Brookfield/Elm Grove Monthly

DECEMBER 2013 Freeman Brookfield & Elm Grove • Page 3A Charles Auer/Freeman Staff Packer Hyde greets fans BROOKFIELD – Green Bay Packers cornerback Micah Hyde, right, signs a miniature helmet for Dylan Elberson, 7, of Menomonee Falls during a visit to sweetFrog Premium Frozen Yogurt. Brookfield Central grad receives Advanced Placement award By Arthur Thomas Freeman Staff BROOKFIELD – Nikil Prasad didn't take 15 Advanced Placement classes in high school because someone forced him to. He did it because he thought the classes were interesting, he wanted the knowledge and it was fulfilling to get college credit at the end. During his time at Brookfield Central High School, Prasad received a score of five, the best possible score, on 10 of the exams he took. He received fours on the remaining exams, giving him an average of 4.67 overall. His reward for doing so well? Prasad was named an AP State Scholar, an award given to top performers in each state. Students are chosen for having scores of three or higher on the greatest number of AP exams and then the highest average score on all the exams they took. The award is given to one male and one female in each state and the District of Columbia. Prasad also received a let- Prasad ter of commendation from Gov. Scott Walker and recognition from Department of Public Instruction Superintendent Tony Evers. He said it was great that two of the state's leaders took note of his accomplishment, but for him, taking the classes and the exams was really about developing good study habits and greater knowledge. "That's the biggest takeaway for me," he said. His mother, Ashwini Prasad, said no one pushed him to take the classes. In fact, she said, she encouraged him to slow down and take less demanding courses, but he was adamant that he could handle it. "It wasn't like I was staying up all night," he said, adding that he was able to hang out with friends while managing his studies. "I had plenty of time to do both." The subjects of the AP classes he took were all over the board, but he said he took a few more in math and science. Biology and Physics C were his two favorites, although he said that the latter was also the most challenging. Just 17 years old, Prasad is now attending Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y. He is majoring in biology with a business minor. He said his college classes have involved a bit more work than those he took in high school, but the content is about the same. "The amount of information you learn is comparable to the APs," he said. Prasad wants to pursue becoming a doctor once he graduates, although he isn't sure what field of medicine he wants to pursue. He said the future is pretty far off and he doesn't think about exactly what he wants to do. In the meantime, he will continue his studies, adding to the wealth of knowledge he gained during high school. Email: athomas@conleynet.com

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