37 GISH Students Honored as 2024-25 AP Scholars

GRAND ISLAND (Neb.) — In aiming for academic excellence, over thirty Grand Island Senior High (GISH) students have been recognized as scholars of advanced placement. 

37 GISH Juniors and Seniors earned AP Scholar status for the 2024-25 school year.  The AP Scholars were honored at last night’s GIPS Board of Education Meeting with over twenty of the students and their families able to attend. 

Advanced Placement (AP) courses are a core part of the Academy experience at GISH.  With over 40 AP and Dual Credit course offerings throughout the year, Islander students are encouraged to explore elevated academic classes to help prepare them for their next chapter after high school.

AP courses are college-level classes offered to prepare students for AP tests, which students may take at the end of the school year to earn college credit. The AP exam is scored on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the highest score. Usually, a score of 3 or higher is needed to gain college credit. 

At GISH, all students who are college bound are encouraged to take at least one AP course in an area of personal strength.  These courses cover subjects in greater depth and detail, develop writing skills, problem-solving techniques, and study habits that prepare students for the rigor of college academics.

From the 394 AP tests taken by GISH students in the 2024-25 school year, GISH earned a five-year high in 54% of AP Exams scored 3 or more. Other notable AP highlights at GISH include:

-286 students enrolled in AP courses
-394 total AP exams taken
-154 AP students scored 3 or higher on at least one exam
-37 AP Scholar students 

The 37 honored students received one of three AP Scholar distinctions:

-AP Scholar – 18 students taking three or more AP courses and earning a 3 or higher on the exams.

-AP Scholar with Honor – 10 students taking four or more AP courses with an average AP exam score of 3.25.

-AP Scholar with Distinction – Nine students taking at least five AP courses and averaging 3.5 or higher on the AP exams.

With academic achievement serving as a primary focus for the Academies of Grand Island Senior High, the AP programs are showing no signs of slowing down.  Mr. Calvin Hubbard, GISH Principal, celebrated the efforts of the Islander scholars.

“We are very proud of our AP Scholars and of our AP program.” Hubbard said, “We are relentless in our efforts to provide access to the most comprehensive Advanced Placement opportunities as possible. These students have poured in their “blood, sweat, and tears” so to speak to achieve these accolades, and tonight we celebrate them.”

The following GISH students earned AP Scholar status for the 2024-25 school year: 

AP SCHOLAR
Gavin Andrade, Max Epfield, Maddox Enck-Monie, Claire Gartner, Kaelie Heminger, Alijhandra Kirschbaum, Jennifer Lara-Patino, Ashton Marshall, Anni Nguyen, Kimberly Ochoa, Alaynah Potter, Edgar Ramirez, Brian Rauda, Isabella Roe, Diana Stephenson, Aaron Tenski, Noah Veik, & Michael Westerby

AP SCHOLAR WITH HONOR
Daniela Cortes, David Diaz Hinojosa, Cody Garrett, Riley Holling, Katherine Johnsen, Cydney Obermeier, Lucas Skalberg, Brandon Vega, Alex Weaver, & Cael Wiegert

AP SCHOLAR WITH DISTINCTION
Sophia Heminger, Noah Javorsky, Reagan Kort, Thomas Liegl, Olivia Madison, Maximos Mendez, Ashlyn Ruzicka, Sarah Wichman, & Owen Williams

Congratulations to our Grand Island Senior High AP Scholars!