Published: October 09, 2007 09:56 am      

Student develops firm to improve testing

Jeremy Clarke has made his interest his business.

“I’ve always had a knack for computers, starting in elementary school,” said Clarke, 21, a Northridge High School graduate who now attends Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. “The Internet started to come out, and I started playing around with that.”

Clarke started computer programming, and also looking into basic Web site development, in middle school. He said that when he got to high school, “I really started to take an interest in it,” and began looking at computers as a lifelong venture.

Clarke now has his own Web development company, Vortex Web Solutions. He also runs an online ISTEP (Indiana Statewide Testing for Educational Progress) preparation company, Sharper Results. After brainstorming ideas with teachers and a pilot effort, the program was launched in August 2006. Sharper Results provides a way for parents and teachers to help students get ready for the test.

“It’s a great tool to make sure you have the basics down,” Clarke said.

Sharper Results offers test packets, online software, home software and classroom software.

“I’m trying to push the online version” and phase out the PC versions, Clarke said, though the latter are still available to people who don’t have constant Internet access.

“I’m an entrepreneur at heart,” Clarke said. “I’m just getting ready to launch another venture, hopefully in the next few weeks.”

“Something to do with the Internet is something I’ll be doing the rest of my life,” he said.

“He’s definitely been the technological one of the family,” said Clarke’s mom, Kim. “I just think it kind of comes naturally.”

Jeremy is a focused, goal-oriented person, Kim Clarke said. “And he’s just always been very driven.”