Seabury Hall students earn AP Capstone honors
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Seabury Hall announced that 15 students earned the AP Capstone Diploma and 10 earned the AP Seminar and Research Certificate during the 2025-26 school year.
The AP Capstone program, developed by the College Board, focuses on critical thinking, research, collaboration and presentation skills through two courses, AP Seminar and AP Research.
To earn the AP Capstone Diploma, students must score 3 or higher in AP Seminar, AP Research and four additional Advanced Placement exams of their choice. Students who score 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research earn the AP Seminar and Research Certificate.
Unlike traditional AP exams, the two courses use project-based assessments, including group projects, presentations and individual essays. Students develop research projects based on topics of personal interest.
At Seabury Hall, students researched topics including water pollution in Honolua Bay, strategies for detecting deepfake images and the economic viability of a greenstrip program at Haleakala Ranch.
"We are incredibly proud of these students and grateful for the teachers who challenged, encouraged, and supported them throughout this journey," said Nicholas Rodriguez, Seabury Hall’s head of school. "This year, we are especially focused on connection and gratitude, and this achievement reflects both. Our students pursued questions that matter to them, learned from one another and their teachers, and developed skills that will help them engage thoughtfully with the world around them. We are grateful to be part of their growth and excited to see where their curiosity takes them next."
Students earning the AP Capstone Diploma were Olivia Aoki, Zoe Dorkin, Cassidy Goldyn, Kailana Hagan, Kristian Hansen, Elizabeth Jenkins, Wesley Kosaka, Isabella Haybourn, William Levy, Kelsey Loree, Makenna Nickens, Peyton Prouty, Amelia Sherman-Crook and Aurora Zoetewey.
Students earning the AP Seminar and Research Certificate were Alanna Abe, Emma Carter, Omkar Devaki, Violet Fellerman, Chole Florian-Contanilla, Kiandra Gann, Asher Kingdon, Jeremiah Layugan, Ez Smith and Jett Werner.
Seabury Hall students who earned AP Seminar and Research Certificates during the 2025-26 school year include Alanna Abe, Emma Carter, Omkar Devaki, Violet Fellerman, Chole Florian-Contanilla, Kiandra Gann, Asher Kingdon, Jeremiah Layugan, Ez Smith and Jett Werner. Photo courtesy of Seabury Hall/Bryan Berkowitz
Five graduating seniors from the Class of 2026 also participated in the AP Capstone program: Ren Cooper, Sierra Nicol, Christian Pelletier, Keala Rodriguez and Alexandra Spaulding.
Chris Findeisen, an English instructor at Seabury Hall, said the program helps prepare students for college by emphasizing independent learning and accountability.
Laura Gerken, also an English instructor, said the program encourages students to evaluate evidence, consider different perspectives and examine the implications of potential solutions to complex problems.
The College Board’s Advanced Placement program allows high school students to take college-level courses and potentially earn college credit or advanced placement based on their exam scores.