Delaware Valley produces 96 AP scholars

School record smashed again by scholars' academic efforts WESTFALL — Ninety six students in the Delaware Valley High School have earned the designation of AP Scholar by the College Board in recognition of their exceptional achievement on the college level Advanced Placement Program (AP) Exams. Jay Tucker, Counseling Department chairperson in the Delaware Valley School District, reported that this is the largest number of AP Scholars ever recognized in one year in the Delaware Valley High School. According to Tucker, the College Board’s Advanced Placement Program offers students the opportunity to take challenging college-level courses while still in high school. Students can receive college credit, advanced placement, or both for successful performance on the AP Exams. Students took AP Exams in May 2011 after completing challenging college-level courses at the Delaware Valley High School. The College Board recognizes several levels of achievement based on the number of courses each student takes and the grade they receive. Scholars of Distinction Twenty eight students qualified for the AP Scholar with Distinction Award by earning an average grade of 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on five or more exams. These students are Maura Beck, Gabrielle Buteau, James Cathy, Joseph Cathy, Tyler Collins, Nicholas Demalderis, Rachel Dudle, Colleen Fagan, Connor Gieger, Thomas Hartmann, Emily Klag, Victoria Kuryluk, Morgan Leek, Kalie Mackey, Rachel McKean, Sarah Mincer, Michael Montemarano, Joseph Nied, Jennifer Pike, Brianna Plaxe, Michael Pol, Tsitsi Rwakonda, Toniann Territola, Sarah Thomas, Christopher Walsh, Justin Westdyke, Katarzyna Wojnas and Nicole Zenes. Honor Award scholars Twenty One students qualified for the AP Scholar with Honor Award by earning an average grade of at least a 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on four or more exams. These students are Matthew Bello, Joseph Belsterling, Aaron Brown, Garrett Cappello, Andrew Corry, Christina Decola, Samantha Gafkowski, Erin Hicks, Jacob Kovarskiy, Breanna Lojo, Hunter Newman, Vitoria Oliveira, Melissa Peck, Daniel Peterson, Jason Sandonato, Jessica Scelba, Alaina Smith-dalquist, Ashley Testino, Zachery Westdyke, Allison White and Matthew White. AP Scholar awards Forty Seven students qualified for the AP Scholar Award by completing three or more AP Exams, with grades of 3 or higher. The AP Scholars are Lily Adams, Brandon Angradi, Shannon Baird, Hannah Baker, Daniel Beers, Jeffery Benson, Kyrsten Brockman, Chad Brown, Deanna Brown, Alexander Buda, Mary-Kate Burns, Yubin Choi, Alexandra Connolly, Carter Degennaro, Melinda Dennis, James Devine, Aoife Dowd, Elina Dunayevska, Tanvir Faisal, Kathleen Forichon, Tori France, Lacey Goodin, Lauren Grady, Dakota Hendricks, Nadege Hoeper, Joseph Hunt, Nicholas Joerger, Kristin Karas, Marygrace Kennedy, Natalia Marroquin, Amy Merrill, Kimberly Mihiel, Nicole Miller, Christopher Moraski, Kaitlin Mottle, Michael Narducci, Nicholas Riccio, Samantha Roa, Frances Ryder, Lisa Sauer, Maura Schaffer, Joshua Smith, Ben Thomas, Daniel Thompson, Theresa Tribus, Kayla Vanorskie and Jacob Williams. National AP Scholars In addition to being named one of the 96 DV student AP Scholars, three students also qualified for the prestigious National AP Scholar Award by earning an average grade of 4 or higher on a 5 point scale on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 4 or higher on eight or more of these exams. Only the top ½ of 1 percent of the AP students in the country earn this award. This year’s Delaware Valley High School National AP Scholars are Maura Beck, Michael Montemarano and Nicole Zenes. The Delaware Valley High School was very honored that 96 of their students earned national recognition for their outstanding achievements on the AP Exams. This number smashed the previous DV record of 72 AP Scholars who were honored during the 2009-2010 school year, Tucker said. About AP and the College Board Through more than 30 different college-level courses and exams, AP provides motivated and academically prepared students with the opportunity to earn college credit 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 our 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 3,600 colleges and universities receive AP grades. Over 90 percent of four year colleges provide credit and /or advanced placement for qualifying AP Exam grades. 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 higher 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 association 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 admission, guidance, assessment, financial aid, enrollment and teaching and learning. Among its best-known programs are the SAT, the PSAT/NMSQT, and the Advanced Placement Program (AP). The College Board is committed to the principals of equity and excellence, and that commitment is embodied in all of its programs, services, activities, and concerns.