3 PCHS Seniors Earn Nat'l AP Scholar Awards

By Jamie O'Brien, PCHS director of communications  

Providence Catholic High School Principal Don Sebestyen announced that 47 students have earned AP Scholar Awards by the College Board in recognition of their exceptional achievement on the college-level Advanced Placement Program 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.

National AP Scholar Award winners: 

Three students qualified for the National AP Scholar Award by earning an average grade of 4 or higher on a five-point scale on all AP exams taken, and grades of 4 or higher on eight or more of these exams. These students are: Alissa Alberico '13, Manhattan; Gabriella Berman '13, Joliet, and Alyson Duzansky '13, Mokena.

AP Scholar with Distinction Award winners:

Sixteen 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:

Alissa Alberico '13, Manhattan; Angela Annarino '13, Lemont; Cassidy Bannon '13, Orland Park; Gabriella Berman '13, Joliet; Brian Daniher '13, Mokena; Alyson Duzansky '13, Mokena; Michelle Ford '13, Homer Glen; Megan Gergets '13, Tinley Park; Ryan Jones '13, Homer Glen; Scott Jung '13, Homer Glen; Alana Juodvalkis '13, Plainfield; James Krenz '13, Lockport; Ryan McGinnis '13, Orland Park; Maria Miller '13, Tinley Park; Sean Murray '14, Manhattan and Mary Strickler '13, Tinley Park.

AP Scholar with Honor Award winners: 

A total of 9 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:

Tara Airola '13, Shorewood; Patrick Bedell '13, Tinley Park; Eric Connelly '14, Tinley Park; George McCabe '13, Mokena; Grace Morrison '13, Mokena; Maeve Pell '13, Mokena; Georgiana Presecky '13, Lemont; Jessica Talwar '14, Orland Park, and Madison Wall '13, Lemont.  

A total of 22 students qualified for the AP Scholar Award by completing three or more AP exams, with grades of 3 or higher.

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. 

For more information about Providence Catholic High School, view the school website.