Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District -

Over 2,200 schools participated in the AP Capstone Diploma program, a project-based learning experience valued by colleges and universities across the U.S. and around the world.

A record 28 GCISD students from the Class of 2022 earned the College Board’s Advanced Placement® (AP®) Capstone Diploma. This was the fourth year that GCISD students were eligible to receive these honors.

AP Capstone is a College Board diploma program that is based on two year-long advanced placement (AP) courses: AP Seminar and AP Research. To earn the AP Capstone Diploma, students must earn scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research and on four additional AP exams of their choosing. This outstanding achievement is acknowledged on any AP score report that is sent to colleges after the award has been conferred.

“This is a notable distinction because it is not just based on one test, but rather completing several challenging courses and exams that develop students’ critical thinking, research, collaboration, time management and presentation skills,” stated Dr. Julie Leslie, GCISD’s director of advanced academics. “These students and their families should be very proud of this achievement.”

GCISD students who earned the Advanced Placement® (AP®) Capstone Diploma in the 2021-2022 school year are:

Nathan Ashworth
Faith Choate
Brandon Dong
Naomi Drori
Henry Esses
Katelyn Fugitt
Chance Gartman
Josue Granados
Esha Gupta
Alejandro Gutierrez
Elinor Holland
William Holland
Jacob Jimenez
Armaan Kazi
Naba Khan
Benjamin Kobel
Crystal Manyloun
Gabrielle Mousa
Alyssa Murray
Rohail Parmar
Gabriel Ponce
Saheli Ray
Isabella Sagman
Aurora Tong
Lindsey Wilkerson
Michael Wong
Jennifer Yan
Samantha Zelling

Unlike traditional AP® subject exams with a single end-of-year assessment, AP Seminar and AP Research assessments are project based and evaluate skills mastery through group projects, presentations, and individual essays completed throughout the year. Instead of focusing on one specific academic discipline, AP Seminar and AP Research are interdisciplinary: students are empowered to create research projects based on topics of personal interest.

The College Board 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. Research shows AP students are better prepared for and more likely to enroll and remain in college, do well in classes, and earn their degrees on time. Each exam is developed by a committee of college and university faculty and AP teachers, ensuring that AP Exams align with their high standards.

For more information, visit the College Board website.