AP® Scholars - 2009

Students Once Again Very Successful in GHS AP® Studies

Seven graduates of GHS have earned the designation of AP® Scholar by the College Board in recognition of their exceptional achievement on the college-level Advanced Placement Exams. Only 18 percent of the more than 1,700,000 high school students worldwide who took these exams performed at a sufficiently high level to merit the recognition of AP Scholar.

The College Board recognizes several levels of achievement based on the number of courses and exams taken. 

One student, April Korneli, daughter of Fred and Sally Korneli, qualified for the highest award, National AP Scholar. Only .6% earn this award, which goes to students in the United States who receive an average grade of at least 4 on all AP exams taken and grades of 4 or higher on eight or more of those exams.

"Grayling High School has an amazing AP program," said April, who is currently a pre-med student at Michigan State University. "Students who take advantage of it can earn college credit, a competitive edge when applying to college and a challenge that better prepares them for college-level classes. I would highly encourage every student to take advantage of the wide variety of AP courses GHS offers which are taught by the best teachers. I would not be the student I am today without having taken AP classes."

Emily Sloan, daughter of Mark and Val Sloan and currently a biomedical engineering major at Duke University, earned the designation of AP Scholar with Distinction. This designation is achieved by earning an average grade of at least 3.5 on all AP exams taken and grades of 3 or higher on five or more of those exams. 

Two qualified for the AP Scholar with Honor Award, which is granted to students who receive an average grade of at least 3.25 on all AP exams taken and grades of 3 or higher on four or more AP Exams: 

• Brianna Ferrell, daughter of Brian and Judith Ferrell, is attending Central Michigan University to major in communications with an emphasis on public relations and to minor in performing arts. 
• Jonathon Lovely, son of Shelley and Scott Norman and Dave and Carol Lovely, is studying pre-theatre and fine arts at Western Michigan University.

Three students were granted the AP Scholar Award, which goes to students who receive grades of 3 or higher on three or more AP Exams: 

• Joseph Emmons, son of Jeffrey and Nadine Emmons, is pursuing majors in criminal justice and psychology and a minor in foreign language at Grand Valley State University. 
• Hannah Smith, daughter of Dean and Lori Smith, attends Michigan Technological University, where she is studying biomedical engineering.
• Weston Willoughby, son of Sharon and Todd Willoughby, is a student in the Lyman Briggs College at Michigan State University, a residential learning community devoted to the study of natural sciences and their impact on society.

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