DeRIDDER, La. - DeRidder High School will host an Advanced Placement (AP) Appreciation Night reception Oct. 12 at 5 p.m. in the gym lobby to honor the 24 AP students who successfully passed their AP exams with qualifying scores of a three or higher.
"Academics are important," said Harry Hooker, DeRidder High School principal. "We want to promote and recognize these students for their exceptional accomplishments."
Cake and punch will be served for the students and their parents, AP teachers and Beauregard Parish School Boards representatives in attendance. The school has also invited those students with qualifying scores who have already graduated and moved on to college.
"We just want to applaud the students and thank them for their work and their efforts," Hooker said. "We want to let them know that we appreciate them."
Fort Polk Progress is sponsoring the event.
"We are honored to be part of celebrating the academic achievements of these students," said Michael Reese, Fort Polk Progress President. "We hope this will motivate them to keep striving for excellence throughout their high school years and onto college."
DeRidder High School was able to increase AP course offerings in 2017 through a National Math and Science Initiative grant for school with military-connected students.
Fort Polk Progress assisted in acquiring the grant for the school, and provided additional funding received from Louisiana Economic Development to make even more AP courses available to its students.
"These AP courses are so beneficial for students as they begin to plan for college," Reese said. "The classes prepare them for college, and set them up for success."
Hooker expressed his appreciation to Fort Polk Progress, and everyone involved in making the grant a reality for DeRidder High School.
"I want to thank Fort Polk Progress, Beauregard Parish School Board, and all of those people who support the vision, and helped us to receive the NMSI foundation grant," Hooker said.
Hooker said this event is an opportunity for students who excel in school to be recognized.
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We recognize the athletes and other people, but we want to make sure that our students that do well in the classroom feel special as well," Hooker said.