Forty-four recently graduated West Aurora High School students 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.
Two were named National Scholars, eight Scholars with Distinction, five Scholars with Honor and 29 Scholars.
The AP Program offers students the opportunity to take challenging college-level courses while still in high school and receive college credit, advanced placement or both for successful performance on the exams. Students took the exams in spring 2009. Grading ranged from a low of 1 to a high of 5.
Two West students, Kiersten Stokes and Anna Wetherholt, were named National AP Scholars by earning an average exam grade of at least 4 on eight or more exams.
Ten West students qualified for the AP Scholar with Distinction Award by earning an average exam grade of at least 3.5 on all exams taken AND a 3 or higher on at least 5 exams. They are Andrew Barbel, Daniel Botkin, Philip Lindgren, Victoria Sellers, Kiersten Stokes , Alexandra Vickers, Avery Volz, Anna Wetherholt, Mark White and Madison Whitt.
Five West students qualified for the AP Scholar with Honor Award by earning an average exam grade of at least a 3.25 on all exams taken AND a 3 on each of four or more of these exams. They are Juan Chavez, Hannah Keith, Marco Martinez, Michael Schwerdtfeger and Rafael Vizcaino.
Twenty-nine West students qualified for the AP Scholar Award by earning an average exam grade of at least 3 on three or more AP Exams. They are Estefina Barrera, Margaret Becker, Melissa Beneke, Laura Blinks, Parker Boland, Ashley Brown, Christine Davids, Kristina Falk, Christopher Groleau, David Herrera, Kathleen Hutches, Jacqueline Iglesias, Lindsay Johansen, Alexis Karwoski, Bennett Konstans, Koko Lawson, Stephanie Macias, Alexandra Meyer, Lauren Michels, Isabel Navarro, Nilam Patel, Christopher Patterson, Allison Sherman, Emily Timmons, Mark Torres, Elisabeth Vanderband, Payam Vatani, Jason Wyeth and Joshua Zinzer
The number of West students to receive AP Scholar recognition continues to rise. Twenty-three students received recognition in 2005. Passage of an operating rate referendum in 2007 has allowed the school to add additional Advanced Placement classes. As a result, students are more prepared for exams and the overall number of students taking AP classes has risen, according to West counselor Amy Winslow.
