Nation's Highest Achievers In Advanced Placement® Math & Science Win 2011 Siemens Awards For Advanced Placement

ISELIN, N.J., Feb. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The nation's top achievers in Advanced Placement science and mathematics courses were recognized today as winners of the 2011 Siemens Awards for Advanced Placement. The annual awards honor America's top performers in Advanced Placement Program® (AP®) science and math courses with a $2,000 college scholarship to one male and one female student in each state. This year, 101 high school students in 50 states – including 96 seniors, 4 juniors and 1 sophomore – were recognized.  Established in 1998, the Siemens Awards for Advanced Placement is a signature program of the Siemens Foundation and is administered by the College Board.

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Ramya Rangan and Albert Wu, two seniors at The Harker School in San Jose, California, were named the national winners. Each will receive a $5,000 college scholarship. The remaining 99 students will each receive a $2,000 scholarship. 

"These students lead the nation in performance on Advanced Placement math and science courses and we are proud to recognize them for their academic excellence," said Jeniffer Harper-Taylor, President of the Siemens Foundation.

Students who take AP math and science courses major in STEM fields at significantly higher rates than other students, according to the study, "AP Students in College:  An Analysis of Five-Year Academic Careers," released by the College Board in 2007.  Student participation in AP science and mathematics courses grew 7.2 percent to 733,631 students from 2010 to 2011.

"One of the great things about Advanced Placement is that it allows us to identify and recognize outstanding students like Ramya and Albert," said College Board president, Gaston Caperton. "Along with the 99 regional winners, these students represent our best hope for a bright future, where America is a world leader in science, technology, math and engineering—the foundation of the 21^st century economy. I am proud of their hard work and great accomplishments, and I look forward to watching them grow up to change the world."

The Siemens Awards for Advanced Placement

Established in 1998, the Siemens Awards for Advanced Placement (http://www.siemens-foundation.org/en/advanced_placement.htm) award $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. Two additional national winners (one male, one female) are awarded a $5,000 college scholarship.

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.

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 5,900 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.

Follow the Siemens Foundation on Twitter (www.twitter.com/sfoundation) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/SiemensFoundation). More information and photos for the 2011 Siemens Awards for Advanced Placement are available at http://www.siemens-foundation.org/en/advanced_placement.htm.

SOURCE Siemens Foundation