WHS students recognized for academic success

Several Washougal High School students recently earned academic honors.

Alexander Maxa has been awarded semifinalist status in the 2011 National Merit Scholarship Program. He is among 16,000 semi-finalists and is one of the highest scoring entrants in Washington state.

Patrick McCarthy has been named a “commended student” in the national merit program. McCarthy is one among 34,000 students throughout the nation to be recognized for exceptional academic promise.

In addition, McCarthy is a graduate of the 2010 Washington Aerospace Scholars Summer Residency hosted by The Museum of Flight in Seattle. Washington Aerospace Scholars is a competitive educational program for high school juniors from across Washington state.

McCarthy was among the 160 who qualified for the Washington Aerospace Scholars Summer Residency program from the 247 students who applied in November 2009.

Several Washougal High School students have also earned Advanced Placement Scholar Awards on the basis of their outstanding academic performance on AP exams. They are Natalie Hoyte, Cynthia Mace and Haley Strohschein. These students have completed three or more AP exams with scores of three or higher.

Four WHS students have earned recognition as AP Scholars with Honor: Darcy Akers, Sarah Hess, McCarthy and Shane Phillips. These students earned an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP exams taken, and scores of three or higher on four or more of these exams.

Finally, WHS student Christopher Norton has earned the title of AP Scholar with Distinction. He qualified for this award by earning an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP exams taken and by earning a score of three or higher on five or more of these exams.