From Deseret News archives:
Utah teen earns top ACT score
He's one of just 202 students enrolled at Duchesne High School in rural Utah, where he's captain of the Academic Decathlon and football teams and LDS Seminary Council president.
He was one of six Wendy's High School Heisman National Finalists.
And now, he's the only one in Utah, and among 63 nationwide, to score a perfect 36 on the ACT college entrance test given last October. Eleven thousand Utah students, and half a million worldwide, took the exam, ACT reports.
Bruton's score, coupled with a 4.0 GPA, likely seals a full-tuition college scholarship for him to study business and engineering. He wants to go to Brigham Young University. Other colleges are courting him, too.
"It's kind of interesting ... to think someone from a small, rural Utah school is being looked at by the Stanfords and the Harvards and the big-name schools out there," said his father, Tom Bruton, who says the mail contains items from colleges most every day. "It's kind of fun to see those offers come in."
Duchesne High counselor John Foser describes Jared Bruton as a young Renaissance man, who's well versed, respected and liked.
He's had the lead in the school play. He's an Eagle Scout with four palms. He plays cornet, piano and guitar and sings in a youth choir. He was 2007 All-State Track, 1st Team. A three-time Future Business Leaders of America state competition winner and a national qualifier. He's donated more than 1,800 hours of community service.
He even takes out the garbage without being asked, his mom said.
"He's always been such a good kid," Cindy Bruton said.
She says she started reading "Lord of the Rings" to Jared when he was 4 years old. She remembers how much he loved it, would ask tons of questions, want to learn new words. That got the learning ball rolling. The momentum continues — with help from a most unlikely source in this media-saturated world.
"We don't have a TV at our house," Jared Bruton said. "That helps me so I don't waste time."
The 18-year-old Bruton takes concurrent enrollment courses in his school through Southern Utah University, earning college credits while in high school in subjects from English to chemistry. He takes ACT practice tests, and the real test at every opportunity. This was his fifth try. The first, he scored a commendable 30. (The national average is 21.2, ACT reports.)
"We wouldn't let him stop at that," his dad chuckles. "We knew he had more in him."
He also had a big brother with a 34 score.
"I had to beat him," Jared Bruton said.
Soon, he hopes to join him.
The high school senior wants to follow 20-year-old Derek Bruton's path to college, his footsteps in missionary service for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and in 10 or 15 years, forge their own engineering firm.
Based on where Jared Bruton's come so far, the goal seems likely.
"We're just amazed with what he's doing," his mother said.
E-mail: jtcook@desnews.com
