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GSSM Student One of Two in State to Receive Siemens AP Award
January 5, 2010
Somin (Susie) Lee, a senior at the South Carolina Governor's School for Science and Mathematics (GSSM), was recently named a Siemens Award for Advanced Placement winner. She will receive a $2,000 college scholarship for earning a five ─ the highest score possible ─ on advanced placement exams she took spring 2009.
The daughter of Don and Jeoung Lee of Greenville, Susie attended Christ Church Episcopal School prior to being accepted to GSSM, and is one of only two students in South Carolina to receive this distinction.
To qualify for the award, which goes to 100 students across the country, students must make a score of five on at least two exams in certain AP math and science courses. Lee took exams in BC Calculus, AB Computer Science, Chemistry and Physics C: Mechanics. She said that although she had prepared rigorously for the exams, she's still pleasantly shocked by the recognition.
"On some of the tests I wasn't sure whether I would get a 4 or 5, but I felt pretty confident when I was taking the exams and was expecting fairly high scores," Lee said. "It's (surprising), I didn't think I took that many AP exams!"
The Siemens Awards for Advanced Placement is a $300,000 annual commitment of support for the efforts of students, teachers and high schools that excel in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) -related AP initiatives across the nation. This includes $2,000 college scholarships for students (one male and one female in each state), $5,000 scholarships for a male and female national student winner, $1,000 grants in support of high schools that have made significant strides in AP STEM initiatives, and $1,000 awards for exceptional teachers in each state. One national teacher winner earns a $5,000 award for exemplary teaching and enthusiastic dedication to students and the AP Program.
Lee, who also is a National Merit Semifinalist, plans to major in cognitive science and English. The S.C. Governor's School for Science and Mathematics in Hartsville is a public, residential high school for academically talented and motivated juniors and seniors.
