Pictured, from left to right, are (top row) Chris Hilgert, Taylor Scott and Darcy Lenz; (bottom row) Alan Chiang, Gabrielle Kirton, Alison Hemmelgarn and Kristen Phillips.

VALDOSTA — Fourteen students at Valdosta High School have earned the designation of AP Scholar by the College Board in recognition of their exceptional achievement on the college-level Advanced Placement Program (AP) Exams.

The College Board’s Advanced Placement Program offers students the opportunity to take challenging college-level courses while still in high school and to receive college credit, advanced placement, or both for successful performance on the AP Exams. About 18 percent of the more than 1.4 million high school students in 16,000 secondary schools worldwide who took AP Exams performed at a sufficiently high level to merit the recognition of AP Scholar.

Students took AP Exams in May 2007 after completing challenging college-level courses at their high schools. The College Board recognizes several levels of achievement based on a student’s performance on AP Exams.

At Valdosta High School, two students qualified for the AP Scholar with Distinction Award by earning an average grade of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken and grades of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams. These students are Emerson Brown and Martin Ertlschweiger.

One student, Caroline Strickland, qualified for the AP Scholar with Honor Award by earning an average grade of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken and grades of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams.

Eleven students qualified for the AP Scholar Award by completing three or more AP Exams with grades of 3 or higher. The AP Scholars are Iyana Bass, Alan Chiang, Anna Cowart, Alison Hemmelgarn, Chris Hilgert, Gabby Kirton, Darcy Lenz, Claire Morgan, Kristine Phillips, Taylor Scott, and Blake Woodruff.

Most of the nation’s colleges and universities award credit, advanced placement, or both based on successful performance on the AP Exams. More than 1,400 institutions award a full year’s credit (sophomore standing) to students presenting a sufficient number of qualifying grades.

In 2007, 37 AP Exams were offered in a wide variety of subject areas, each consisting of multiple-choice and free-response (essay or problem-solving or oral response) questions (except for the Studio Art exam which evaluates students’ original artwork).

The College Board is a not-for-profit membership organization whose mission is to connect students to college success and opportunity. Founded in 1900, the association is composed of more than 5,200 schools, colleges, universities, and other educational organizations. Among its best-known programs are the SAT, the PSAT/NMSQT, and the Advanced Placement Program (AP).