Seven International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme Class of 2015 graduates received the Distinguished IB Diploma.

Out of 20 who completed the necessary requirements, the following earned an average of 30 points, exceeding the 24 points needed for the Distinguished IB Diploma; Will Crouch, Austin College; Jordan Gill, University of North Texas; Vanessa Jimenez, University of Texas; Dewey Middlemiss-Kurtz, University of North Texas; Ana Mitchell, University of Texas; James Rowland, University of Texas; and Ryan Worlton, Brigham Young University.

“The graduates had to complete six IB courses, three on a standard level and three on a higher level as well as an extended essay that is a minimum of 4,000 words,” IB Coordinator Beth Hughes said.

By obtaining the Distinguished IB Diploma these students earned a minimum of 24 college credit hours at their colleges and universities. Depending on their area of study and higher level institution, their diploma could be worth as much as 32 credit hours.

“They had to take a Theory of Knowledge class, which is about the philosophy of how we learn,” Hughes said. “They also had to complete the creativity, activity and service component, which is basically doing community service, competing in athletics or engaging in fine arts.”

On average these students will be saving between $10-12,000, roughly equivalent to a full year of college tuition.

Ninety students started the fall semester in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme,  the largest number of candidates to date.