Dover High School’s staff and students are basking in the glow of a recent College Board announcement that recognized 43 current and former pupils as AP Scholars based on their performance on advanced placement examinations administered in May.

    Two students received additional recognition as National AP Scholars, bringing to 45 the number of awards made to Dover High.

    The awards are proof of the hard work put in by students and teachers in completing college-level classes while still in high school, said DHS Principal Eugene Montaño.

    “We have a quality set of programs that bring in students of all diversities and perspectives,” Montaño said. “The teachers bring out the best in these students, and the students signing up for these classes want to be in them. Their expectations are high, as are those of the teachers.”

    Sophomores, juniors and seniors take the advanced classes, which challenge them above and beyond their normal schoolwork, Montaño said. Colleges recognize this effort, usually at the basic course level, and award credit based on the exams. Students taking enough courses sometimes qualify as sophomores as soon as they enter college.

    Ray Braverman, chairman of DHS’s department of history and social science, said the 43 students have made “a remarkable achievement.”

    “The program appeals to kids who are bright and motivated,” he said. “My personal philosophy is that any kid who asks to take an AP course and has some motivation can be successful.

    “When you look at what has to be accomplished to be named an AP scholar, that’s pretty significant, and to end up with two national scholars, that’s the top of the top,” he added.

    “We’re obviously very proud.”

Students listed by category
    Twenty DHS students qualified for the AP Scholar Award by completing three or more AP examinations, receiving grades of three or higher. Students’ performance is rated on a scale of one to five.

    Dover High’s AP scholars include Nathan Adamson, Ezekiel Anthony, Janet Cordero, Ryan Cox, Pujan Dave, Cyril Esuh, Danielle Goldstein, Spencer Greene, Elizabeth Joines, Christopher Kennard, Jacob Knox, Soo-ah Kwak, Katelyn Lane, Bridget McGiffin, William Nienstedt, Kana Panchmatia, Elise Prisco, Peter Schonert, Allan Thomas and Jessica Wilson.

    Eight qualified for the AP Scholar with Honor Award by earning an average of at least 3.25 on all AP exams, and grades of three or higher on four or more of these exams: Travis Adkins, Cody Custer, Mary Kaltreider, Devin Lees, Michael Sanchez, Mariah Taylor-Hodge, Emily Vansickle and Ian Walsh.

    Fifteen qualified for the AP Scholar with Distinction Award by earning an average grade of 3.5 on all AP exams and grades of three or higher on five or more of these exams. They were Michelle Allen, Cooper Asay, David Breese, Kyle Brown, Andrew Davis, Sara Fabryka, Joshua Flood, Erin Harvath, Kevin Keitel, Chen Ling, Omar Melikechi, Hannah Ostroff, Katherine Pierce, Sunny Singh and Samantha Wright.

    Allen and Flood also qualified for the National AP Scholar Award by earning an average grade of at least 4.00 on all AP exams and grades of four or higher on eight or more of those exams.

More colleges, universities interested in AP students
    Dover will be administering 20 different AP exams to more than 500 students this coming May, Montaño said, an effort he believes no other school in the state has matched.

    The number of courses offered at Dover has grown since the program was started in the mid-1970s, culminating in the addition of AP French courses this year. More additions are being studied, he said, adding that new offerings are based on a number of factors, including surveys of students to show what they are interested in.

    A growing number of colleges and universities also are interested in having more AP students in their ranks, Braverman said. He’s learned former DHS students applying at the University of Delaware, who did not take AP classes in high school, have been asked why not. That’s a reflection on the school’s reputation of high interest and high performance when it comes to advanced placement studies, he said.

    And sometimes students just don’t realize they’re AP material, Braverman said, citing one who earned a state award after being recruited into the program.

    Because AP courses are so intense, they require students to learn how to apply themselves differently, to change their school habits for the better and to learn to budget their time more effectively.

    “They learn to study for the first time,” Braverman said. “Most tell me the single most important thing they get is better managing their skills and in improving their writing and critical thinking skills.”

    The combination the challenges presented by the AP courses and that of saving time and money by not having to take certain prerequisite courses in college has a strong appeal to many students, Montaño said.

    “These things have been shown to be very helpful in completing college and in doing well,” he said. “Students, they talk and they share this information.

    “We’re very proud of this program and we hope more kids continue to sign up for it,” Montaño said.

     Email Jeff Brown at jeff.brown@doverpost.com