PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Pittsfield High School's Advanced Placement program has 57 students being recognized by the College Board for their achievements.  

 

During the 2020 exam administration 213 students took 389 exams in 23 different subject areas.  PHS has the largest AP program in Berkshire County and is also the only local high school offering the College Board's AP Capstone Program.

 

"We are very proud of our AP program at Pittsfield High School," Pittsfield High School Principal Henry Duval said. "Not only of our AP scholars but also that our courses are open to all students."

 

This year PHS named five students as National AP Scholars.  Madeline Coco now attending Northeastern University, Jena Kaddoura now attending The College of Holy Cross; Elliott Loverin now attending Duke University, Emily Mazzeo now attending Marist College; and Emelyn Theriault now attending Boston University. 

 

The National AP Scholar designation means that students earned an average score of 4 on all exams taken and scores of 4 or higher on eight or more exams.  

 

The school also named who have completed our AP Capstone Program.  Brianna Palmieri, whose research project was Social Media in Modern Day Local Politics and Gabrielle Cohan whose topic was The Coronavirus: Quarantine´s Effect on Teens Without Siblings and Young Adults Living Alone earned AP Capstone Diplomas.  Keegan Vittum, whose topic was The Opioid Epidemic and its Effect on Children and Sophia Contini whose topic Eyewitness Memories: A Mixed Method Evaluation of the Likelihood of Developing False or Distorted Memories in the Present Day earned the AP Seminar and Research Certificate.  Students who earn scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research and on four additional AP Exams of their choosing receive the AP Capstone Diploma. Students who earn scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research but not on four additional AP Exams are honored with the AP Seminar and Research Certificate.

 

"Our students are successful and have access to the most college level courses in our region," Vice Principal of Teaching and Learning Brendan Sheran, who serves as the school's AP Coordinator, said. "As we look to further improve the program our focus will be on supporting and ensuring students of color and economically disadvantaged students are represented, welcomed, and thrive."

 

Named as an AP Scholar with Distinction from the Class of 2020 are Brian Lavinio, now attending Williams College; Szofia Lewis, now attending Vassar College; Cole Masiero, now attending WPI; Sierra Murray now attending Springfield College; Elizabeth Sprague now attending Boston University; and Hailey Widdison now attending Northeastern University.  AP Scholars with Distinction from the upcoming Class of 2021 are Ryan Muller and Jacob Saarony-Taylor. The AP Scholar with Distinction designation means that students earned an average score of 3.5 or more on all AP exams and scores of 3 or better on five or more exams.

 

Named as AP Scholar with Honor from the Class of 2020 are Mary Hines now attending Miami University; Lily Ouillette now attending Salve Regina University; and Andrew Sohl now attending Northeastern University.  AP Scholars with Honor from the upcoming Class of 2021 are Riley Burke, Sasha Grosz, Morgan Martin, Meredith McCandless, Briana Palmieri, and Yan Ming Zheng. An AP Scholar with Honor award is earned with an average score of 3.25 on their AP exams and scores of 3 or better on four or more tests. 

 

2020 PHS graduates named AP Scholars are Loren Benoit now attending Siena College; George Bissell committed to attend George Washington University; Sofia Bock now attending Siena College; Genevieve Brites now attending Russell Sage College; Kobe Chen who exploring enrolling in a trade school; Sophia Contini now attending Roanoke College; Brandon Cook now attending University of Hartford; Allison Henderson now attending University of Massachusetts Amherst; David Kankam now attending Saint Michael's College; McKenzi Kinnas now attending University of Massachusetts Amherst; Ella Korte now attending Saint Lawrence University; Logan Kroboth now attending StoneHill College; Ryan Poulton now attending University of Massachusetts Amherst; Corey Scarfone now attending Berkshire Community College; Samantha Scoco now attending College of the Holy Cross; Aviva Skoblow now attending Hampshire College; Whitney Zapotitla now attending Elms College.  The designation of AP Scholar is granted to students who receive scores of 3 or better on 3 or more AP Exams.

 

Named as AP Scholars from the upcoming class of 2021 are Marlon Binns, Samantha Blau, Gabrielle Cohan, Alyssa Mercier, Conor Mooney, Isabella Penna-Ward, Sadiya Quetti-Goodson, Alexandra Swanson, Elizabeth Swanson, Sadie Tierney, Keegan Vittum, Hannah Wheeler, and Raelyn Wisner.  Named as AP Scholars from the upcoming class of 2022 are Vivian Berard, Maggie Burke, Liam Chalfonte, Madison Crouse, and Madelyn Malumphy.