Welcome to the Evolving Man Project’s ‘Evolved “Young” Men of the Week’ profile. Today we will highlight historical and contemporary figures who embodied what it means to be an evolved man, famous and non-famous alike. The world needs to know their stories and deeds. This week’s honor goes the fellow Chicago native and whiz kid Mario Hoover.
Mario Hoover is a student at Providence St. Mel High School located in Chicago, IL. Hoover was referred to as “Mr. 36,” a nickname that stems from his perfect score on the test. He makes up less than one percent of students on a national scale that manages to lock in that perfect score on the test.
Principal Timothy Ervin, a Providence St. Mel grad himself, said the perfect score is the highest any student has gotten in the private school’s 42-year history, adding that since 1978, 100% of graduates have received college scholarships.
Mario Hoover began attending the prominent West Side school in the third grade when the public school in his East Garfield Park neighborhood was closed along with 49 others by the city. His mother didn’t want him caught up in gangs feuding over territory during his commute.
Along with his 3.9 GPA and four advanced placement classes, the teen has found time to become an all-state musician. He also runs track while volunteering at the neighborhood Boys and Girls Club and a local hospital.
Here is Mario Hoover in his own words about making a positive change in the world:
“Doing the best that I can to boost my academic and professional career to inspire others to do the same,” … “Because once you have that platform, you can inspire people to change the world, and you can also change the world.”
In the summer of 2022, Mario Hoover attended a two-week program in Oxford, England, at Oxford University for high school kids. After Hoover graduates in the spring of 2023, he hopes to attend Columbia University to pursue music and neuroscience.
We at the Evolving Man Project wish Mario Hoover all his continued success and hope he continues to inspire others. Today we honor Mario Hoover as our Evolved “Young” Man of the Week.
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