Special to the Journal
The Board of Education recognized 58 juniors and seniors who earned the highest score possible on Advanced Placement (AP) exams. AP is an international program of college-level courses and exams for secondary students. Students who score high enough on AP exams may earn college credit while still in high school.
Houston County issued 1,384 Advanced Placement exams in May 2012 when these students were sophomores and juniors. Students from five high schools across the county who passed AP exams with a qualifying score of 3, 4, or 5 saved their parents an estimated $2 million in college tuition.
Sponsored by the College Board, AP Exams are reported on a 5-point scale: 5, extremely well qualified; 4, well qualified; 3, qualified; 2, possibly qualified; and 1, no recommendation. Students recognized at the Board meeting earned at least one 5 on an exam; seven students earned two 5s and one students earned a 5 on three different exams.
Director of gifted and AP programs Jan Jacobsen said, “The state of Georgia encourages enrollment in AP classes as sound preparation for college and/or career. Passing an AP exam is an additional accomplishment. Earning a 5 on an AP Exam is yet another layer of accomplishment. We are delighted to recognize that last May in Houston County, 100 students earned a 5 on at least one AP Exam. We recognized 58 juniors and seniors at the BOE meeting. Another 42, who were 12th graders at the time, have gone on to college or other adventures. These students are excellent representatives of our school system and we are proud of them.”
Students were presented with a gift mug and a booklet featuring their photos, exam details, where they predict they will be in 10 years, and a “leave-behind” comment. A few examples of their comments follow.
Houston County High’s Chen-Hui Bergl, who earned a 5 in AP world history and AP psychology, commented, “AP courses are an experience because one does not deal with the material solely in a classroom. The time and effort one puts in outside of class creates a lifestyle of learning.”
Sarah Currier of Northside High earned a 5 in AP chemistry, AP English language & composition and AP psychology. Currier said, “The only thing stopping you is yourself. Once you overcome that obstacle, you can do anything.”
And Veterans High’s Karl Nicodemus earned a 5 in AP psychology he said, “While the material you learn from AP classes is important, the study habits and sense of achievement you receive are the gifts that last a lifetime.”
The students are pictured (in no particular order) after being recognized at the Board meeting. Those who earned at earned least one 5 on AP Exams are listed below by school.
Houston County High School
· Andrew Behrman, AP psychology
· Keanu Brooks, AP psychology
· Alyssa Cowart, AP psychology
· William Freeman, AP U. S. history and AP chemistry
· Yejin Jung, AP U.S. history
· Joshua LeBorious, AP English language and composition
· Mary Lindberg, AP psychology
· Abigail Olson, AP psychology
· Chen-Hui Bergl, AP world history and AP psychology
· Sydney Morfoot, AP world history
· Aamanya Raval, AP psychology
· Justin Stokes, AP psychology
· Teresa Tran, AP psychology
· Willa Wang, AP environmental science
Northside High School
· Sarah Currier, AP chemistry, AP English language & composition and AP psychology
· Angeline Eugene, AP psychology
· Sean Perryman, AP biology, AP English language & composition and AP psychology
· Blayne Robertson, AP chemistry
· Jessica Smith, AP psychology
· Austin Maddox
· Casi McDaniels, AP human geography
· Peyton Raley, AP human geography
Perry High School
· Elizabeth Lewis, AP U.S. history
· Jimmy Mehserle, AP English language & composition, AP U.S. government & politics and AP U.S. history
· Sarah Pate, AP U.S. history
· Urmit Patel, AP biology and AP U. S. history
· Xavier Wlliams, AP biology
· Bethany Brown, AP world history
Veterans High School
· Kelly Cole, AP psychology
· Brandon Cauley, AP chemistry, AP English language & composition
· Somnath Das, AP chemistry, AP English language & composition and AP U.S. history
· Brian Decker, AP chemistry, AP English language & composition and AP U.S. history
· Taylor Ellison, AP psychology
· Stephen Hall, AP psychology
· Candice May, AP calculus AB and AP U.S. history
· Kathryn Miller, AP psychology
· Patrick Nakayama, AP U.S. history
· Karl Nicodemus, AP psychology
· Shannon Schnable, AP psychology
· Tanner Sparks, AP psychology
· Isaac White, AP chemistry
· Diana Winecoff, AP U.S. history
· Emily Deyton, AP environmental science and AP world history
· Sean Dunham, AP environmental science
· Alex Goldstein, AP environmental science
· Josh Holden, AP environmental science
· Logan Morris, AP world history
Warner Robins High School
· Ashleigh Austel, AP U.S. History
· Abigail Ball, AP U.S. government & politics
· Nicholas Frabotta, AP psychology
· Jennifer Burkhardt, AP psychology
· Abby Butikofer, AP psychology
· Erin Butikofer, AP psychology
· Kelly Dyal, AP psychology
· Carmen Foskey, AP psychology and AP U.S. government & politics
· Tyson Grogan, AP psychology and AP U.S. government & politics
· Peter Loiacono, AP psychology
· Cynthia White, AP psychology
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