In 2010, there were total of 15,103 National AP Scholars; 562 scholars were from Georgia, with 487 of those seniors.  With only 95 seniors, having ten students acknowledged as National AP Scholars is a huge accomplishment. 

GSMST’s ten National AP Scholars are Shawn Albert, Tyler Allen, Lillian Chan, Hannah Doksansky, Jaya Janadhyala, Na Eun Oh, Aaron Patel, Aditya Ragunathan, Nabeel Sarwar, Arsalan Sufi, and Andrew Wirt.

Hannah Doksansky ’12 has taken nine exams from AP Human Geography in freshmen year to AP US History in junior year. To prepare for her exam, she would use a number of test prep books. Hand in hand with the test preps, she made sure she kept up with the class and its assignments. When asked how she felt after learning her scores she said, “A couple of them, I was surprised. I’ve taken nine exams. A lot of the tests were really hard, especially chemistry. I liked that class, and even though it wasn’t the easiest; I pushed through and somehow got a 5 on the exam.” Having the title is prestigious, said Hannah, as it shows that “we have really pushed ourselves in our high school curriculum, which is something colleges are really looking at these days.”

There are 34 Advanced Placement exams high school students can take in topics ranging widely from biology to macroeconomics. Depending on a student’s score on an AP exam, she can receive future college credit or placement. Taking and doing well in AP classes and exams can indicate a student’s readiness for college success.

After a complimentary Chick-fil-A breakfast, the participants broke the ice with a communication skill game in which students were randomly assigned a farm animal, closed their eyes, and had to find other students given the same animal by emulating the animal’s characteristic noise. The activity enhanced interpersonal skills crucial for effective leadership. The inspiring instruction continued when students heard from a former Gwinnett County Public Schools and Auburn University Graduate, Lauren Sallarulo. Ms. Sallarulo shared her leadership experiences both in and outside of school in order to give the attendees an idea of what the future can hold when students take initiative.

Their leadership minds sufficiently primed, the students made rounds to three engaging sessions presented by Ms. D’Antonio and GSLT members Aziz Anderson, Brian Barr, Dakotah Rice, and Claire Travis. New Student Government Association sponsors Ms. D’Antonio and Ms. Robbins showed their desire to inspire leadership throughout the school through the “North Star” lesson. In this session, students were lead in a process of determining their “North Star,” the single thing they can always look to as a guide. Each of the participants wrote her chosen item on a star on a poster that is now on display along the ramp near the cafeteria.

Aziz and Dakotah, however, took another take on leadership in their discussion on positive peer pressure and using social media effectively. The team stressed the impact of using social media for networking while maintaining professional standards.

The final lesson, by Brian and Claire, initiated a discussion on ethics and how people desire authentic leaders. The GSLT representatives used mini-lessons called Habitudes that utilize an image and a simple saying to explain a principle of leadership. Saturday’s session highlighted the importance of character, staying true to that character, and focusing on how a leader—not others—define that character.

The morning closed with an address from Dr. Mathews and an inspiring video that left the attendees feeling empowered and ready to implement their new skills throughout the school. As Dr. Mathews thanked the students for being “first followers” at GSMST, he echoed the spirit of leadership with a quote from Arthur F. Carmazzi: “Leadership is not about changing the mindset of a group, but in the cultivation of an environment that brings out the best and inspires the individuals in that group.”

The Partnership Program is one of the unique aspects of GSMST. The program starts in ninth grade with the Speaker Series and continues in tenth grade with the Job Shadow program. In eleventh grade, students participate in the Junior Fellowship Experience. The Partnership Program culminates in the Senior Capstone Experience.

This year new requirements have been set, new plans have been made, and new standards have been implemented. The SCE program has been significantly revamped for the class of 2012.

“The main difference is that the research paper component is now integrated into the Senior Language Arts curriculum,” says Ms. McAuliffe, the Internship Coordinator.

“The other major difference from last year is that the SCE class period is no longer during the school day. Faculty advisors have small groups of students and plan meetings with them during the second half of lunch or after school.”

These meetings are vital to students’ success. The faculty members are responsible for making sure their students are keeping up with the SCE workload.

Tyler Egg has already met with his faculty advisor, Dr. Slack. “I enjoy the one-on-one interaction with my advisor. It gives me more time to develop my project.”

Some students have continued their projects from their Junior Fellowship Experience.

Ms. McAuliffe says, “We are the only school that I know of where students start doing internships their junior year. The great thing about that is students can take what they learn in the JFE and apply it to the SCE. This allows for the SCE to be more in-depth.”

By the end of the SCE, each student will have met the “three P’s:” a proposal, a research paper, and a deliverable product. Each component will have something to do with the overall topic of the students’ project.