Westonka Students Earn AP Scholar Awards

by Lorrie Ham

Thirty-two students at Mound Westonka High School have earned AP Scholar Awards in recognition of their exceptional achievement on AP exams.

"We congratulate our current and 2012 seniors for their accomplishments on the recent Advanced Placement exams,” said MWHS Principal Keith Randklev. “It is a testimony to their individual hard work, the dedication and quality of our teaching staff and the emphasis and support of academic excellence by their families. We at MWHS are very proud of and pleased for these students and their families."

The College Board’s Advanced Placement Program (AP) provides motivated 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. The College Board recognizes several levels of achievement based on students’ performance on AP Exams.

At Mound Westonka High School:

Four students qualified for the AP Scholar with Distinction Award by earning an average score of at least 3.5 of all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3.0 or higher on five or more of these exams. The AP Scholars with Distinction are Karly Boll, Heidi Dotzenroth, John Inglis and Erin Rasmussen.

Nine 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 3.0 or higher on four or more of these exams. The AP Scholars with Honor are Gina Chiodo, Christopher Empey, Benjamin Haug, Chad Hewitt, Daniel Humbert, Michael Kluckman, Connor Murphy, Katie Rasmussen and Josef Vertnik.

Nineteen students qualified for the AP Scholar Award by receiving scores of 3.0 or higher on three or more AP Exams. The AP Scholars are Margot Anderson, William Griffith, Connor Hanson, Cole Hoffman, Vania Jeh, Ashley Kershaw, Jacob Leech, Charles Maahs, Brenna Mack, Callie Mack, Zach McDowell, Grant Nagel, Katelyn Nelson, Kelly O’Brien, Taylor Praus, Maya Reinholdz, Spencer Smith, Haley Swanson and Ella Taggart.

"Increasing the number of AP Scholars from 18 scholars in 2010-2011 to 32 scholars in 2011-2012 is the direct result of encouraging more students to take AP courses and an expansion of AP courses during the past few years," said Mark Femrite, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning. "The newest AP courses being offered at MWHS include AP Biology and AP Physics.”

Femrite went on to say that the increase in AP scholars at MWHS is also a reflection of the faculty's commitment to partner with each student on their academic pursuits and specifically focus on AP students and their preparation for the rigorous AP exams that are held each spring.

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 admissions process. AP is accepted by more than 3,800 colleges and universities worldwide for college credit, advanced placement or both on the basis of successful AP Exam grades.  

Research consistently shows that AP students who score a 3.0 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 organization whose mission is to connect students to college success and opportunity.  

Among its best-known programs are the SAT, the PSAT/NMSQT, and the Advanced Placement Program (AP).