Quakertown Community High School Celebrates AP Capstone Diploma Recipients
More than 2,500 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.
Quakertown, Penn. ─ Six Quakertown Community High School students earned the AP Capstone Diploma and two students earned the AP Seminar and Research Certificate during the 2023-24 school year. The AP Capstone Diploma program helps students develop critical thinking, research, collaboration, and presentation skills that are essential to academic success.
“I am proud of our students’ accomplishment of earning the AP Capstone Diploma,” said QCHS Principal Mattias van’t Hoenderdaal. “Their accomplishment is an affirmation of their exceptional performance and dedication to continued learning. Their commitment and pursuit of academic excellence are commendable, and I am proud of their demonstration of critical thinking, problem solving, and research skills.”
“We are thrilled for the six individuals who earned the AP Capstone Diploma™,” said Quakertown Community School District (QCSD) Superintendent Dr. Matthew Friedman. “The hard work of the QCHS students enrolled in the AP Capstone Diploma program and the dedication of our QCHS teachers and administrators demonstrates their commitment to academic excellence and desire to graduate with the future-ready skills to be successful, engaged citizens.”
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 of their choice. To receive the AP Seminar and Research Certificate, students must earn scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research. Student participation in the AP Capstone program has been steadily increasing, with More than 100,000 students in over 2,500 schools worldwide taking part during the 2023-24 academic year. Approximately 21,000 students earned the AP Capstone Diploma, and 11,100 students earned the AP Seminar and Research Certificate.
The following QCHS students, all current seniors, earned the AP Capstone Diploma:
Grace Dakuginow
Steven Hermann
Henry Moyer
Kenneth Nguyen
Marianna Opiola
Sara Steelesmith
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In addition, Gwyneth Trumbore (Class of 2024) and Kara Woods (senior) 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 encouraged to create research projects based on topics of personal interest. Students are assessed on the critical thinking, research, collaboration, time management, and presentation skills needed to complete their projects.
In 2023-24, QCHS returned to pre-COVID-19 numbers for AP Scholar Awards. The high school had 73 AP Scholars, 21 AP Scholars with Honors and 38 AP Scholars with Distinction. AP Scholar Awards recognize students that excel on their exams. AP Scholar students are those that score 3 or higher on three or more exams, AP Scholar with Honors are students that score 3.25 or higher on all AP exams they take and score 3 or more on at least four exams, and AP Scholar with Distinction is any student scoring at least a 3.5 on the exams and a 3 or more on five exams.
“We have been witnessing students’ renewed passion for learning through the AP Capstone program,” shared Bianca Peart, global lead of the AP Capstone Diploma program. “Together with the guidance of talented educators, students are building essential college and career readiness skills while exploring subjects that are meaningful to them.”
“Congratulations to the thousands of students who worked so hard to earn AP Capstone Diplomas and AP Seminar and Research Certificates,” said Trevor Packer, head of the Advanced Placement® Program. “These students are creating the pathways for their future academic and professional careers by building highly sought-after skills in project management, presentation, collaboration, and research.”
College Board’s Advanced Placement® Program (AP®) gives students the opportunity to take challenging college-level courses while still in high school. Earning a score of 3 or higher on an AP Exam has multiple benefits for students, including earning college credit, advanced placement in college courses, or both, 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.
In partnership with the higher education community, College Board developed AP Capstone courses to help students build and master skills essential for success in college and career.
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About the Quakertown Community School District
The Quakertown Community School District is a multicultural and diverse K-12 public school district located in Upper Bucks County, Pennsylvania, serving the townships of Haycock, Milford and Richland, and the boroughs of Quakertown, Richlandtown and Trumbauersville. The K-12 student body attends five elementary schools, a Sixth Grade Campus, a middle school, and a comprehensive high school. The district’s mission is to promote its 4,800 students to become lifelong learners, who can pursue academic excellence, exhibit personal responsibility, provide service to the community, and respect oneself, others, and the environment.
Photo Caption: Six Quakertown Community High School students earned the AP Capstone Diploma during the 2023-24 school year. Pictured (left to right) are QCHS Principal Mattias van't Hoenderaal, Steven Hermann, Henry Moyer, Marianna Opiola, Grace Dakuginow, Sara Steelesmith, QCSD Director of Secondary Education Michael Zackon and QCSD Superintendent Matthew Friedman. Kenneth Nguyen is not pictured.