Staff report

Thirty-seven students at Nansemond-Suffolk Academy 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.

The College Board’s Advanced Placement Program offers students the opportunity to take challenging college-level courses while still in high school, and to receive college credit, advanced placement, or both for successful performance on the AP Exams.

Almost 17 percent of the more than 1 million high school students in more than 15,000 secondary schools worldwide who took AP Exams performed at a sufficiently high level to merit the recognition of AP Scholar.

Students took AP Exams in May 2004 after completing challenging college-level courses at their high schools.

The College Board recognizes several levels of achievement based on student’s performance on AP exams.

At Nansemond-Suffolk Academy:

Two students qualified for the 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. These students are Udayan Shah and James Spain, members of the Class of 2004.

Ten students qualified for the AP Scholar with Distinction Award by earning an average grade of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams. These students are Matt Bergfield, Ria Desai, Laura Doland, Joshua Gruber, Jonathan Nadal, Udayan Shah, Rebecca Smith, James Spain, Melanie Trostle, and Stephanie Vallez.

Seven students qualified for the AP Scholar Honor Award by earning an average grade of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on four of more of these exams.

These students are Bryan Kitz, Elizabeth McGehee, Ryan Mears, Aksh Patel, Ellis Pretlow, Alexander Sinesi and Lauren Willis.

Eighteen students qualified for the AP Scholar Award by completing three or more AP Examinations, with grades of 3 or higher.

The AP Scholars are Kendall Chorey, Everett Irby, Claire Leonard, Stephanie Martin, Sarah McLemore, Matt Norman, Alison Ostman, Peyton Palmer, Caroline Parker, Hemal Patel, Callie Peak, Charles Persons, Zachary Phillips, Heather Pontius, Ashlee Robb, Hunter Smith, Mary Speight and Melissa Taylor.

Most of the nation’s colleges and universities award credit, advanced placement, or both based on successful performance on the AP Exams.

More than 1,400 institutions award a full year’s credit (sophomore standing) to students presenting a sufficient number of qualifying grades.

Thirty-four AP Exams are offered in a wide variety of subject areas, each consisting of multiple-choice and free-response (essay or problem-solving) questions (except for the Studio Art exam which evaluates students’ original artwork).

The College Board is a national nonprofit membership association whose mission is to prepare, inspire, and connect students to college and opportunity.

Founded in 1900, the association is composed of more than 4,500 schools, colleges, universities, and other educational organizations. Each year, the College Board serves more than 3 million students and their parents, 23,000 high schools, and 3,500 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 principles of equity and excellence, and that commitment is embodied in all of its programs, services, activities, and concerns.