Scottsdale – When Nila Kumara opened her ACT results and saw a perfect 36, the Great Hearts Scottsdale Preparatory Academy senior leapt from her desk, hugged a teacher and called her mother. The 17‑year‑old’s achievement adds to a list of impressive credentials: she is a National Merit semifinalist, holds a 4.0 unweighted GPA and the highest weighted GPA available at Scottsdale Prep.
Preparation and work ethic
Kumara attributes the score to disciplined preparation rather than raw talent. Scottsdale Prep allowed her to accelerate a year in math, giving her early exposure to material that appears on the test. In the weeks leading up to the ACT, she focused her study sessions on the questions she missed on practice exams. “I think my perfect ACT score shows that I have a lot of faith in the work I put in,” she said. “I know when to work, and I know when to play. That’s a big thing in our house: work hard, play hard.”
Monica Ware, lead college counselor at Scottsdale Prep, echoed that sentiment. “She’s very bright, naturally. She’s very intelligent, but she also works really hard,” Ware said. “It’s not the only thing that defines her, but it certainly shows her character of hard work and dedication.”
Beyond the classroom
Kumara’s involvement extends well beyond academics. She volunteers at the Mustang Library, helping with its summer reading and Reading Buddies programs, and participates in speech and debate, the Junior Classical League and other school clubs. She also competes on four varsity teams – flag football, cross country, track and field, and soccer – demonstrating a balance of intellectual and athletic pursuits.
Her family background emphasizes civic engagement. Kumara’s mother, Shalini Sivanandam, and father, Nila Singaravelu, have supported her work on local political campaigns, including canvassing, phone banking and event staffing. Those experiences sparked an interest in political science, economics and education equity.
Future plans and advice
Studying Latin and classical history at Scottsdale Prep deepened her curiosity about government and the connections between ancient political thought and modern public policy. She helped develop a civic education curriculum through ProGov aimed at young women before becoming involved in local education initiatives. “I wanted to actually interact with elections and campaigns and candidates,” Kumara explained.
As she prepares college applications, Kumara is considering political science and economics majors, with potential opportunities in Washington, D.C., California and Arizona. She also sees law school as a possible path after completing her undergraduate degree.
Ware highlighted that Kumara does not rely solely on grades and test scores. She continues to invest effort in college essays, teacher relationships and community involvement. “She doesn’t make excuses. She goes out and makes a difference,” Ware said.
When asked what advice she would give other students, Kumara emphasized enjoyment and purpose. “The biggest thing is just to find a way to make it enjoyable,” she said. “It’s all towards achieving your goals and your dreams ultimately.”
Original reporting: Scottsdale Progress — read the source article.
