Badin High School graduate Will Giffen has been named a National AP Scholar, leading another large group of BHS students in outstanding performances on Advanced Placement exams given in May.

Giffen, a co-valedictorian in the Class of 2020, is the son of Michael and Marie Giffen of Liberty Township and a graduate of Mother Teresa Catholic Elementary School. He will attend Washington University in St. Louis and major in Mathematics and Computer Science.

“Will Giffen was an outstanding student at Badin and really made the most of his high school experience,” Badin High Principal Brian Pendergest said. “He was a terrific representative of Badin throughout his career here, just as I’m sure he will continue to be during his college days in St. Louis and beyond. We’re very proud of him.”

National AP Scholar recognition means that Giffen received an average score of at least 4 on all AP exams taken, and scores of 4 or higher on eight or more of those exams.

Giffen made the most of his potential – coming out of Mother Teresa, his performance on the High School Placement Test in November of 2015 earned him a full academic scholarship to Badin. He was a National Merit Scholarship Commended Student based on a test taken in the fall of 2018. He and three classmates subsequently earned Badin’s Archbishop McNicholas senior medal as the top academic performers in the Class of 2020.

Will was also a standout performer for the boys’ soccer team, earning first team all-Greater Catholic League Co-ed Division honors as a goaltender in both his junior and senior seasons.

A total of 34 Badin students were recognized for their performance on the AP exams. Of those, 33 were members of the Class of 2020 and one will graduate with the Class of 2021.

“These are valuable classes that provide rigor in high school and often give students a leg-up in college as well,” Pendergest said of the AP offerings. “Our students’ performances this past May were particularly impressive considering the fact that they were unexpectedly dealing with online classes for the entire fourth quarter. It’s a credit to their efforts as well as to the faculty who help prepare them for this success.”

Advanced Placement tests are graded on a five-point scale, with 5 being the highest, and the students who attain a score of 3 or better may receive college credit for the class.

Giffen was one of 11 Badin students to earn recognition as an “AP Scholar with Distinction”, scoring an average of at least 3.5 on all AP exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of those exams.

Also on that list were 2020 Badin graduates David Anthony (Thomas More University), Will Blanton (Ohio State University), Jack Feenstra (Purdue University), Mickayla Kowalski (Northern Kentucky University), A.J. Rowland (University of Cincinnati), Adam Salek (University of Notre Dame), Caitlin Savage (Purdue University), Megan Siefert (Ohio Northern University), Sophie Tischler (Louisiana State University) and Emma Wesner (University of Dayton).

Two graduating seniors received “AP Scholar with Honor” awards. That involves an average of 3.25 on all AP exams taken, and having a score of 3 or better on four of those exams. Those students included Kevin Fehring (Northern Kentucky University) and Ellie King (University of Cincinnati).

Of 21 students who earned recognition as “AP Scholar” by receiving scores of “3” or better on at least three AP exams, 20 were from the Class of 2020 and one from the Class of 2021.

Members of the Class of 2020 included Lauren Barnhorn (University of Kentucky), Zach Brown (University of Cincinnati), Andrea Clark (Kent State University), Adam Clements (Miami University), Colin Crank (University of Cincinnati), Emma Fritsch (Xavier University), Karla Garcia (Miami University), Ben Grime (Miami University), Anna LePere (Ohio State University), Jackson Long (Bowling Green State University), Jada Lucas (Northern Kentucky University), Kaitlyn Robinson (Indiana University), Leah Ross (University of Cincinnati), Regan Runtz (University of Cincinnati/Blue Ash), Emily Sauer (Ohio State University), Nathan Schuster (Miami University), Max Smith (Miami University), Kevin Spade (Bowling Green State University), David Strunk (Miami University) and Kateri Wielgos (Marian University).

Logan Imhoff, a graduate of Queen of Peace School, represented the Class of 2021.

Badin’s 34 AP Scholars eclipsed by one the number of AP Scholars recognized in 2019. Over the past five years, Badin High students have earned AP recognition 169 times.

“Badin High School offers an excellent curriculum,” Pendergest said. “Our students’ performance on the AP exams shows us that they are taking advantage of the opportunities offered as they prepare for the college experience. That’s very rewarding to see.”