Poly Prep grads win national awards

September 9, 2014 By Paula Katinas Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Vincent Giovinazzo, who graduated from Poly Prep Country Day School in May, was named a National Advanced Placement Scholar. Photo courtesy of Poly Prep

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The fall semester has begun, but at Poly Prep Country Day School, they’re still rejoicing over the accomplishments of the students who graduated in May.

Three members of the Class of 2014 at Poly Prep, a private school with campuses in Bay Ridge and Park Slope, have won prestigious national academic awards. Vincent Giovinazzo was named a National Advanced Placement (AP) Scholar. Two other graduates, Eleanor Womack and Anise Diaz, have won National Achievement Scholarships.

Headmaster David B. Harman praised the achievements of his now-former students. “While all Poly students who take Advanced Placement exams are to be commended, our National AP Scholar this year is an extraordinarily gifted learner who undertook challenging college-level work in high school and performed at a very high level,” Hartman said, referring to Giovinazzo.

“Of course, we are also immensely gratified by Eleanor Womack’s and Anise Diaz’s selection for the National Achievement Scholarship by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. Both of these students were outstanding members of our community who won major school awards at graduation,” the headmaster said.

Giovinazzo earned National AP Scholar honors, which are awarded to students who receive an average score of at least four (out of a possible five) on all AP exams taken and a score of four or higher on eight or more exams.

Giovinazzo scored a perfect five on five of the eight AP exams he took. The eight AP exams he took covered European History, United States History, Calculus AB, Calculus BC, Statistics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

“Through engaging in class discussions and rigorous work schedules, Poly trained me to succeed on my AP exams,” he said. “But the most valuable tool that Poly provides us with is the opportunity to work one-on-one with teachers.”

Giovinazzo is now a student at Lehigh University, where he plans to major in biology or mathematics.

Womack, who began her Poly career in the Nursery grade at Poly’s Lower School in Park Slope, is now a freshman at Yale University. “I think I want to do something with languages and art history, but I’m really not sure. My plan is to take some cool, interesting classes and to see where that goes, she said.

Diaz, who recently began classes at Amherst College, said she plans to study athletic training and is considering a major in Biology.