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2 King High seniors ace SAT
By MELANIE AVE, Times Staff Writer
TAMPA -- They studied and studied, and in the end, two King High School seniors did what few students could. Alex Mohapatra of New Tampa and Iden Sinai of Temple Terrace each scored a perfect 1600 on the SAT, something only one in every 2,000 students accomplish. The average score is 1000. Both students hope the high score will help secure their admittance to Ivy League universities. Tuesday, the Hillsborough School Board recognized the two students, who are both enrolled in King's International Baccalaureate program. They were the only county students to ace the SAT in the last year. Mohapatra and Sinai, both 17, were among 616 students out of 1.3-million students to earn the top score in the last year, according to the College Board, which administers the test used by many colleges for admission. "It's quite an accomplishment," said Kristin Carnahan, College Board spokeswoman. The students said they enjoy learning and always were academically minded, even in elementary school. "I like being smart," said Mohapatra, president of King's science club. "I enjoy that people respect you for something." Both students said there was no magic trick to mastering the three-hour exam, which tests students' verbal and math skills. "I put some hard work into it," said Mohapatra, whose mother is a cell biology researcher and whose father is a University of South Florida professor. "I fine-tuned the weaknesses I had." Mohapatra took the test twice, first earning a 1530 last November. He decided to take it again in May. Sinai took the test once in January and was amazed he did so well on the first try. Sinai said reading helped prepare him to do well on the verbal portions of the test. And paying attention in his geography and algebra classes helped on the math questions. "Luck is a big part of it," said Sinai, who has applied to Princeton University. Sinai, who said his Iranian-born father is his role model because he came to the United States and started his own car dealership, said he is unsure of his career plans. Mohapatra said he hopes to attend Harvard University and possibly go into genetics or molecular biology. King High assistant principal Lynne Volpe praised the two straight-A students for their intelligence. But she said their character goes beyond their minds. Both students are well-rounded and involved in various community activities. Mohapatra maintains a Web site for the Indo-U.S. Chamber of Commerce and volunteers at the Moffitt Cancer Center as a researcher. Sinai is an algebra tutor and operates his own business called Sinai Soda Machines. "They're smart," Volpe said. "But they're just good people too. They're pleasant and nice to be around." -- Melanie Ave can be reached at (813) 226-3400 or melanie@sptimes.com.
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