Maria Regina High School’s inaugural cohort of 16 Advanced Placement (AP) Capstone Diploma students has embarked on AP Research, the final phase of the College Board’s academically rigorous, college-level program that is offered by only a select number of high schools in the nation.
Over the course of this academic school year, Maria Regina’s students will be tasked with writing original, researched academic papers comprising 4,000 -5,000 words and then preparing formal written arguments, presenting and defending their findings in a
professional format— demonstrating a mastery of skills typically required by college students. The College Board notes that many colleges recognize and value Capstone for its emphasis on research and communication.
A year ago, Maria Regina’s first Capstone Diploma hopefuls began their unique advanced academic journey by taking the first course, AP Seminar, designed to help them explore real-world or academic issues from multiple perspectives and develop evidence-based arguments. They all passed the course by scoring at least 3. The knowledge gained from AP Seminar helped them identify and hone the topics they are now researching in year two of the program.
“The topics reflect a wide range of real-world issues the students are exploring and which will be of keen interest to a wider audience when these young, intelligent investigators share their findings,” said Principal Maria Carozza-McCaffrey (Class of ’99), adding: “We wish them great success in this ambitious quest which will help them to stand out in how they think, research and communicate.” The following list details the students’ diverse research topics.
Fiona Kellly, Bronx
How does artificial intelligence-based learning psychologically prepare new graduate nurses for clinical practice in disaster situations?
Juliana Celestino, Yonkers
How does the portrayal of actresses and female personalities in the entertainment industry sculpt audience perception of gender roles and societal norms in television shows from 2000 to 2025
Leah Filippelli, Yonkers
How do friends made through sports versus academics influence the production of endorphins and hormones and affect mental well-being?
Summer Ford, Yonkers
How do social, economic, and behavioral factors such as cultural lifestyle norms, food accessibility, and health literacy contribute to the rise in obesity rates across the U.S.?
Jillian Fox, Yonkers
How does the portrayal of women in animated films contribute to or combat the stereotypes applied to women within their workplaces?
Madison Ramirez, Bronx
To what extent does nostalgia affect the reception of sequels, prequels and remakes released under the Disney corporation as represented online?
Gianna Vuktilaj, Elmsford
How does TikTok’s haul culture affect the frequency with which teenagers in the United States discard fast fashion clothing?
Denissa Dedushaj, Yonkers
How would improved accessibility to advanced Applies Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy in Kosovo improve the social and mental well-being, family dynamics and overall quality of life of autistic individuals, in comparison to regions with optimal access?
Fiona Kelly, Dobbs Ferry
In the United States, how has the usage of social media by political elites contributed to political polarization leading to the belief in conspiracy theories, cultural divides, and eventual political violence in the populace?
Daniella Shlaku, Mahopac
Does the timing of sugary drinks consumption influence teenage girl’s short-term classroom behavior, attention span and learning abilities
LilIian Hinsliff, Scarsdale
How do situation comedy television programs, specifically those with large adolescent viewership, portray food allergies, and in turn contribute to the reduction or creation of stigmas and misconceptions among adolescents surrounding food allergies?
Fiona Shabaj, Bronx
How do personal background and past experiences influence an individual’s decision to pursue a career in registered nursing, and how are these factors reflected in their later career satisfaction?
Alia Rabadi, Yonkers
When compared to one-on-one therapy, does the presence of peers performing the same upper-extremity rehabilitation exercises in group-based physical therapy settings initiate mirror-neuron fueled motivation, adherence, and enhanced motor learning?
Nina Modad, Yonkers
How does leukemia affect the quality of life (QoL), familial dynamics, and mental health in adult versus pediatric patients, and how do these impacts differ between the two age groups?
Perla Stakaj, Yonkers
How does exposure to music in a foreign language influence language acquisition in children with autism?
As the inaugural cohort makes progress on their research projects, Maria Regina’s second successive Capstone Diploma group of 11 students is midway through their AP Seminar course.
Two years ago, Maria Regina became the only all-girls high school in Westchester County and one of three high schools in the entire Archdiocese of New York Secondary Schools to join the elite AP Capstone Diploma ranks–the latest offering in the school’s acclaimed academic program designed to help empower students with the skills they need to be globally competitive.
And it continues to be a banner year in Maria Regina’s stellar AP record. Among the highlights:
● 24 students earned the prestigious 2025 College Board School Recognition Award. They were among the top 10% honored by the College Board for achieving a score of 3+ on two or more distinct AP Exams, in addition to an impressive GPA, among other criteria. The students’ distinguished accolades represented more than a fivefold increase over last year, when four Maria Regina students captured this top honor.
● A majority of the student body—53%—took a total of 464 exams across 18 AP courses—an increase of 9% in total student participation. Among the courses were English, history, world languages, mathematics, life and physical sciences, computer science, art, and music
● Equally impressive, 66% of the 253 AP students scored a three or more on the AP Exam—an increase of 10% over the prior year. Included were 100 students who achieved the highest scores of 5 and 4, respectively, equivalent to earning an A or an A- or B+ in a college course.
● The total number of students who garnered the College Board’s distinguished AP Scholar ranking also dramatically spiked 63% over the prior year. The College Board awards the AP Scholar designation to only 10% students who have demonstrated exemplary college-level achievement on their AP Exams.