Glendale Prep Senior Earns Perfect ACT Score

Luciano Marcolini, an extraordinary senior from Glendale Prep, has joined the ranks of less than one percent of ACT test takers with a perfect score of 36. And surprisingly, he is not the first in his family to reach this achievement. But this is only one aspect of this senior’s life that sets him apart. This renaissance man’s interests and talents are diverse, spanning both the arts and sciences.

“I was fairly surprised,” admitted Marcolini about learning of his perfect score. But his family, while happy for their son, wasn’t surprised at all. “I am not the first person in my family to have gotten a 36. My brother, two years ago also got a 36.” That’s right, his older brother, Alessandro Marcolini, a 2024 graduate of Glendale Prep, was the first to obtain the score, but that doesn’t diminish the repeat achievement of his younger brother. “I’m fairly sure he was more confident about his score than I was, but it’s still incredible, especially since we’re related. I get to live up to the expectations set to my brother and it’s just a great thing really.”

Alessandro is currently studying robotics at Barrett, The Honors College at Arizona State University. “I’m also going to ASU Barrett, but or mechanical engineering instead, hopefully getting to work with F1,” he explained. F1 or Formula 1 racing is the highest class of international, open-wheel, single-seater auto racing.

According to his college counselor, Katherine Sarbacker, he was instrumental in helping other students prepare for their PSAT. “In talking to him, he really wanted to help his fellow classmates. And so, we worked together pretty closely in terms of coming up with an idea and finding days and times after school where he would focus on helping especially some of the higher scoring kids so that they would have a better chance at maybe making the national merit cutoffs. And Luciano, I mean he really did the work, and I think most of the kids made it to just about every class that Luciano offered,” shared Sarbacker. “We are a great community here at Glendale Prep. I think he really fell right into that and really showed what it means to serve others and to share his gifts.”

We have college counselors at each of our prep academies and Marcolini appreciates the valuable assistance this has provided him with throughout high school. “Mrs. Sarbacker is great at what she does… She was also the one that recommended I take the ACT. We do take it mandatory here at the school for all juniors, but Mrs. Sarbacker was really the one that helped me push for that 36.”

While Marcolini exhibits intellectual proficiency, he is also a competitive athlete and has a love for the performative arts. “I’m also on the tennis team.“ And he has been told he has a beautiful serve. I also do choir here at the school, both concert choir and chamber singers.” He is an active member of the robotics club at Glendale Prep, who are heading to World’s competition for the second year in a row.

It is important to note that Marcolini has attended Great Hearts since his Kindergarten year, meaning he has benefited from a complete Great Hearts education for all 13 years of his K-12 years. “I’ve gotten to experience everything that Glendale Prep has to offer. It has taught me to take opportunities in a way that’s helped me shape my future and as well as shape the lives of those around me.”

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