Press Releases

MONTEREY, Calif. - October 2, 2007 - Thirty-four students at Santa Catalina School in Monterey, California, have earned the designation of AP Scholar by the College Board in recognition of their exceptional achievement on the college-level Advanced Placement Program® (AP®) Exams.

Santa Catalina School juniors and seniors took AP Exams in May 2007 after completing challenging college-level courses in both the sciences and humanities. In 2007, 38 AP Exams were offered in a wide variety of subject areas, each consisting of multiple-choice and free-response (essay or problem-solving) questions, with the exception of the Studio Art exam, which evaluates students' original artwork.

The College Board recognizes several levels of achievement based on students' performance on the AP Exams. One Santa Catalina School student, Samantha Wai, qualified for the National AP Scholar Award-the Advanced Placement Program's highest distinction-by earning an average grade of 4 or higher on a 5-point scale on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 4 or higher on eight or more of these exams.

Ten students qualified for the AP Scholar with Distinction Award 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 these exams. The AP Scholars with Distinction are Kathryn Balestreri, Atenas Bustamante, Alexandra Dauernheim, Kathleen Gillette-Mallard, Augusta Loomis, Anna Martinelli, Ha Min Park, Lauren Rice, Kelly Sawyers, and Samantha Wai.

Twelve students qualified for the AP Scholar with Honor Award by earning an average grade of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams. The AP Scholars with Honor are Eleana Collins, Amanda Darnell, Devan Kennifer, Noel Kim, Samantha Marrah, Katharine McNeill, Alexandra Neiman, Lucy O'Leary, Alexandra Taddeucci, Kelley Trapp, Seung Min Woo, and Abigail Woodward.

Twelve students qualified for the AP Scholar Award by completing three or more AP Exams, with grades of 3 or higher. The AP Scholars are Elizabeth Cahalan, Christine Carrera, Cathryn Carrubba, Yu-Chia Chen, Brighid Greene, Allie Hashimoto, Michelle Lagana, Danielle Long, Daniella Sanchez, Danielle Sena-Young, Mariana Swim, and Justine Thieriot.

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. More than 1,400 institutions award a full year's credit (sophomore standing) to students presenting a sufficient number of qualifying grades.

The College Board is a not-for-profit membership organization whose mission is to connect students to college success and opportunity. Founded in 1900, the College Board serves seven million students and their parents, 23,000 high schools, and 3,500 colleges through major programs and services in college admissions, guidance, assessment, financial aid, enrollment, and teaching and learning. ###

About Santa Catalina School
Santa Catalina School is dedicated to the education of young people between the ages of 4-18, giving careful consideration to the individual abilities and potential of each child. The school's mission is to balance intellectual growth with spiritual awareness, creativity with order, and individuality with compassion. Santa Catalina School is enriched by the diversity of socioeconomic, religious, geographic, and cultural backgrounds represented by students and faculty. The Upper School includes boarding students from 14 states and 9 countries. Local students come from not only the Central Coast, but also from cities as far away as Gilroy, King City, Santa Cruz, San Jose and Santa Clara. For more information visit www.santacatalina.org or call 831.655.9300.