2012-13 Siemens Awards For Advanced Placement Announced

ISELIN, N.J., Feb. 6, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The nation's top achievers in Advanced Placement® science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) courses were honored today with the 2012-13 Siemens Awards for Advanced Placement, a signature program of the Siemens Foundation administered by the College Board. This year, 101 high school students in all 50 states – including 93 seniors and 8 juniors  – were honored.  Two national winners (one male and one female) were recognized, each receiving a $5,000 scholarship.  Ninety-nine state winners will each receive a $2,000 scholarship.

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click: http://www.multivu.com/mnr/60242-siemens-foundation-award-students-for-advanced-placement-exceptional-stem

Ashvin Swaminathan, a senior at The Harker School in San Jose, California, and Lilly Shen, a senior at William P. Clements High School in Sugar Land, Texas, were named the national winners.  This is the second consecutive year that a student from The Harker School has won a national Siemens Award for Advanced Placement. 

"We commend this year's Siemens Awards for Advanced Placement winners on their hard work and dedication to STEM subjects, and we thank the teachers, parents and schools who supported their scholarship," said Jeniffer Harper-Taylor, president of the Siemens Foundation.

"We are proud to join our partners at the Siemens Foundation in recognizing these exceptional students. Today's award-winners have the foundation to achieve great success in some of today's most exciting, innovative careers," said David Coleman, president of the College Board.

ASHVIN SWAMINATHAN
Total AP Courses Taken to Date (all disciplines including STEM):  18
Favorite AP Class:  AP Physics C (Mechanics and Electricity & Magnetism)
Advice to other AP students:  "Challenge yourself by taking as many AP courses as you can."
Proudest Accomplishments:  Selected as Regional Finalist in 2012 Siemens Competition in Math, Science & Technology; accepted to Harvard College
Plans for College Study:  Mathematics, physics, classics (Latin and Greek) and music
Anticipated Career:  University professor and researcher in math and physics
Favorite nonacademic pursuits:  First violinist in San Francisco Youth Orchestra; tutoring community college students in calculus

LILLY SHEN
Total AP Courses Taken to Date (all disciplines including STEM):  16
Favorite AP Class:  AP Environmental Science
Advice to other AP students:  "Don't worry so much about the test.  Just take your time to learn all you can, and don't forget to enjoy the class!"
Proudest Accomplishments:  Attending Research Science Institute; making time for amazing friends
Plans for College Study:  Applied math, economics and visual arts
Anticipated Career:  "I hope to use my skills in math and science to affect the world in a positive way."
Favorite nonacademic pursuits:  Art, volunteering

The Siemens Awards for Advanced Placement
Established in 1998, the Siemens Awards for Advanced Placement (http://www.siemens-foundation.org/en/advanced_placement.htm) awards $2,000 college scholarships to students from each of the 50 states who have earned the greatest number of scores of 5 on exams in the following AP® courses: Biology, Calculus BC, Chemistry, Computer Science A, Environmental Science, Statistics, Physics C Mechanics and Physics C Electricity and Magnetism. Each state potentially has two winners, one male and one female.

For complete information and photos of this year's Siemens Awards for Advanced Placement winners, please visit: http://www.multivu.com/mnr/60242-siemens-foundation-award-students-for-advanced-placement-exceptional-stem.

The Siemens Foundation
The Siemens Foundation provides more than $7 million annually in support of educational initiatives in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in the United States. Its signature programs include the Siemens Competition in Math, Science & Technology, Siemens Awards for Advanced Placement, and The Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge, which encourages K-12 students to develop innovative green solutions for environmental issues.  By supporting outstanding students today, and recognizing the teachers and schools that inspire their excellence, the Foundation helps nurture tomorrow's scientists and engineers.  The Foundation's mission is based on the culture of innovation, research and educational support that is the hallmark of Siemens' U.S. companies and its parent company, Siemens AG.  For more information, visit www.siemens-foundation.org.  Follow the Siemens Foundation on Twitter @SFoundation and Facebook at SiemensFoundation. 

The College Board
The College Board is a mission-driven not-for-profit organization that connects students to college success and opportunity. Founded in 1900, the College Board was created to expand access to higher education. Today, the membership association is made up of more than 6,000 of the world's leading educational institutions and is dedicated to promoting excellence and equity in education. Each year, the College Board helps more than seven million students prepare for a successful transition to college through programs and services in college readiness and college success — including the SAT® and the Advanced Placement Program®. The organization also serves the education community through research and advocacy on behalf of students, educators and schools.  For further information, visit www.collegeboard.org. 

SOURCE Siemens Foundation