Writer / Matt Keating
Photography Provided
Mary Kate Sloan, a senior at Westfield High School, recently achieved a perfect Advanced Placement (AP) score.
She earned every point possible on the AP 2-D Art and Design exam, receiving the maximum score on each portion.
“AP photo is a one-trimester class offered at Westfield High School,” Sloan says. “During this time we create a digital portfolio surrounding our chosen sustained investigation topic. The digital portfolio includes 15 digital images, which answer our sustained investigation question, five digital images of our best work, and typed responses to writing prompts.”
Sloan notes that the test is different from other exams, which is something she enjoyed.
“Instead of a traditional exam, we work on creating this portfolio all trimester long, which is electronically submitted to College Board in the last week of the class,” Sloan says. “Outside of class I would work to take photos. Therefore, in class, I could spend quality time editing and Photoshopping my work.”
Sloan enjoyed her work, which included coming up with a sustained investigation question. “My sustained investigation question was, ‘What are the complex mechanisms that transform a raw product into the perfect food that is seen on a shelf?’” she says.
Sloan was excited upon learning of her score.
“I was shocked when I found out that I had received a perfect score on the exam,” she says. “I took AP photo because of my passion for art and to learn more about the techniques of a camera, so I never expected to receive a perfect score on the exam.”
Sloan is busy making plans for the future.
“I am planning to attend the University of Tennessee to study biology on a pre-medicine track,” Sloan says. “I would like to become either a pediatrician or a physician’s assistant. However, I am interested in the field of entrepreneurship as well.”
Sloan also finds time for school activities.
“I am involved in Westfield High School Dance Marathon, Distributive Education Clubs of America, and I run cross-country,” Sloan says.
Sloan says she enjoys school and has received a lot of help from her teachers, Lindsay Frey and John Sterling.
She believes students at Westfield High School get a lot of help finding out what they want to do in the future.
“I love how each student is able to express themselves in a unique way, and create their own personalized journey through the classes and clubs that are offered,” she says. “Although I am interested in studying medicine in the future, our curriculum allowed me to gain experience in a class such as AP photo. I am thankful to receive guidance and learning experiences in subjects I am at first unfamiliar with.”
