Front page: Student makes perfect score on SAT

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By John Warren

BIG SANDY, Texas--A high-school senior who attends a Church of God congregation has achieved the highest-possible score on the Scholastic Aptitude Test.

Stephen Kiepke, 18, who attends services of the Living Church of God in Gladewater, Texas, with his father and sister, learned on April 6 that he had earned a score of 1600 on the SAT.

Stephen is the son of Les and the late Marjorie Kiepke and the grandson of Wilma Taylor of Big Sandy. Stephen and his 12-year-old sister, Katie, are both public-school students in Big Sandy, and former students of Woodvale, a private school.

"I thought it was incredible," said the young Mr. Kiepke. " I almost didn't believe it."
Mr. Kiepke credited his English teacher, Angelia Greiner of Big Sandy, for helping him "prep" for the test.

"Also my involvement in UIL [University Interscholastic League] academic contests probably helped."

"Stephen is an exceptional student," Mrs. Greiner told THE JOURNAL. "He reads the dictionary and other reference materials like they are action novels. He is constantly trying out new words in his written work. Obviously his curiosity, diligence and application of new words has paid off."

Character and skill

Wes Hickey, superintendent at Big Sandy Independent School District, said he is proud of Mr. Kiepke.

"We are very proud of our school system, and to have a student go through the system and do so well makes us very proud. Stephen deserves all the credit. He is a student of high character and academic skills."

Mr. Kiepke plans to attend the University of Texas at Tyler sometime after his high-school graduation, which took place May 31. He plans to study English and hopes to become an English teacher.

Not surprised

THE JOURNAL asked Eleanor Roberts of Big Sandy, principal at Woodvale School, where Mr. Kiepke formerly attended, if she is surprised at his high SAT score.

"Not really," she said. "Even in the early grades he would finish his work and go read the encyclopedia."

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The Journal: News of the Churches of God is available from P.O. Box 1020, Big Sandy, Texas 75755, U.S.A., and http://www.thejournal.org. For more information write info@thejournal.org. To comment on this article or any other article or feature in The Journal or Connections, write info@thejournal.org. The preceding article or feature is from The Journal, April 15, 2002.