Joseph Aguda '18 Scores a Perfect 36 on ACT
Brother Martin sophomore Joseph J. Aguda III scored a perfect 36 on the ACT. Joseph took the test for the first time as a Duke Scholar, when he was recognized nationally, and again April 2016. Joseph is the son of Dulce and Joseph J. Aguda, Jr. His dad is a member of the Brother Martin Class of 1988. He attended elementary school at St. Benilde in Metairie and entered Brother Martin in the seventh grade.
“Since 7th grade, my education at Brother Martin has been the cornerstone of my scholastic achievements. My teachers have helped me, my peers have challenged me, and my friends have supported me. Along with my family’s support and encouragement and my spiritual formation at St. Benilde, I feel blessed to have reached this point, and I’m looking forward to what the future holds,” stated Aguda.
Joseph is a member of the National Junior Honor Society, the Junior Quiz Bowl Team, and Mu Alpha Theta. He attended District Literary Rally the last three years for physical science, geometry, and advanced math. He is also a student recruiter and a member of speech and debate.
Outside of Brother Martin, Joseph is a member of Teen C.R.O.S.S. – CYO, the youth & young adult ministry for the Archdiocese of New Orleans, teaches at St. Benilde’s Bible school, and is a member of their CYO.
Still debating where to attend college, Joseph participated in Brother Martin’s college run last summer. He has expressed interest in Vanderbilt, Washington University, and Duke. Also still deciding on a college major, he is seriously considering medicine or engineering.
Nationally, while the average number of students earning a composite score of 36 will vary from year to year, on average, less than .04 percent of those students who take the ACT earn the top score of 36. The ACT includes tests on English, Math, Reading, and Science. Each test is scored on a scale of 1 to 36. A student’s composite score is the average of the four test scores.
Thomas Mavor, Vice Principal of Academics, recognized that “Joseph is not only naturally intelligent, but also driven, intellectually curious, and persevering when faced with an academic challenge. He’s a great combination of natural talent and dedication to self-improvement; we are so proud that he is a model of academic excellence for all students at Brother Martin.”
