Fifty-eight students at West Islip High School 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.

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. About 18 percent of the more than 1.6 million high school students in more than 16,000 secondary schools worldwide who took AP Exams performed at a sufficiently high level to merit the recognition of AP Scholar.

Students took AP Exams in May 2008 after completing challenging college-level courses at their high schools. The College Board recognizes several levels of achievement based on students' performance on AP exams.

Four students qualified for the National AP Scholar Award by earning an average grade of 4 or higher on all AP tests taken, and grades of 4 or higher on eight or more of these exams. These students are: Shirley Chen, Forrest Lipp, Walter McElwain and Kathryn Sullivan.

Twenty-three 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. These students are: Kristen Alotta, John Bourous, Shirley Chen, James Criscuolo, Michael Dalvano, Lara Ejups, Meredith English, James Fairbrother, Kelly Fleming, Christine Hoffman, Joseph Kaplan, Andrew Leiman, Kathryn Linder, Forrest Lipp, Ryan Lynch, Walter McElwain, James Napoli, Cody Pace, Christopher Sequeira, Samantha Studley, Kathryn Sullivan, Collin Verron and Michael Zarrilli.

Fifteen 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 these exams. These students are: Christopher Camesas, Jerry Harrison, Sherilyn Hellberg, Frank Houston, Brian Jimenez, Caitlin Keane, Bryanne Lotter, Emily MacBrien, Kristen Maietta, Fariah Mamoor, Jacqueline Morley, Christopher Murray, Christopher Porcelli, Amanda Porter and Joseph Sparacino.

Twenty students qualified for the AP Scholar Award by completing three or more AP Examinations, with grades of 3 or higher. The AP Scholars are: Robert Benney, Samantha Boniberger, Kaitlin Caputo, Daniela Cassataro, Megan Czurda, Kyle Dailey, Sara Harran, Jennifer Hessian, Daniel LeDonne, Corey Michaelis, Dana Murphy, Kerry Qualliotine, Philip Quinn, Kaitlyn Reilly, Stephen Ryan, Ryan Sepe, Matthew Stewart, Wade Turri, Eric Walsh and Erin Walter.

Most of the nation's colleges and universities award credit, advanced placement, or both based on 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. In 2007, thirtyfour AP Exams were offered in a wide variety of subject areas, each consisting of multiple-choice and free-response (essay or problem-solving) questions (except for the Studio Art exam which evaluates students' original artwork.)