Huntington High School awarded its first diplomas in 1862. (Darin Reed photo

HHS Celebrates AP Capstone Diploma Recipients

Huntington High School awarded its first diplomas in 1862. (Darin Reed photo)

September 26, 2018

Ten Huntington High School Class of 2018 members have earned the Advanced Placement Capstone diploma and several additional class members are recipients of the AP Seminar and Research certificates.

Over 1,100 schools participated in the AP Capstone program worldwide during the 2017/18 school year when approximately 4,800 students earned the AP Capstone diploma and 2,400 earned the AP Seminar and Research Certificate.

Ten Huntington Class of 2018 members earned the AP Capstone diploma
Ten Huntington Class of 2018 members earned
the AP Capstone diploma

Huntington High School’s AP Capstone diploma recipients include Alyssa Befumo (DePaul University), Niamh Condon (Quinnipiac University), Gaia D’Anna (CUNY-Hunter College), Maggie Giles (SUNY Purchase), Isabella McGinniss (Binghamton University), Zachary McGinnis (Binghamton University), Casey Moskowitz (University of Miami), Max Robins (American University), Samantha Sgrizzi (Boston University) and Finn Tucker (University at Buffalo).

“The AP Capstone has drawn and continues to draw considerable interest since its inception two years ago,” Huntington Superintendent James W. Polansky said. “Student feedback has been particularly positive. While they acknowledge the academic challenge involved, they have appreciated the opportunity to hone their research skills in a manner that will benefit them significantly, both in post-secondary academia and professionally.”

AP Capstone is a diploma program from the College Board based on two year-long AP courses: AP Seminar and AP Research. “Both courses prepare students for college and career success through the development of critical thinking, academic research, collaboration, presentation, and time management skills,” according to the College Board.

The AP Capstone program provides student-centered learning while incorporating performance-based assessments. Throughout the program, AP Seminar and AP Research students study a variety of topics across multiple disciplines and have the flexibility to choose topics of personal interest to show mastery of critical thinking, research, and presentation skills. Official AP Seminar and AP Research assessments also go beyond a single AP Exam to include academic papers, multimedia presentations, and defense of findings.

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.

The College Board’s 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.