KHS students passed 237 AP exams

KHS students passed 237 AP exams
KHS students passed 237 AP exams

            Forty-seven Kokomo High School students (and recent graduates) earned 2017 Advanced Placement (AP) Scholar awards. These students were recognized by the College Board for their exceptional achievement on college-level Advanced Placement exams.

            KHS Principal Angela Blessing noted: “I am incredibly proud! These 47 AP Scholars exemplify what it means to be a Wildkat at Kokomo High School. Our students have the opportunity to take the most academically rigorous courses offered with 24 AP courses and 13 International Baccalaureate Diploma Program courses. Our students earned $12,000 in incentive money from Solidarity Community Federal Credit Union, which graciously provides incentives for our students who earn passing scores on AP and DP exams. Our AP and DP teachers put in countless hours working with our students, and the KHS administration appreciates them so much for their hard work on behalf of the students.”

            At KHS, 24 AP courses in art, English, mathematics, music, science, social studies, and world language – and their corresponding exams – are available to all students through the Advanced College Preparatory Program. KHS pays all AP exam fees for its students.

            The Kokomo High School “Student Success Awards” program, both expands and builds on the highly successful AP Training & Incentives (AP-TIP IN) program. For the 2017-2018 school year, this monetary awards program – made possible through generous support from Solidarity Community Federal Credit Union – provides incentives for students who score 3, 4, or 5 on any AP assessments (and for students who score well on IB Diploma Program assessments).

            Mike Susong, who served as KHS Honors Coordinator during the 2016-2017 school year, noted: “I am extremely proud of the growth that Kokomo High School has experienced in its AP program. We have grown the number of AP course offerings; and with that, more students are taking, and passing, AP exams. During the 2016-2017 school year, KHS students passed 237 AP assessments. These students who earned AP Scholar honors demonstrated their commitment to excellence through their hard work in these rigorous courses. This is a proud accomplishment for our students, our school, and our community. At KHS, we are committed to excellence in education; our students believe in our vision, and are rising to the challenge.”

            KHS senior Christian Abney earned the prestigious National AP Scholar award by being among the top 1% (more than 3 million high school students took AP exams) nationally who earned scores of at least 4 (5 is best) on all AP exams taken, and 4 or higher on eight or more of these college-level exams. Christian took 8 AP exams (Human Geography, Macro Economics, Micro Economics, U.S. Government, Calculus AB, Statistics, Physics 1, and Physics C: Mechanics), and recorded an average score of 4.75 (with six 5’s).

            Christian, who also is completing the IB Diploma Program, is thankful he is able to take advantage of the rigors of both the IB program and AP program.

            “I’m so fortunate to have had the opportunity to take multiple AP classes and IB classes at Kokomo High School,” Christian explained. “The rigorous curriculum of the IB Diploma Program has uniquely prepared me for the challenging DP and AP exams. I was able to transfer what we had learned in DP classes to the AP exams; I overcame the differences in the two programs through additional studying and with the help of my teachers and counselors. The fusion of both programs has given me a unique, holistic high school experience that will allow me to enter college ready to take on new challenges… with the added benefit of having several college credits upon entrance. I’m thankful for the money awarded to me by Solidarity for passing my exams. I plan to use the award money to help cover the cost of visiting, and applying to, colleges.”

            Six KHS students (including Christian, who earned National AP Scholar honors) were among the top 2.5% nationally who recorded 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 college-level exams to earn an AP Scholar with Distinction award. The students who earned this award follow: Christian Abney (2018), Yue Liu (2017), Aaryan Morrison (2018), Rodrig Naska (2017), Nguyen Nguyen (2017), and Jiawen Shi (2017).

            Aaryan, like Christian, has taken advantage of both the AP course offerings and the IB Diploma Program at KHS.

            “Being able to juggle the demands of AP classes and the IB Diploma Program should be impossible, but Kokomo Schools administrators and teachers make it a manageable reality,” Aaryan, a KHS senior, noted. “Kokomo High School’s commitment to the success of its students ensures that those wishing to participate in both AP classes and the Diploma Program can excel without the worry of one interfering with the other. The teachers structure their classes so that we have time to review and study in class; our DP teachers are understanding of the demands of AP exams and help us review when they can. The rigors of the IB Diploma Program not only prepare us for the AP exams, but also give us an idea of the demands of higher education; we are prepared to think, write, and discuss at a collegiate level. The money I have been able to earn through Solidarity’s incentive program will help me purchase college textbooks. Not only does Kokomo Schools ensure my educational success; but also, Kokomo is helping provide some financial stability… an all-around college preparation experience.”

            Seven KHS students – Jacob Ashburn (2018), Wesley Grove (2018), Xuanfeng Li (2017), Aditi Sood (2017), Jiamian Wang (2017), Max White (2019), and Boya Zhang (2018)– were named AP Scholars with Honor for being among the top 3% nationally who recorded 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 college-level exams.

            Another 34 KHS students were among the top 5% nationally who recorded scores of 3 or higher on three or more AP exams to earn an AP Scholar award. The students who earned this award follow: Noah Burket (2017), Kenneth Burton (2017), Luke Cameron (2018), Corey Dea (2018), Elizabeth Foesch (2017), Cole Hanson (2017), Kyle Heaton (2017), Molly Hedrick (2017), Daniel Herrera (2019), Robert Holz (2017), Keagan James (2017), Phoenix Jefferson (2019), Adrienne Johnson (2017), Corbin King (2018), Sharon Ling (2017), Chaitanya Modi (2017), Erin Moody (2017), Demitra Novinger (2017), Emily Ogle (2018), Lana Pham (2017), Mackenzie Smith (2019), Andrea Stout (2018), Grace Stout (2017), Haocun Wang (2018), Paige Ward (2017), Laura Weaver (2019), Zhiyuan Wei (2017), Alexander Whiteman (2017), Justice Wilburn (2017), Eric Willhite (2018), Zhaochen Wu (2018), Runyi Zhang (2018), Yuankun Zhao (2017), and Siyu Zheng (2017).

Website by SchoolMessenger Presence. © 2024 SchoolMessenger Corporation. All rights reserved.