18 SIS students recognized as AP Scholars for 2020

Eighteen students of Saipan International School have earned AP Scholar Awards in recognition of their exceptional achievements on AP Exams during the 2019-20 school year.

The AP Program offers several AP Scholar Awards to recognize high school students who have demonstrated college-level achievement through AP courses and exams. SIS offers 15 AP courses and exams to its students. Students have the choice between the following courses as well as recently adding Physics: Algebra-based, Physics C: Mechanics, United States History, and Chinese Language and Culture.

“This is a very large number of offerings for a school of our size. It is a tribute to our commitment of providing an environment where all students can reach their full potential. We believe that offering a wide range of opportunities allows students to thrive and that includes sports, competitive activities like Model United Nations and MathCourt, service and volunteer opportunities, and, of course, allowing students to attempt courses that will earn the university credit while still in high school,’ said Whitney Altizer, SIS college counselor. “These achievements are a testament to the hard work and dedication of not only the students, who prepared for the exams during the global pandemic, but also to the AP teachers who worked diligently to prepare the students remotely.”

The College Board recognizes several levels of achievement based on students’ performance on AP Exams. “The 18 students at SIS earning recognition as scholars represents an amazing 46% of the students in 11th and 12th grades,” said Dr. Ron Snyder, the SIS headmaster and added that he was extremely proud of the schools AP exam pass rate this year, with 82% of students taking an AP exam getting a qualifying score of 3 or higher. This exceeded both the CNMI and the national average and demonstrates a 25 point increase in pass rates over the last five years.

AP Scholar award levels
Nine SIS students earned the National AP Scholar with Distinction award by earning an average score or at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams. The average score for SIS students in this category was 4.11. The students are Frederic Guintu, Guy Yeon Kim, Samantha Liske-Clark, Malika Miyawaki, Eunseo No, Yeonkyoung No, Hyeonjae Park, Jason Sablan and Anika Snyder.

Sally Lai qualified for the AP Scholar with Honor award by earning an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams.

Eight students qualified for the AP Scholar Award by completing three or more AP Exams with scores of 3 or higher. The AP Scholars are Steven Goodwin, Gaeul Kim, Won Woo Nam, Sofia Osnach, Henry Qian, Jon Paul Sablan and Ken Song.

SIS also saw its first AP Capstone recipients. Sangyoon Lee, Malika Miyawaki, Eunseo No, Yeonkyoung No, and Anika Snyder were awarded the first AP Capstone Diplomas in Micronesia by earning 3 or higher on four AP exams and successfully passing both the AP Seminar and AP Research courses. Samantha Liske-Clark and Jon Paul Sablan earned AP Capstone Certificate distinctions for earning a 3 or higher for AP Seminar and AP Research.

The Co-Valedictorians of SIS from the class of 2020 earned two additional AP awards. Malika Miyawaki was named an AP National Scholar by receiving an average score of 4 on all AP exams taken, and scores of 4 or higher on eight or more of their exams. Less than 2% of AP test takers worldwide are awarded this distinction. Anika Snyder was awarded the AP International Diploma. The AP International Diploma is a globally recognized certificate awarded to students who display exceptional achievement across a variety of disciplines. AP International Diploma recipients must score a 3 or higher on 5 or more AP exams. Two must be from AP World Languages or English, one exam must offer a global perspective, one must be from math or the sciences and one additional exam of their choice, not from World Languages or English.

SIS is extremely proud of all of its students and offers special congratulations to its 2020 AP Scholars. (PR)