North Hills Graduates, Seniors Achieve Honors in Advanced Placement Program

Sixty-nine students earned the designation of AP Scholar, including a record five National AP Scholars, the College Board has announced.

These students earned recognition for their exceptional achievement in the college-level Advanced Placement Program. 

“AP is widely accepted as the most rigorous high school program in the country,” said John Kreider, North Hills Senior High principal.

“Our students are to be commended for their high level of achievement as well as their determination and commitment to completing this rigorous academic coursework.” 

In May 2011, 244 North Hills students completed 464 AP exams — 74 percent of whom earned scores of three or higher, qualifying for college credit. The 69 AP Scholars represent 28 percent of all North Hills students who participated in the AP exam program. 

Recent graduates Anthony Chmura, Nicholas Didycz, Ryan Dyer, Felipe Gomez-Frittelli and Stephen Kukunas were named AP Scholars with Distinction as well as National AP Scholars for earning an average grade of at least 4 on all AP exams taken, and grades of 4 or higher on eight or more exams.   

Eighteen additional students were recognized as AP Scholars with Distinction. 

To qualify, students must earn an average grade of at least 3.5 on all advanced placement exams and a grade 3 or higher on five or more AP exams. 

The list of honorees includes the following 2011 graduates: Alex Balzer, Branden Brown, Leah Cornelius, Kathleen Dewitt, Kraig Esswein, Julianne Gmys, Shannon Good, Ashley Mittereder; Nathaniel Pavlot, Regina Sencak, Jeremiah Spear, Zachary Tillman, Michaela Varys, Ryan Warsing, Adam White and Gary Zibrat; as well as seniors Trevor Southworth and Philip Washy.

Seventeen North Hills students earned the distinction of AP Scholar with Honor by earning an average grade of 3.25 or higher on all AP Exams taken and grades of 3 or higher on four or more exams.

North Hills AP Scholars with Honor include 2011 graduates: Katherine Burke, Julie Claus, Jordan Garth, Torrance Gricks and Emma Wingerd; as well as seniors Stephen Hardy, Carly Herr, Robert Huerbin, Geneva Jackson, Kayla Kennedy, James Kollinger, Margo Malone, Joseph Plazek, Ryan Quinn, James Scanlon, Leanna Sullivan and Matthew Ubinger.

Twenty-nine North Hills students earned the distinction of AP Scholar by earning grades of 3 or higher on three or more exams.

AP Scholars include 2011 graduates: Kayla Averell, Rachel Dieterich, Rebecca Dieterich, Jason Dohoda, Anna Dzyub, Rachel Faller, Kathryn Fitzgerald, Ellen Gaus, John Gordon, Suzanne Gross, Matthew Kuban, Brian Loughlin, William Parisi, Christopher Robb, Jaclyn Shields, Jian Tian, Ian Wickles and Andrew Wiff; as well as seniors Brandon Barry, Emily Dubrawski, Cassandra Georgiadis, Tyler Graham, Cory Hayes, Laura Noker, Jared Nutter, Erika Pack, Evan Perez, Emily Ward and Joseph Wyzkoski.

The College Board’s Advanced Placement Program offers students the opportunity to take challenging college-level courses while still in high school, and to receive college credit, advanced placement, or both for successful performance on the AP Exams. 

North Hills Senior High School offered 29 AP courses during the 2010-11 school year. According to the College Board, AP students are more likely than their peers to complete college within four years and students who take AP exams say it makes them feel more confident and prepared for college.