Chief Moses student named Young Scholar

MOSES LAKE — Seventh grade student Madison Wilks, 13, took the ACT college entrance exam and scored 21 out of 36, above the average score for high school students.

The Chief Moses Middle School student was recognized for her achievement by the University of Washington's Halbert and Nancy Robinson Center for Young Scholars. The center conducts a Washington Search for Young Scholars yearly.

"We're just really proud of the effort that she puts into her education," said Marni Wilks, Madison Wilks' mother.

Marni Wilks said Madison and her brother, a high school freshman and accomplished student, took the test together. They are always in competition, she said.

"It was pretty hard," Madison said. "Honestly I didn't think I was going to do very well."

She said she was skeptical of how she would score when she took the test in February because she did not complete all the questions on the test.

Marni Wilks said Madison would spend hours looking at books when she was just two years old.

"She's just always been driven that way, ever since she was little," Wilks said.

In addition to academics, Madison is involved with basketball, volleyball and track.

Madison is one of 739 students in grades five through eight to be recognized in the Washington Search for Young Scholars.

"Programs such as the Washington Search for Young Scholars help identify talented children so schools and communities can respond with the challenges (the children) need to help them fulfill their promise and to keep these students fully engaged in their education," said Associate Director of the Robinson Center and scholar search program Robert Vaughan.

Recognition ceremonies were held in Spokane, Vancouver and Seattle.

Madison said she is not saving her recent ACT score for college applications.

"I might even take it every year until I'm a senior," she said.