THOMASVILLE - Of the 34 students who graduated from Brookwood School this year, 15 have been recognized by the College Board for earning top AP Scholar Awards on the basis of their outstanding performance on Advanced Placement exams.

Five Brookwood 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 AP Scholars with Distinction are:  D.J. Grooms, Stephen Holt, Ethan Howell, Christy McMillian and Lucy Mitchell.

Three students 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. Brookwood's AP Scholars with Honor are: Harrison Avera, Sarah Farmer and Ellen Stauffer.

Seven students qualified for the AP Scholar Award by completing three or more AP exams with grades of 3 or higher. The AP Scholars are: Vincent Cooley, Kellie Holt, Mallory Jones, Brent Kinsey, Katelyn Reed, Susan Rumble and Kaitlin Thompson.

Unlike the requirements at some schools, both public and private, Brookwood students are required to take the Advanced Placement exams if they are enrolled in an AP class.

"Having more than 44 percent of our senior class qualifying for these top AP Scholar Awards speaks well of our students and their teachers," said Vic Spigener, the independent school's college counselor. "And with 100 percent of our 2009 graduates now enrolled in colleges across the country, Brookwood is living up to our 40-year reputation as a college preparatory school."

The College Board's Advanced Placement Program provides motivated and academically prepared students opportunities to take college level courses while still in high school.