Hard work and high scores pay off in the Balachandran family! Devika Balachandran won the 2009 Siemens Award for Advanced Placement. Just last year her sister, Malavika, won the 2008 Siemens Award for Advanced Placement. Malavika, a 2008 graduate of McKinley High, is currently attending Princeton. When asked how it feels to receive this award Devika stated, "It feels good to be rewarded for my accomplishments in math and science. I was inspired by my sister and it motivates me to work harder."

Devika, only an eleventh grader, took 3 Advanced Placement tests in tenth grade. She scored a 5, the highest possible score, on all three tests; Biology, Calculus AB, and Chemistry. Devika plans to take at least two more AP tests this year.

Only one girl and one boy in each state, with the greatest number of scores of 5 on eight AP math and science exams, are chosen to receive the Siemens Award for Advanced Placement. Students may be awarde d a state or national AP award only once, although state winners may be considered for the national award in subsequent years. Maybe Devika will win the national award next year! You go, Devika!

The College Board identifies the students