Deer Park Alumni Earn Perfect AP Score

DEER PARK, NY — Two Deer Park High School alumni have earned a rare, yet perfect score on their Advanced Placement exams.

Jasleen Kaur and Brandon Yasin earned a 5 on the AP Research Exam in spring 2021. They are two of only 375 students in the world who earned a perfect score on this exam, the Deer Park School District said.

Kaur, the valedictorian of the Class of 2021, is currently studying physics at Harvard University. Her research identified a new process using soxhlet extraction and transesterification to create biodiesel from waste avocado pits and successfully produced usable biodiesel.

“From the planning stages to the lab work, it was always a rewarding experience working with Jasleen,” said physics and chemistry teacher Ted Smirlis, her expert adviser. “Her research highlights the need for further investigation into overlooked and often discarded biomasses that can be used to extract usable biodiesel. Such fuel oils are great candidates to supplement our nation’s fuel supply to reduce our dependency of foreign oil and eliminate any future oil shortages.”

Yasin, a top 20 graduate of the Class of 2021, is currently studying engineering at the University of Pittsburgh. His yearlong project looked at the stigmatization of mental health in the Indo-Guyanese community and its influence on the relationship between immigrant parents and their American-born adolescent children.

Both Kaur and Yasin were part of Deer Park High School’s inaugural cohort of 24 students receiving the College Board’s AP Capstone Diploma. Students earned this great distinction by completing AP Seminar, AP Research and a minimum of four additional AP exams scoring a 3 or higher on all.

“In the entirety of my educating career, this particular cohort of AP Research students were truly outstanding,” AP Research teacher Andrea Farina said. “Due to the pandemic, they had to overcome more obstacles than most during their last few years of high school. Jasleen and Brandon embody what it means to be highly-motivated, self-driven students who spend extensive time ensuring they will attain nothing short of excellence. I am so proud of them for achieving such an honor within our inaugural year of the AP Research program and look forward to all of their future successes."