15 AP Scholars Cited at Viewpoint School

Achieving what only 1% of the nation’s students are able to do in any given year, 15 students at Viewpoint School were named AP Scholars by the College Board in recognition of their achievement on the college level Advanced Placement exams, school officials said Tuesday.

“Our teachers and our students put a great deal of time in our AP classes,” said Headmaster Robert Dworkoski. “Our curriculum is designed to help our students get the greatest scores they can.”

Though the students were awarded the distinction this month, the tests were taken in May, and some of the award winners have graduated and gone on to college, Dworkoski said.

Students took 15 of the more than 20 AP exams offered, including English, American history, calculus and psychology.

Three levels of AP honors were given. Student rankings are based on their individual test ratings, ranging from 1 to 5, and the number of tests taken.

Those qualifying for the AP Scholar With Distinction Award, with scores 3 or above and an average of 3.5 on five or more exams were: 1996 graduates Manijeh Berenji and Andrew Bogdan, both of Westlake Village, and Karin Sinavsky and Mike Sung, both of Woodland Hills.

The recipients of the AP Scholar With Honors Award, with scores of 3 or more and an average of at least 3.25 on four or more exams, were: senior Paul Farjoodi of Tarzana and graduate Jonathan Krisel of Malibu.

Those receiving the AP Scholar Award, scoring 3 or higher on at least three exams, were: seniors Bijan Berenji, Justin Campbell and Nimisha Dhawan of Westlake Village; graduate Derek Kent, also of Westlake Village; graduate Peter Chizever and Nazbanoo Pahlavi of Tarzana; graduate Justin Cook of Woodland Hills; senior Stacy Shaw of Calabasas, and senior Amber Young of Agoura Hills.

Viewpoint is a preschool-to-grade-12 private school on Mulholland Highway. The school has a total population of 585 students, with an enrollment of 140 high school students.