For Immediate Release: August 2021
El Dorado School District Celebrates Its AP Capstone Diploma Recipients
Over 2,000 schools participated in the AP Capstone Diploma program, a project-based learning experience valued by colleges and universities across the U.S. and around the world.
El Dorado, AR – At El Dorado High School, five students have earned the AP Capstone Diploma™ and one has earned the AP Seminar and Research Certificate™ during the 2020-21 school year. The AP Capstone Diploma program helps students to develop critical thinking, research, collaboration, and presentation skills that are critical to academic success.
“We proudly recognize the achievements of students who participated in the AP Capstone Diploma program,” said Michelle Henry, El Dorado School District Director of Curriculum and Federal Programs. “Our AP Capstone students and teachers showed extraordinary commitment while facing historic challenges. This is a meaningful college readiness program that will serve our students well after high school.”
To receive the AP Capstone Diploma, students must earn scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar, AP Research, and on four additional AP Exams. To receive the AP Seminar and Research Certificate, students must earn scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research. Students are increasingly participating in the AP Capstone program. Over 2,000 schools participated in the AP Capstone program worldwide during the 2020-21 school year, when approximately 11,900 students earned the AP Capstone Diploma and 7,700 earned the AP Seminar and Research Certificate.
Unlike traditional AP subject exams with a single end-of-year assessment, AP Seminar and AP Research assessments are project-based and evaluate skills mastery through group projects, presentations, and individual essays completed throughout the year. Instead of focusing on one specific academic discipline, AP Seminar and AP Research are interdisciplinary: students are empowered to create research projects based on topics of personal interest and they are assessed on the critical thinking, research, collaboration, time management, and presentation skills needed to complete their projects. At El Dorado High School, students focused their research on a range of topics, including: the effect of the El Dorado Promise on educational outcomes; refugee resettlement in Arkansas; Autism and media representation; art in Medieval and Modern Catholic Hospitals; STEM teacher retention in high schools; and Wal-Mart and fast fashion.
“Congratulations to the AP Capstone award winners, who conduct, present, and defend academic research on topics they are passionate about,” said Trevor Packer, College Board senior vice president of AP and Instruction. “Their ability to manage long-term projects, collaborate with teams, and deliver effective presentations will accelerate both their academic and professional careers.”
Of the students who participated in the AP Scholar Awards program at El Dorado High School:
41 were awarded AP Scholar status by scoring a 3 or higher on three or more AP exams. They are Dylan Avant, Zachary Blackwell, Madilyn Bonsall, Tanecia Boone, Elizia Brewster, John Burson, Karina Castanon, Jedidah Cotton, Dave Davison, Kasey Dumas, Haley Ellis, Jalen Evans, Olivia Floss, Emily Gosvenor, Nakhaia Greenwood, Layken Grimes, Karlee Harvey, Calvin Huang, Lukas Humphreys, LaMario Island, Tommy Khou, J'Nayzia King, Kennedy Langston, Landon Langston, Mathieu Malin, Benjamini Mccoy, Rachel Murphree, Kaleigh Nale, Nancy Parker, Aleck Ramirez, Eli Shepherd, Shayla Smith, John Stipp-Bethune, Makaylen Swint, Addyson Taylor, Anh Tran, Hannia Valero, Alan Villegas, Coleiigh White, Ashton Yarbrough, and Vicky Zhu.
5 were awarded AP Scholar with Honor by receiving 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. They are Emily Huddleston, Benjamin Humphreys, Andrew Lowrey, Madalyn Lyons, and Kieran Obiozo.
7 were awarded AP Scholar with Distinction by scoring an average score of at least a 3.5 on all AP Exams taken and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams. They are Robert Boerwinkle, Jadon Cunningham, Ella Langridge, Sarah McCoy, Rhea Neugebauer, Anzel Preston, and Grace Reed.
5 were awarded the AP Capstone Diploma by earning scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar, AP Research, and on 4 additional AP Exams. They are Layken Grimes, Emily Huddleston, Ella Langridge, Rachel Murphree, and Anh Tran.
1 was awarded the AP Seminar and Research Certificate by earning scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research. The student is J’Nayzis King.
The College Board Advanced Placement® Program gives students the opportunity to take challenging college-level courses while still in high school. A 3 or higher on an AP Exam has multiple benefits for students, including earning college credit, advanced placement, or both for successful performance on AP Exams, saving them time and money. Research shows AP students are better prepared for and more likely to enroll and remain in college, do well in classes, and earn their degrees on time. Each exam is developed by a committee of college and university faculty and AP teachers, ensuring that AP Exams align with their high standards.