JMCHS senior earns top composite score on ACT

Friday, Oct. 03, 2014

SALT LAKE CITY — Jim Best-Devereux, a senior at Judge Memorial Catholic High School, earned a top composite score of 36 on his ACT test in June.

Nationally, on average, less than one-tenth of 1 percent of students who take the ACT earns the top score.

Best-Devereux said he was a little stressed before taking the ACT test because he hadn’t studied, but said he stayed focused and didn’t rush even though the tests are timed.

The ACT consists of tests in English, mathematics, reading and science.

Best-Devereux received the Judge Memorial junior class mathematics award last year. 

“Not only was his academic performance excellent, but Jim works well with his classmates and is such a strong problem solver; he is all about helping everybody,” said Kate Bills, Judge Memorial interim administrator, who was Best-Devereux’s AP calculus teacher.

“I’ve always had an affinity for math, but I also love science, history and music; learning is something I love and appreciate,” he said.

Best-Devereux credits his accomplishment to the education he received at the Madeleine Choir School and continues to receive at Judge Memorial. “My teachers have helped me become a better student and have given me encouragement,” he said. 

“Jim is humble and so unassuming,” said Jeanette Sawaya, Judge Memorial college counselor. “When you talk to him, you can tell he’s a very creative thinker.” 

Best-Devereux’s third-grade teacher, Susan Sauce, taught him the importance of reading and getting a good education, he said. To learn to sight-read music, he was required to learn to play the violin at the Madeleine Choir School; he now plays the violin with the Utah Youth Symphony and is trying to expand into fiddle, folk music and some Frank Sinatra, he said.

Linda Simpson, Best-Devereux’s AP English teacher, also plays violin and attended a Utah Youth Symphony concert in which Devereux performed. 

“It was clear that Jim had worked hard to develop his considerable talent,” Simpson said. 

“Jim is an outstanding young man and as a student in my class he seemed to love a challenge, from complex literature to unfamiliar vocabulary study. He often contributed his insightful observations to class discussions and it was obvious that he read closely and loved to puzzle things out. He is a very respectful young man who is able to work collaboratively in class with absolutely anyone.”

Dr. Natalie Dutrow, Best-Devereux’s AP biology teacher, said one of the most fulfilling things she has experienced as a teacher was listening to Jim and his classmates discuss the merits and pitfalls of various scientific research articles. 

“Students like Jim, with their ability to think and communicate logically, reasonably and critically give me hope for our collective future,” Dutrow said.

Best-Devereux has been studying cardiology research since seventh grade at the University of Utah Medical Center with Dr. Chris McGann. He would like to go into medicine and is considering biomedical engineering, he said. 

“There is a lot of problem-solving and coming up with solutions in biomedical engineering, and that is something I like; something practical that can have fixes to the problems we face,” he said. “I want to help people and make sure they are taken care of as best as possible.”

In addition to his academic and musical pursuits, Best-Devereux is captain of the Judge Memorial boys tennis team, and also manages the Judge Memorial girls tennis team. 

“The girls have the potential to play well, they just need a bit of instruction, and that is where I have the ability to step in to help them,” he said.

He also helps the girls with their homework, said his mother, Cynthia Conner.

“I would like to inspire students to do as much as they can while they are in high school,” Devereux said.