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ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — An Anchorage public school student with a perfect SAT score is looking toward colleges where he can explore his interests in science, technology, engineering and math.
West Anchorage High School senior Foster Birnbaum got what he called the perfect Christmas gift over winter break when he and his family learned he scored a 2,400 on the assessment, KTVA-TV reported (http://bit.ly/1NdoF92 ).
He said with his brother scoring a well a few years ago meant a little pressure on him.
"Of course, you know, there are expectations — if I get over a certain score, I'm going to be happy," he said. "And then to get this was just unbelievable. And my whole family was there. We were all waiting for it to pop up online."
The student attended Rogers Park Elementary School and Romig Middle School before going to West Anchorage, where high school counselor Johanna Utterback says Birnbaum is "the whole shebang."
"He's generous, and he's really dependable," Utterback said. "He's kind to everyone. He's offered to tutor people . He's just kind of an all-around fine person."
Birnbaum is an Anchorage Youth Symphony cellist and is a member of both the debate team and Model United Nations.
"I know it's great, 2400 is the best you can do . but I don't let a test define me," he said. "I have plenty of other things I like to do."
He said come fall, he'll be happy going "anywhere with great research opportunities where I'd have the option to really explore my STEM interests."
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Information from: KTVA-TV, http://www.ktva.com
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