Half Hollow Hills Celebrates AP Capstone Diploma Recipients

At Half Hollow Hills Central School District in the 2021-2022 school year, 56 students earned the AP Capstone Diploma™ including 29 from Half Hollow Hills High School West and 27 from Half Hollow Hills High School East. A total of 32 students earned the AP Seminar and Research Certificate™ during the 2021-22 school year, including 20 from Half Hollow Hills High School East and 12 from Half Hollow Hills High School West. The AP Capstone Diploma program helps students develop the critical thinking, research, collaboration, and presentation skills that are critical for academic success.

“We proudly recognize the achievements of students who participated in the AP Capstone Diploma program,” said Dr. Patrick Harrigan, Superintendent of Schools in Half Hollow Hills. “Our AP Capstone™ students and teachers showed extraordinary commitment while facing historic challenges. This is a meaningful college readiness program that will serve our students well after high school.”

To receive the AP Capstone Diploma, students must earn scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar, AP Research, and on four additional AP Exams. To receive the AP Seminar and Research Certificate, students must earn scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research. Students are increasingly participating in the AP Capstone program. Over 2,200 schools participated in the AP Capstone program worldwide during the 2021-22 school year. Approximately 14,100 students earned the AP Capstone Diploma, and 9,200 earned the AP Seminar and Research Certificate.

Unlike traditional AP® subject exams with a single end-of-year assessment, AP Seminar and AP Research assessments are project based and evaluate skills mastery through group projects, presentations, and individual essays completed throughout the year. Instead of focusing on one specific academic discipline, AP Seminar and AP Research are interdisciplinary: students are empowered to create research projects based on topics of personal interest. Students are assessed on the critical thinking, research, collaboration, time management, and presentation skills needed to complete their projects.

“I’m thrilled to congratulate these motivated students, who worked hard to earn the AP Capstone Diploma and AP Seminar and Research Certificate,” said Trevor Packer, head of the Advanced Placement® Program. “These students have enhanced the foundation for their future academic and professional careers by honing their ability to manage long-term projects, collaborate with teams, and deliver effective presentations on topics they’re passionate about.”

Of the students who participated in the AP Capstone Diploma program at High School East:

27 were awarded the AP Capstone Diploma by earning scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar, AP Research, and on 4 additional AP Exams. They are: Kamryn A. Auguste; Talia D. Barber; Emma Bezack; Trisha Bhanot; Colin Campbell; Leila A. Curtis; Emma M. Funk; Meredith E. Goldstein; Kristina M. Habeeb; Maya E. Hoffman; Emily Huang; Isabella S. Iype; Felicity L. Johnson; Jacob L. Katz; Grant S. Mahabirsingh; Devyn J. Novikoff; Ryan J. Pagliaro; Jaime Peng; Maia L. Penzer; Max A. Penzer; Brooke A. Pitcoff; Hannah Rizvi; Amina N. Rizvon; Trien L. Song; Andrew E. Trinagel; Christopher Q. Wang; Sophia C. Zhao.

20 were awarded the AP Seminar and Research Certificate by earning scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research. They are: Madeline H. Anreder; Syed Abdullah A. Azfar; Alexander R. Blitzer; Natalie M. Bobek; Amanda R. Forte; Jessica K. Gelman; Raquel E. Gomerman; Mya A. Handelman; Mariella G. Kapovic; Lily R. Koehler; Ava Lamboy; Shabnam Pahrand; Ariel Paraskevopoulos; Maya A. Reid; Dylan Rosenberg; Emily E. Singh; Sukhmani Sodhi; Diya Suri; Kathleen K. Tehn-Addy; Kaedin Wolff.

13 were graduating seniors in the class of 2022. Students can complete the program and earn this honor before graduating.

At High School East, the AP Seminar Teachers were Tanisha Brown (English Teacher), Melinda McCormack (English Teacher), June Martinez (English Teacher), Gabrielle Kramer (Social Studies Teacher), Penny Toneatti (Social Studies Teacher) and Christopher O'Brien (Social Studies Teacher). The AP Research Teachers were Danielle Mahoney, Patrick Breig, Charese Cunningham and Alycia Breig.

Of the students who participated in the AP Capstone Diploma program at Half Hollow Hills High School West:

29 were awarded the AP Capstone Diploma by earning scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar, AP Research, and on 4 additional AP Exams. They are Leilah M.Burgher; Viti Chandra; Nicole Dobrzanski; Huama Du; Anna V Figurski; Sophia R. Guanti; Dylan R. Hall; Mariam N. Hassan; Alex L. Huang; Paolina Iori; Reese A. Johnson; Stephen P. Jones; Ashley H. Kalb; Arash Khan; Victoria C. Madu; Emily Pallan; Emily E. Pincus; Nicolette T. Reale; Olivia R. Rogers; Jessica D. Salzano; Gavin N. Schochet; Christian J. Sehlmeyer; Sydney A. Seid; Zuhair A. Sheikh; Alyssa R. Spano; Anna K.Tang; Laila S. Warner; Arissa H. Zheng; Emma R. Zoccoli.

12 were awarded the AP Seminar and Research Certificate by earning scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research. They are Noa Black; Isabelle S. Epelbaum; Jadesola R. Fakuade; Max G. Faulhaber; Kennedy S. Job; Jessica R. Konsky; Samantha J. Mayerson; Melina A. Moukas; Adil M. Osmani; Darin P. Sahadeo; Samantha J. Secchi; Dakota Wang.

12 were graduating seniors in the class of 2022. Students can complete the program and earn this honor before graduating.

At High School West, the AP Seminar Teachers were Sheen Saleem-Brennan (English Teacher), Jeremy Doran (English Teacher), Carol Lislevtn (Social Studies Teacher) and Alexandra DiMartino (Social Studies Teacher). The AP Research Teachers were Sheen Saleem-Brennan, Joanna Mercer and Jeremy Doran.

An education-oriented community with high academic expectations, the Half Hollow Hills Central School District is located in a residential area of 50,000 people in the central part of Long Island, approximately 40 miles from New York City. Providing for the education of approximately 7,500 students, the school district has five elementary schools, two middle schools and two high schools. Half Hollow Hills High Schools are fully accredited by the New York State Department of Education. The district is committed to providing all students with equitable opportunities to excel in academics, athletics and the arts.

The College Board Advanced Placement Program gives students the opportunity to take challenging college-level courses while still in high school. A 3 or higher on an AP Exam has multiple benefits for students, including earning college credit, advanced placement, or both for successful performance on AP Exams, saving them time and money. Research shows AP students are better prepared for and more likely to enroll and remain in college, do well in classes, and earn their degrees on time. Each exam is developed by a committee of college and university faculty and AP teachers, ensuring that AP Exams align with their high standards.