29 LBHS Students Earn AP Scholar Awards

A total of 29 students in Long Beach High School’s Classes of 2013 and 2014 have earned AP Scholar Awards in recognition of their exceptional achievement on Advanced Placement examinations administered by the College Board. Only 18 percent of the more than 1.8 million students worldwide who took AP exams performed at a sufficiently high level to earn this recognition.

Over the past few years, Long Beach High School has made tremendous progress towards its fundamental mission of preparing its graduates to be college and career ready. The high school offers 43 college level courses, including 10 AP courses and 24 IB courses.

The 2010 authorization to offer the International Baccalaureate diploma program served as a catalyst to expand the high school’s college-level course offerings, thereby affording hundreds more students the opportunity to challenge themselves with a rich and rigorous curriculum while still in high school. As a result of this effort, the school made both the Newsweek and the Washington Post lists of America’s top high schools.

Last year, close to 800 students were enrolled in at least one International Baccalaureate, Advanced Placement or Syracuse University Project Advance course at Long Beach High School. All of these courses are open to any student willing to rise to the challenge. Research shows that high school students who take college-level courses experience greater academic success in college and have higher college graduation rates than students who do not avail themselves of the rigorous curriculum offered by advanced-level high school courses.

AP Scholars with Distinction

Robert Fink, Brandon Levokove and Caroline Walsh all 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. 

AP Scholars with Honor

Another 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 or higher on four or more of these exams. These students are Joy Abasolo, Adrian Barcia, David Fuchs, Chandler McMillan, Jillian Piazza, Hunter Rogoff, Carlo Sevilla, Eliza Simons and Brian Vega. 

AP Scholars

An additional 17 students qualified for the AP Scholar Award by completing three or more AP exams with scores of 3 or higher. The AP Scholars are Arleen Agama, Ethan Bogard, Brenden Donlon, Danielle Feldman, Jayne Hommel, Melanie Jasper, William Kane, Cassidy Kaplan, Dennis Khodasevich, Jennifer Nash, Lindsay Ricci, Tara Shouldis, Perri Steiner, Victor Tarantino, Samantha Walsh, Melissa Ward and Mark Zapson.

AP/IB Double Honors

Of special note, five graduates of the Class of 2013 who earned AP Scholar Awards also completed all of the requirements to earn the prestigious International Baccalaureate diploma. David Fuchs, Melanie Jasper, Jennifer Nash, Carlo Sevilla and Brian Vega were the students to achieve this honor.

In addition, six seniors who earned AP Scholar Awards are 2014 IB diploma candidates. Brenden Donlon, Chandler McMillan, Lindsay Ricci, Perri Steiner, Samantha Walsh and Melissa Ward are the students aiming for this double distinction.