Cake, music, fun and games may not sound like the ingredients of a successful study session, but that’s just what they were at Wednesday’s “Aspire Greatness” event at Luverne Middle School.

Students from Banks and Luverne challenged themselves to math, reading and language problems, earning door prizes and confidence with every correct answer.

Luverne teacher Julie Albritton said this was the third year the schools joined together to review for the ACT Aspire college aptitude test.

“We hope next year to do it with all of the schools in the county,” she said.

Teachers divided the Luverne gym into 34 stations, each tackling a skill or subject students could expect to see on the test, which they will take in April.

High school student volunteers rewarded the hardest workers with raffle tickets good for prizes that were donated by parents.

Seventh-grade students tackled 16 stations, covering English, language, science and math.

“I think it was pretty fun,” said Libbey Jones, a seventh-grader at Luverne.

Jones said she was a little nervous about the test, but her teachers have helped her prepare with reviews and Wednesday’s event.

“My teachers have really taught me a lot,” she said. “And the more they taught me, the more I saw that I’ll probably do fine.”

Eighth-grade students managed 18 stations of English and math.

The event was also an opportunity for Banks students to meet their pen pals at Luverne for the first time. Aubrey Maulden said she looked forward to meeting her pen pal.

“I’m ready,” she said.

Maulden had a good time at Aspire Greatness. She found a challenge at a science table about genetics, but came to the conclusion that she could handle anything.

“You just have to read the questions and apply what you know,” she said.