PRESS RELEASES

Twelve VJM Students Designated as AP Scholars
AP® SCHOLAR AWARDS

For Immediate Release
Contact: Villa Joseph Marie High School
City, State: Holland, Pennsylvania

Date: October 16, 2006

Twelve students at Villa Joseph Marie 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 (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. About 18 percent of the more than 1.3 million high school students in 16,000 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 2006 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 Villa Joseph Marie High School:
One student 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. This student is Stephanie Szary.

Three students qualified for the AP Scholar with 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 or more of these exams. These students are Gabriela Bravo-Souza, Andrea Kensy, and Christine Pfeil.

Eight students qualified for the AP Scholar Award by completing three or more AP Exams, with grades of 3 or higher. The AP Scholars are Claire Albert, Sara Ancona, Kimberly Cosgrove, Kaitlin Files, Kara Illingworth, Jennifer Loughnane, Lauren Perillo, and Nicole Prunetti.
Of this year’s award recipients at Villa Joseph Marie High School, four are sophomores or juniors: Sara Ancona, Kimberly Cosgrove, Jennifer Loughnane, and Nicole Prunetti. These students have at least one more year in which to complete college-level work and possibly earn another AP Scholar Award.

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. In 2006, thirty-five AP Exams were 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 not-for-profit membership organization whose mission is to connect students to college success and opportunity. Founded in 1900, the association is composed of more than 5,000 schools, colleges, universities, and other educational organizations. Each year, the College Board serves seven million students and their parents, 23,000 high schools, and 3,500 colleges through major programs and services in college admissions, 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 excellence and equity, and that commitment is embodied in all out its programs, services, activities, and concerns.