Since 1978, students have served as members of the national advisory structure of the College Board. Throughout this time, they have demonstrated the importance of student perspective to staff and to the many other councils and committees on which they serve. The main vehicle to provide their perspective is the Advisory Panel on Student Opportunity (APSO).
The 16-member panel, made up both of high school and college students from a variety of backgrounds, meets three times a year. In addition, after their first year, students may also serve on another College Board Committee or Council, ensuring that students' voices are present in all College Board's deliberations. Meetings are held in New York City or Reston, Va., and all travel and lodging expenses are paid by the College Board. Continued membership is contingent on active participation.
If you have questions or need any additional information, please contact apso@collegeboard.org.
Sara Douglas
Sara is an 18-year-old National Merit Finalist who graduated at the top of her class from Blue Springs South High School in the Kansas City, Mo., area. In fall 2012, she began her studies at the University of Tulsa as a sophomore, thanks to AP credit, double majoring in biology and computer science. She holds a research position with a geneticist at the University of Kansas Medical Center and is very involved in extracurricular activities. She plans on staying involved in community service, debate, swimming and cycling in college, along with continuing her cupcake business, SaraCakes.
Liliana Esquivel
Liliana is a 16-year-old junior at Osborne High School, a public school of 1,600 students, in Marietta, Ga. Liliana is interested in majoring in biology. She is a member of various clubs and associations, including Student Council, Drill Team, Color Guard, Leadership Team, Octagon Club and Junior Delegates. She is a recipient of the 2011 "Best in Camp Leadership Award" from JROTC Cadet Leadership Camp.
Katherine (Katie) Hill
Katie is an 18-year-old graduate of Kents Hill School and is a freshman at Bentley University. She intends to major in business but hasn't chosen a specific area yet. She enjoys music, traveling, volunteering at the local elementary school and playing field hockey.
Elijah Kallett
Elijah is a 17-year-old high school senior from Tampa, Fla. He attends Hillsborough High School, where he is part of the International Baccalaureate program. Elijah's extracurricular activities include serving as the senior layout editor for his school literary magazine, HELM, for two consecutive years and being a senior member of his school's chapter of Model United Nations. Elijah is also an avid multigenre guitar player. He enjoys graphic design, including video game art and advertising, and hopes to pursue a career in concept art for video games following college and possibly graduate school.
Will Larsen
Will is a 17-year-old senior at Carnegie Vanguard High School, a public magnet school in Houston with an enrollment of about 600 students. He has taken part in numerous theatrical pursuits, and has traveled with his Boy Scout troop to such places as the Florida Keys and Colorado. Will also enjoys making music with his guitar, ukulele, trombone, keyboard and accordion. He hopes to pursue studies in science and the arts.
Katherine Loboda
Katherine is a 16-year-old junior at Julia R. Masterman Laboratory and Demonstration School, a public magnet high school in Philadelphia with approximately 450 students. This past summer Katherine attended the Drexel Mini-Med program and the Canada/USA Mathcamp. She harbors interests in both medicine and mathematics and hopes to find a career in the future that can incorporate both. As part of her extracurricular activities, Katherine plays singles for her school's tennis team and is a first-place finisher in both the Golden Key Music Festival for piano and the Philadelphia Science Fair.
Kolbe Murray
Kolbe is an 18-year-old senior at Lawrence Free State High School in Lawrence, Kan. He is undecided about a college major but is interested in the social sciences. Kolbe enjoys running and is preparing over the summer for his cross-country season. In his free time, he enjoys hiking, reading and writing.
Adetola (Tola) Omilana
Tola is a 18-year-old recent graduate of Xavier College Preparatory High School, a private Jesuit school in Palm Desert, Calif., with approximately 450 students. In fall 2013, Tola will be a freshman at Harvard College in Cambridge, Mass. He will play varsity football and hopes to study biochemical engineering and film.
Emanuel Perez
Emanuel is a 17-year-old junior at Whitney M. Young Magnet High School in Chicago, a public school with approximately 2,200 students. Emanuel's interests lie in mathematics, and he has volunteered at several elementary school math competitions and summer math camps. He attended several math competitions himself and plans to major in mathematics or some other STEM field. He was part of the National Junior Honor Society Executive Board and enjoys playing soccer.
Oakley Richins
Oakley is a 17-year-old junior at Borah High School, a public high school with approximately 1,500 students in Boise, Idaho. He is interested in pursuing an academic career in physics. He is a member of his school's tennis and snow teams, and enjoys snowboarding and trampolining
Mohamed Sharif
Mohamed is a 17-year-old senior at Deering High School in Portland, Maine. Mohamed coauthored a book recognizing the struggles of multicultural students with dual cultural backgrounds. in summer 2013, he will volunteer at a teen center in his community that offers workshops and community service project opportunities to the youth of the area.
Bethany Springer
Eighteen-year-old Bethany's long-standing interest in medicine and scientific research has shaped her understanding of the world that surrounds her. In fall 2013, she will be a first-year student at Stony Brook University, where she will pursue the study of pharmacy. She believes a greater knowledge of diseases will allow her to help create solutions that will enhance disease prevention and treatment.
Spenser Sullivan
Spenser is a 16-year-old junior at Greene County Technical School, a public high school in Paragould, Ark., with approximately 750 students. She is a member of the Chamber Singers, an elite choir group at her school, and she participates in the Rotary Interact and the Future Business Leaders of America clubs. She enjoys reading, writing, shopping, visiting new places and spending time with friends. In summer 2012, Spenser took college classes at a local university and plans to join a M.A.S.H. program at a local hospital to gain knowledge of the medical field.
Gabriela Tejeda
Gabriela is a 17-year-old senior at Mater Academy Charter High School, a public school with approximately 3,000 students in Hialeah Gardens, Fla. She has demonstrated that by working hard and visualizing being at the top, you can achieve anything. After high school, she plans to major in civil engineering at one of her dream universities.