2 Named SC's Siemens AP Award Winners

Dutch Fork High senior Samadwara Reddy and Madeline Kowalski, a former Dutch Fork student now living in Ohio, were recently named the South Carolina winner of the 2012-2013 Siemens Awards for Advanced Placement (AP).

The students are two of 101 high school students in the country to be honored with the Siemens AP Award and scholarship, according to a release from the Siemens Foundation.

Both students will receive a $2,000 scholarship. 

Reddy has taken a total of 16 AP courses and has plans to study math, statistics and computer science.

Kowalski has taken 9 AP courses to date. She has plans to study biochemistry or chemistry. 

The Siemens AP Award is a signature program of the Siemens Foundation administered by the College Board, the release said. 

The awards recognize the nation’s top achievers in Advanced Placement courses in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) with a $2,000 college scholarship to a male and female student in each state. Two national winners (one male and one female) are recognized and each receive a $5,000 scholarship. 

Read more about the students below. 

MADELINE H KOWALSKI

Total AP Courses Taken to Date (all disciplines including STEM): 9

Favorite AP Class: Chemistry   

Advice to other AP students:  To excel, you must work the hardest when you feel like giving up.  Don’t take yourself too seriously; a mistake is much harder to recover from if you constantly demand perfection of yourself.   

Proudest Accomplishments: Being valedictorian at Dutch Fork High School; performing solo recitals at the University of South Carolina School of Music; maintaining a high level of academic achievement and integrity at three different high schools   

Plans for College Study: Biochemistry or Chemistry   

Anticipated Career: I hope to obtain a doctorate in biochemistry and work as a professor or in the private field.  

Favorite nonacademic pursuits: National Honor Society, playing harp at nursing homes and community events, and varsity swimming   

SAMADWARA REDDY

Total AP Courses Taken to Date (all disciplines including STEM): 16

Favorite AP Class: Chemistry   

Advice to other AP students:  If you don't understand the material, read the textbook.   

Proudest Accomplishments: 2nd Place SC 2012 Chemistry Olympiad; 3rd Place College of Charleston 2011 Math Competition Level 2; 2012 National Merit Semifinalist  

Plans for College Study: Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science   

Anticipated Career: I plan on working with the financial markets.   

Favorite nonacademic pursuits: Origami, card tricks