AP Scholar Awards
For Immediate Release
Phillip Nowlin, Assistant Principal
Verrado High School
Buckeye, AZ
February 15, 2013
Twenty-three students at Verrado High School have earned AP Scholar Awards in recognition of their exceptional achievement on the 2012 AP Exams.
The College Board’s Advanced Placement Program (AP) provides willing and academically prepared students with the opportunity to take rigorous college-level courses while still in high school and to earn college credit, advanced placement or both, for successful performance on the AP Exams. About 18 percent of the more than 1.8 million students worldwide who took AP Exams performed at a sufficiently high level to also earn an AP Scholar Award. The College Board recognizes several levels of achievement based on students’ performance on AP Exams.
At Verrado High School:
One student, Omar Garcia, qualified for the National AP Scholar Award by earning an average score of at least 4 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 4 or higher on eight or more of these exams.
Six students qualified for the AP Scholar with Distinction Award by earning an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams. These students were Benjamin Carpenter, Omar Garcia, Jimmy Lee, Joseph Morman, Andrew Stebenne, and Emma Stoltenberg.
Three students qualified for the AP Scholar with Honor Award by earning an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken and scores of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams. These students were Amanda Lewis, Ryan Nowakowski, and Natalie Shurwin.
Fourteen students qualified for the AP Scholar Award by completing three or more AP Exams with scores of 3 or higher. These students were Abby Baker, Jose Balasta, Brett Bezio, Joshua Carmen, Stephanie Choi, Michelle Detka, Diana Reyes, Edward Reyes, Ty Rodriguez, Kendra Staggs, Hector Villafana, Jocelyn Watson, Blake Welch, and Jack Brace.
Ten of the twenty-four Verrado High School students honored during the 2012 exam session were juniors: Jose Balasta, Stephanie Choi, Edward Reyes, Hector Villafana, Amanda Lewis, Natalie Shurwin, Benjamin Carpenter, Jimmy Lee, Joseph Morman, and Omar Garcia.
Through more than 30 different college-level courses and exams, AP provides willing and academically prepared students with the opportunity to earn college credits or advanced placement and stand out in the college admission process. Each exam is developed by a committee of college and university faculty and AP teachers, ensuring that AP exams are aligned with the same high standards expected by college faculty at some of the nation’s leading liberal arts and research institutions. More than 3,800 colleges and universities annually receive AP scores. Most four year colleges in the United States provide credits and/or advanced placement for qualifying exam scores.
Research consistently shows that AP students who score a 3 or higher on AP Exams (based on a scale from 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest) typically experience greater academic success in college and have higher college graduation rates than students who do not participate in AP.
The College Board is a not-for-profit membership association whose mission is to connect students to college success and opportunity. Founded in 1900, the College Board is composed of more than 5,700 schools, colleges, universities and other educational organizations. Each year, the College Board serves seven million students and their parents, 23,000 high schools and 3,800 colleges through major programs and services in college readiness, college admission, guidance, assessment, financial aid and enrollment. Among its widely recognized programs are the SAT, the PSAT/NMSQT, the Advanced Placement Program (AP), SpringBoard and ACCUPLACER.
The College Board is committed to the principles of excellence and equity and that commitment is embodied in all of its programs, services, activities and concerns.