MARSHFIELD — Students, parents, educators, and community members gathered in the Marshfield High School (MHS) Library Thursday for the annual Advanced Placement (AP) Scholar Ceremony. The ceremony, first held in 2004, is designed to honor students who were awarded an AP Scholar Award. Students received a total of 199 AP Scholar Awards.

The awards are divided into five categories: AP Scholars, AP Scholars with Honors, AP Scholars with Distinction, AP National Scholars, and AP State Scholars.

AP classes are prepared and designed by the College Board. These courses bring the college experience to the high school classroom. Students who choose to take the AP exam have the opportunity to earn college credit that is transferrable to thousands of universities.

The AP Program at MHS consistently receives recognition from the College Board for being among the top schools in the state if not the region. High School Guidance Counselor Jenessa Reid believes high participation and performance rates coupled with the support from parents and the community is what sets MHS apart.

Stephen Nordin, a 2009 Marshfield alum, spoke at the ceremony. He encouraged the students to stay motivated and reiterated the benefits he received from taking AP courses at MHS. During his tenure at MHS, Nordin took 12 courses and 15 exams. Nordin is currently studying International Law and Politics at Oxford University in England.

Below is a list of students who were honored at the event:

The AP Scholar Award is granted to students who receive scores of 3 or higher on three or more AP exams.

AP Scholars with Honors is granted to students who receive an average score of 3.25 on all AP Exams taken and scores of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams.

AP Scholars with Distinction is granted to students who receive an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP exams taken and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams.

AP National Scholar is granted to students in the United States who receive an average score of at least 4 on all AP exams taken and scores of 4 or higher on 8 or more of these exams.

AP State Scholar is granted to the one male and one female student in each U.S. state and the District of Columbia with scores of 3 or higher on the greatest number of AP exams, and then the highest average score (at least 3.5) on all AP exams taken.  MHS had a winner this year, and it was Neehal Shukla.

Graham Olson Scholars are individuals who not only have a quest for knowledge, but also thirst for understanding of self, others, cultures, and the physical and metaphysical realms of the world. Each year the AP coordinators choose one male and one female to recognize with this award. This year’s Graham Olson Scholars are Shukla and Muhammad Raza.