SIS students nab AP Scholars awards

Nineteen students at Saipan International School have earned AP Scholar Awards in recognition of their exceptional achievement on AP Exams.

The College Board’s Advanced Placement Program provides willing 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. About 22 percent of the 2.2 million students worldwide who took AP Exams performed at a sufficiently high level to also earn an AP Scholar Award.

The College Board recognizes several levels of achievement based on students’ performance on AP Exams.

At SIS, eight students qualified for the AP Scholar with Distinction Award by earning an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams. These students are Myungjae Cho, Emily Frink, Cerinn Hwang, Shirley Qian, Colin Ramsey, Bella Shin and Kai Tam. Natalie Hardt received the highest average score of 4.67 (out of five) on six different exams, while Bella Shin passed an impressive 8 exams. Shirley Qian also qualified for the AP International Diploma by passing five exams that demonstrate a well-rounded education and a global perspective. Qian was the first SIS graduate to qualify for this diploma.

Maureen Doculan was the only SIS student to qualify 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 or higher on four or more of these exams.

Ten more students qualified for the AP Scholar Award by completing three or more AP Exams with scores of 3 or higher. The AP Scholars are Juliana Hanson, Hyeongchang Im, Jaehoon Jang, Hyun-Ji Kim, Jiwoo Kim, Haram Lee, Michael Lee, Stephanie Lee, Lexee Lee-Sang and Sung Jun Yoon. Notable here was Michael Lee who earned this distinction in his sophomore year.

SIS continues to refine and enrich its AP offerings. This year, it will add AP Microeconomics, AP Macroeconomics, and AP Chinese Language and Culture to its offerings with a commitment to add AP Environmental Studies and AP Calculus in the following year.

Through 34 different college-level courses and exams, AP provides willing and academically prepared students with the opportunity to earn college credit or advanced placement and stand out in the college admission process. Each exam is developed by a committee of college and university faculty and AP teachers, ensuring that AP Exams are aligned with the same high standards expected by college faculty at some of the nation’s leading liberal arts and research institutions. More than 3,600 colleges and universities annually receive AP scores. Most four-year colleges in the United States provide credit and/or advanced placement for qualifying exam scores. Research consistently shows that AP students who score a 3 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 have higher college graduation rates than students who do not participate in AP.

The College Board is a mission-driven not-for-profit organization that connects students to college success and opportunity. Founded in 1900, the College Board was created to expand access to higher education. Today, the membership association is made up of over 6,000 of the world’s leading educational institutions and is dedicated to promoting excellence and equity in education. Each year, the College Board helps more than seven million students prepare for a successful transition to college through programs and services in college readiness and college success—including the SAT and the Advanced Placement Program. The organization also serves the education community through research and advocacy on behalf of students, educators and schools. (SIS)