When Helena High School senior Tucker Bremer joined his family for dinner at Longhorn Steakhouse, he felt that things were a little off. His family had never eaten there, so the change in scenery caught him off guard, but more importantly, his mother plopped a half-gallon of “limited-edition” ice cream on the table. He studied the M&Ms scattered on top of it, wondering what was so special about it. Then, it clicked. The M&Ms formed the number 36. He had gotten a perfect score on the ACT.
Bremer was relieved, excited, and certainly surprised, but if anyone took a cursory look at his accomplishments or had a chat with the man himself, the result would seem inevitable. Bremer had taken the ACT a total of five times before his perfect score. Starting in seventh grade, he improved little by little with each test. His preparation involved combing through countless practice problems, finding his weaknesses, and making the necessary improvements. Regarding his strategy, Bremer said, “While a lot of other people will probably focus on a more comprehensive picture, I decided to try and identify and focus on very specific areas that I [needed] to improve on, and it turns out that was the ticket.”
At school, Bremer doesn’t shy away from a challenge. He takes seven AP courses and is also a member of the Math Team. When it comes to staying motivated with this hefty course load, Bremer likes to focus on what he can gain from it, saying, “I learn to love the content because I wouldn’t be able tao do all this work without at least enjoying some of it, so what I do is over the first few weeks at school I kind of delve into the topic and learn more about it and usually from that I learn how it could be applied in my life and I start liking it.”
Mathematics and Science are Bremer’s strong suits. He cited AP Chemistry as one of his favorite classes and said that if he weren’t going into aerospace engineering, he’d be pursuing a career in a chemistry-related field. He also recounted going over mathematical concepts with his calculus professor Dr. Mark McDonald who assists with not only the Math Team, but the Helena High School Marching Band, another addition to Bremer’s schedule.
To add even more to Bremer’s resumé, he recently became an Eagle Scout. To earn the rank of Eagle Scout, Bremer undertook the ambitious project of building five benches in Helena’s Buck Creek Park. Since the park is in a flood zone, he had to ensure the strength and durability of the benches and anchor them in concrete.
The whole endeavor took about three months, the majority of which being paperwork. Bremer had to draft proposals and plans, acquire signatures, and talk with the head of Parks and Recreation. The installment of the benches themselves took two weekends. The first weekend involved building the benches, and the second, with the help of a rented hydraulic auger, saw Bremer, his friends, and their fathers, drilling holes and setting the benches. Despite the sweltering Alabamian heat, Bremer looks back fondly on the experience, saying, “In retrospect, the project was great. It really was the largest project I brought from start to finish, and I think that’s going to be a very valuable experience as I go into college and my career.
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Photographs courtesy of Tara Bremer
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Photographs courtesy of Tara Bremer
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Photographs courtesy of Tara Bremer
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Photographs courtesy of Tara Bremer
As graduation looms, Bremer has narrowed down his college search to two schools: Purdue and Auburn. Most of his family has gone to Purdue, including his parents, grandparents, great grandparents, and plenty of other relatives. He would also hope to continue his band career there, noting the prestige and traditions of their program. With plans to pursue a degree in aerospace engineering, Bremer hopes to fly high at either school.
Before getting to college, however, Bremer wants to savor his final semester at Helena. He noted the difficulties brought about by his junior year of high school, and how he’s known what to expect from a heavier course load his senior year. He appreciated the newfound freedom and ease of pace, saying, “I actually have some time to do other projects, or hang out with family.”
This does not mean, however, that the infamous “senioritis” has set in. Bremer joked that he has a “little bit” of the condition that causes seniors to coast through the last few months of school, but emphasized his intention to keep his grades up. This won’t stop him, however, from enjoying time with those close to him. Noting how far one of his college choices would take him away from home, Bremer wants to ensure he makes the most of his last few months, saying, “No one [else] is going to Purdue, if I go to Purdue, so I’m gonna miss a bunch of my friends, so I want to hang out with them a lot.”
With an already impressive resumé to fall back on, the future looks bright for Bremer, bright enough to warrant even more of that “limited-edition” ice cream.