All in the Family

All in the Family It would take quite a scholar to calculate the likelihood of lightning striking in the same place twice. Perhaps the members of the Hahlbeck family would be willing to help. Recently, Ethan ‘21 joined his brother Nick ‘12 in the elite fraternity of students who have earned a perfect score of 36 on the ACT. While the odds of such a rare achievement being repeated multiple times in the same family would seem enormous, a closer look at the values and attitudes promoted at home may provide the secret to success.

When Ethan first received his ACT score, “ I immediately thought that Brothers Ethan '21 and Nick '12 both earned a we had somehow logged into Nick’s account and that we were seeing perfect score of 36 on the ACT his score, not mine. Once I found out that it was actually my score, the disbelief gave way to pride and relief.” Ethan describes Nick as a role model in his life, so he was proud to follow in Nick’s ACT footsteps. Of course, he was also pleased to have taken his last ACT. “I hoped that studying specifically for the test was superfluous if I had truly paid attention during my classes, and my years at Xavier had prepared me well, so I was happy when I learned that I would only have to take it once.” What did Nick think upon hearing his younger brother’s news? “I was excited for him, and proud, but honestly not surprised. Since we were drooling babies, my parents relentlessly taught us to value curiosity, critical thinking and perpetual learning. But I was especially unsurprised because it's Ethan; he's maybe the most voracious learner of all.” Those values have served all four of the Hahlbeck children well, both at Xavier " “We are most proud and thankful that they have all embraced our philosophy of having a heightened sense of curiosity, that every moment is and beyond. Nick graduated from the University of Miami with a double major a teachable/learnable moment, in Biology and Marine Science. He studied in the Galapagos Islands, earned a prestigious Hollings Scholarship from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric that we should never stop Administration, and is completing his PhD in Fisheries Science from Oregon learning, and that it is equally State University with plans to pursue ecological research. Sydney ‘15 graduated from UW-Platteville with a double major in Criminal Justice and Psychology, will important to be a good person.” graduate from Ball State University next May with two masters degrees (Clinical -Kathy Hahlbeck Psychology and Quantitative Psychology), and plans to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology before a career in psychological assessments. Alex ’19 attends the University of Minnesota and is studying Biochemistry and Pharmacology. Ethan plans to pursue a career in Biochemistry after his graduation from Xavier.

As parents of this impressive quartet of achievers, Kurt and Kathy Hahlbeck focus more on the process than the result. According to Kathy, “We are most proud and thankful that they have all embraced our philosophy of having a heightened sense of curiosity, that every moment is a teachable/ learnable moment, that we should never stop learning, and that it is equally important to be a good person.” The Xavier community celebrates the Hahlbeck family as learners, leaders, and people of exceptional character. Perhaps lightning strikes aren’t as random as they seem.