H-H Grad One of 13 in the World to Earn Perfect Score on AP Art Exam

By Leza Raffel:

Hatboro-Horsham High School graduate Kevin Connell is in a league of his own.

Connell is one of 13 students in the world to have earned every point possible on the Advanced Placement (AP) Studio Art: Drawing Portfolio Exam. Hatboro-Horsham High School Principal Dennis Williams Jr. recently received notice of Connell’s accomplishment from the College Board.

AP Studio Art is not based on a written examination; instead, students submit a portfolio for evaluation at the end of the school year and demonstrate fundamental competence and a range of understanding in visual concerns. Guidelines require students to submit works that exhibit a synthesis of form, technique, and content; demonstrate a depth of investigation and process of discovery; and show a serious grounding in visual principles and material techniques.

Connell’s portfolio, which was submitted in the spring of 2014, consisted of three sections, scored by 7 different reviewers. Connell not only achieved a top score of 5, but in doing so, was one of thirteen students in the world to earn every point possible on the exam.

The competition is intense. In the 2012 administration, for example, more than 16,000 students took the AP Drawing Portfolio Exam and achieved a mean score of 3.18.

“I believe Kevin’s recognition for his AP Studio Art portfolio is due primarily to his willingness to take risks with his artwork. By gaining inspiration from other working artists, he uniquely interprets his concepts in ways that demonstrate strong student voice. Kevin’s unique voice and artistic integrity, which, in addition to his immense talent and ability, were likely obvious to those who scored his portfolio,” emphasized Hatboro-Horsham High School Fine Arts and Tech. Ed. Teacher Lauren Weisberg.

“This outstanding accomplishment is likely a direct reflection of the top quality education being offered at Hatboro-Horsham High School. We applaud Kevin for hours of work and also his AP teacher for the ability to engage students and enable them to excel in college-level courses,” said Trevor Packer, Senior Vice President, AP and Instruction of The College Board.

Connell is a student at Tyler School of Art, Temple University pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and hopes to major in drawing and painting.

“Hatboro-Horsham does a great job at teaching the fundamentals efficiently to then allow for a space where you can really develop your skills. There was always an emphasis on art as a career instead of just a hobby,” Connell said,