Port Jefferson AP Scholars Make the Grade

A number of Earl L. Vandermeulen High School students have earned Advanced Placement Scholar Awards in recognition of their exceptional achievement on AP exams taken last May.

In total, 26 students were named AP Scholars, 20 earned the title of AP Scholar with Distinction, 11 were named AP Scholars with Honor, seven were ranked as National AP Scholars and one student was recognized with an AP International Diploma.

To earn Scholar recognition, students are required to score a 3 or higher on three or more AP exams; to be recognized as a Scholar with Honor, students must earn a 3.25 on all AP exams taken; for a Scholar with Distinction award, students must receive an average score of 3.5 on all AP exams; and to be named a National AP Scholar, students must earn an average score of at least 4 on all AP exams taken. Students who receive an AP International Diploma must score a 3 or higher on five or more AP exams in three or more subject areas.

The district’s AP program provides students with college-level rigor in a high school setting. The program caters to about 150 students and offers 300 AP exams each year. It gives students the ability to not only earn college credits, but also demonstrate to colleges that they’re willing to go beyond minimum high school requirements by taking on a more rigorous AP course load.

Port Jefferson currently provides 17 AP courses, including popular AP classes such as AP Bio, AP Calculus and AP World History. The district also started offering AP Physics this year.

AP Scholars

Aaron Accardo*, Cihad Akkaya*, John Albinson*, Megan Augsbach*, Justin Bove*, Morgan Campbell, Katherine Colantuoni*, Kristen Crovello*, Janella Damaskos, Allegra Fils-Aime, Andie Fortier, Christopher Graci*, Evan Kelly*, Eric Kilgore, Maureen Laffey, Evan Lahey*, Gabriella Martinez*, Kayley Okst, Thomas Pon, Robert Righi, Jasper Rubin-Sigler*, Daniel Scarda, Ryan Scott, Maria Simmerling*, Joshua Skula* and Shannon Walsh*

AP Scholars with Distinction

Caroline Biondo, Ryan Burke, Gaspar Cello, Noah Davis, Richard Finkelstein*, Danielle Grier*, Daniel Gross*, Katherine Gwydir*, Ju Mi Ha, Julia Kharzeev, Leah Neiman*, Romain Popescu*, Hunter Reiter*, Chiara Repetti-Ludlow*, Alberto Rescia*, Steven Rose*, Elijah Sanders*, Lara Sarubbi, Kent Ueno* and Natalia Zaliznyak

AP Scholars with Honor

Paul Capobianco, Rachel Collins, Joseph Dichiara*, Dunia Karzai, Eric Keresztes*, Alexander Koller, Margo Martin-Deprez, Kyle Schrager*, Caroline Strauss and Andrew White*

National AP Scholars

Noah Davis, Danielle Grier*, Leah Neiman*, Romain Popescu, Alberto Rescia*, Kent Ueno* and Natalia Zaliznyak

AP International Diploma

Steven Rose*

*Students who graduated in 2014

Photo courtesy of the Port Jefferson School District: AP Scholars at Port Jefferson’s Earl Vandermeulen High School were recognized by the College Board with awards of distinction.