West student receives perfect score on AP exam

West Henderson’s Caroline Maxon, Class of 2021, received a perfect score on the Advanced Placement (AP) Research exam in spring 2021. 

Maxon’s research project explored a potential correlation between the implementation of non-pharmaceutical interventions and political alignment during the 1918 Influenza Pandemic. Over 25,000 students across the world took the exam, and Maxon was one of 375 students to earn full points. 

“I worked really hard on my paper and was very proud of what I submitted,” Maxon said. “AP Research was a challenging class for me, but it really prepared me for college. I feel like I’m ahead of the curve when it comes to writing and doing research. It taught me how to be independent in academics. I greatly benefited from AP Research and the Capstone program. It was definitely worth it.”

Maxon is a graduate from West Henderson’s AP Capstone program, a rigorous diploma program designed to prepare students for college and develop meaningful professional skills. At the end of her high school career, Maxon earned her AP Capstone Diploma, an esteemed and internationally recognized honor. 

She currently attends the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, studying chemistry.

“Caroline is among the most brilliant students I have had the privilege of teaching,” AP Research instructor Reuben Swindall said. “This honor is well deserved and reflects the enormous amount of time, effort and ingenuity that she poured into the project. It was both academically original and especially well conceived. I have no doubt that we will continue to hear of Caroline’s achievements far into the future.”

By: Emily Chambliss, Editor-in-Chief