HYSA students honored with Cambridge Scholars Awards

The disruption of 2020 didn’t deter the students of Herberger Young Scholars Academy. Seventeen students were recognized with prestigious awards from Cambridge Assessment International Education for the spring 2020 Cambridge examination series. HYSA is a school for gifted students in grades 7–12 and affiliated with Arizona State University’s Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College. The Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education is the world’s most popular international curriculum for 14- to 16- year-olds, and internationally recognized by universities and employers.  

Michael Twilling, principal of HYSA says, “Cambridge curriculum is very challenging. To be presented with an Outstanding Cambridge Learner Award means these students have achieved exceptional results on their end-of-year exams and coursework. This is the culmination of many months of hard work, grit and determination. The entire Herberger community is extremely proud of these young scholars for demonstrating such strong commitment to excellence in all they do.”

Drew Kolber, junior at HYSA and recipient of Outstanding Learner Award with Distinction says, “The beauty of using an extensive, focused curriculum like Cambridge within the American school system is that HYSA teachers are able to make classes a place of in-depth, yet interdisciplinary learning. This takes the form of Socratic discussions, project-based learning and perhaps most importantly, plenty of opportunities for public speaking and presentation.”

Spring 2020 Cambridge Scholar Award honorees:   

Drew Kolber: Outstanding Learner Award with Distinction 

Carly Cairns: Outstanding Learner Award with Merit 

Beckham Vogel: Outstanding Learner Award 

Jack Vicain: Outstanding Learner Award 

Levine Tahan: Outstanding Learner Award 

Mackenzie Brooks: Outstanding Learner Award 

Michael Buerger: Outstanding Learner Award 

Royce Russell: Outstanding Learner Award 

Austin Graham-O’Hara: Outstanding Learner Award

Gia DeYoung: Outstanding Learner Award 

Tal Spector: Outstanding Learner Award 

Annika Erickson: Outstanding Learner Award 

Davi Gutkin: Outstanding Learner Award with Merit 

Sophia Hatsell: Outstanding Learner Award with Merit 

Jared Schein: Outstanding Learner Award with Merit 

Will Ruff: Outstanding Learner Award with Merit 

Drew Kolber: Outstanding Learner Award with Merit 

Julian Pandelakis: Outstanding Learner Award with Merit 

About the awards 

Outstanding Learner Award with Distinction: Gained high marks in the examinations of three or more Cambridge International IGCSE Level Subjects

Outstanding Learner Award with Merit: Gained high marks in the examinations of three or more Cambridge International A Level Subjects 

Outstanding Learner Award: Gained high marks in the examinations of three or more Cambridge International AS Level Subjects

Outstanding Learner Award with Merit: Gained high marks in the examinations of three or more Cambridge International IGCSE Level Subjects

Learn more about Herberger Young Scholars Academy.