At Cedar Springs High School, we are proud to recognize eight outstanding students who have earned the prestigious AP Capstone Diploma™ during the 2023-24 school year. These students are part of a global community of over 100,000 participants in the AP Capstone Diploma program, a unique, project-based learning experience valued by colleges and universities worldwide.

The AP Capstone Diploma program helps students develop essential skills such as critical thinking, research, collaboration, and presentation—skills that are key to academic and professional success. To earn the AP Capstone Diploma, students must achieve scores of three or higher in both AP Seminar and AP Research, as well as in four additional AP® Exams of their choice. For those earning the AP Seminar and Research Certificate, students must score three or higher in both AP Seminar and AP Research.

Unlike traditional AP exams that focus on a single end-of-year assessment, AP Seminar and AP Research are project-based and assess mastery through group projects, presentations, and individual essays throughout the year. These interdisciplinary courses allow students to explore topics of personal interest, which fuels a passion for learning. Students are evaluated not just on their knowledge, but on critical skills like research, time management, collaboration, and communication.

“We have seen a renewed passion for learning through the AP Capstone program,” said Bianca Peart, global lead of the AP Capstone Diploma program. “Students, alongside their educators, are developing crucial college and career readiness skills by exploring subjects that are meaningful to them.”

The program continues to grow, with over 2,500 schools worldwide participating. During the 2023-24 academic year, approximately 21,000 students earned the AP Capstone Diploma, and 11,100 students earned the AP Seminar and Research Certificate. Cedar Springs High School is thrilled to be part of this academic journey, and we are proud of the hard work our students have put in to achieve this accomplishment.

Congratulations to Our AP Capstone Diploma Recipients:

• Taylor Diemond
• Kaisa Maki
• Brielle Sarniak
• Nathanael Slager
• Alexis Stefanski
• Michael Stevens
• Alivia Taylor
• Haley Van Kampen

These students earned the AP Capstone Diploma by scoring three or higher in AP Seminar, AP Research, and four additional AP exams, a testament to their dedication and academic excellence.

The AP Capstone program is designed to prepare students for college and beyond, developing key skills in project management, research, and collaboration. “These students are creating pathways for their future academic and professional careers,” said Trevor Packer, head of the Advanced Placement® Program. “They are building highly sought-after skills that will serve them well in college and in the workplace.”

Cedar Springs High School is proud to offer the AP Capstone program and to help students excel in their academic and personal development. Congratulations to all of our AP Capstone recipients!