poised to Achieve Great Things

Original Release: 10/28/2019

	Rebecca Rossi

By: Deb DiLillo Betz '76, Wall of Achievement Co-Chair
Charles F. Brush Alumni Association

As members of the Brush High School Class of 2019 start their journeys in to the world of adulthood, few are more poised for success than Rebecca Rossi is. Rebecca was ranked third in a graduating class of 250 students. Additionally, she earned a perfect score of 800 on the math section of the SAT! Even more impressive is her achievement of receiving a perfect 36 out of 36 on the ACT standardized college exam. We know that 36 is the best possible score on the ACT and that any score in the 30's is considered very good. But how good is 36 out of 36 and how many students earn this score in a given year?

In the Class of 2018, 1,914,817 students took the ACT. The average composite score was 20.8 out of 36. This means that a score of 21 or higher puts you above average. A score of 34 puts you in the 99th percentile, or the top 1% of test takers. Unsurprisingly a perfect 36 is the rarest score of all with just 0.195% of test takers earning such high rankings. Rebecca's perfect score is a testament to her strong dedication to academic achievement. Rebecca cites math and science as her favorite content areas and plans on majoring in Veterinary Medicine at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN.

A volunteer at the Cleveland Animal Protective League (APL), Rebecca has a passion for working with animals and plans to open a veterinary clinic after completing her medical training. In addition to excelling in the classroom, Rebecca served as President of Key Club, Vice-President of National Honor Society, and was a member of the Environmental Club, Academic Team and Student Congress.

According to math teacher, Lynne Fearer, Rebecca is "absolutely one of my all-time favorite students in 32 years here at Brush! She is so well-rounded and has a wonderful personality, very mature with a healthy outlook on life and happy disposition, great sense of humor too!" Jill Strainic, National Honor Society Co-Advisor says she was most impressed when she learned that Rebecca's parents entrusted all of the travel and planning for their family vacation to Yellowstone Nation Park to Rebecca. Another fan, Academic Team Advisor Nick Crane, says Rebecca is hardworking, honest and humble. "One of the finest young ladies to graduate from this school."

Rebecca appreciates the diverse school community at Brush, as well as the friendly and supportive teachers and staff.

As Alumni, we sometimes hear that "Brush isn't what it used to be" and we wonder if it's true, or are we just looking at it through our rose-colored glasses. When asked what she had to say about that, Rebecca responded with the following:

"The people who speak poorly of Brush are the ones who have never been inside. It's very easy for someone to focus on the bad press that they see on TV or read in the paper, but those stories do not give a full or accurate picture of the life of the school. The teachers at Brush are deeply committed and amazing, as they truly care about their students. They want us to succeed and they are always willing to go the extra mile. Brush also offers numerous and diverse opportunities for students to get involved and explore their interests and most students take full advantage of these opportunities. From outstanding art and music programs, to countless clubs and sports, to the Excel Tech program, there truly is something for everyone.

One thing that I feel distinguishes Brush from other schools is the sense of community and friendship that exists between students and faculty. Never in my four years have I ever witnessed bullying, as the many social groups not only coexist, but also join together for the better of the school. Most everyone at Brush has the best interests of their peers and community in mind, and it shows through their hard work.

I have dealt with people having adverse reactions when I tell them where I go to school, and my response is always this: My experience at Brush has been nothing but positive, and my peers and teachers have helped me to grow into the strong, intelligent, hardworking, and determined person I am today. Negative news seems to be easier to "sell" and sometimes people in the community look for and tend to focus on negative news and events, but when you step inside and see all the extraordinary and positive things happening, you'll quickly realize what an incredible place Brush High School is."

Thank you Rebecca for reaffirming what many of us have known about Brush all along! Moreover, thanks for letting us know that we can and should continue to be ARC PROUD!

The Brush High School Alumni Association congratulates Rebecca Rossi on her outstanding achievement and looks forward to watching her grow in to a future Wall of Achievement recipient!