Senior Jacob Iwanowicz received a lab coat from the science department on May 20.

The lab coat is an honor awarded to any student completing all four advanced placement level science classes. These classes are AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Physics C and AP Environmental Science. This year, Iwanowicz was the only student to complete all four classes and achieve the lab coat. Iwanowicz was also special because he completed three of the AP classes in his senior year, while most students who get a lab coat take two of the courses in their junior year and two in their senior year. 

Science teacher Jennie Bonitz was impressed when she saw that Iwanowicz achieved the lab coat.

“I wouldn’t say that it was surprising based on ability,” Bonitz said. “We’ve had students do it in the past. Now, it doesn’t happen every year, but what I would say was surprising is he took three out of the four his senior year. I can’t even imagine taking three AP science courses in one year.”

Iwanowicz talks about what inspired him to take so many tough classes. 

“I just wanted to ride out the wave and just expand upon everything I had done my junior year,” Iwanowicz said. “I wanted to keep taking all the sciences, and I wasn’t going to quit sports, so going the extra mile there was nice.”  

Bonitz explains what sets Iwanowicz apart from other science students. 

“The questions that he asks and the depth of understanding that he wants to get sets him apart,” Bonitz said. “He is not satisfied to just be able to answer the question correctly. He wants to, like, fully and completely understand the content, and he will keep asking questions until he completely gets it.” 

Iwanowicz mentions how he balances his academics with other extracurricular activities like music and sports.

“When we’re doing competitive competitions in orchestra, it can be a lot of work outside of school,” Iwanowicz said. “That’s just something that I have to organize my time and balance, managing my extracurriculars and then also providing enough time to do things both in class and outside of class for my sciences.” 

Bonitz explains how taking all four AP Science classes is such a challenge. 

“If you’re not planning on being a science major, it probably doesn’t make sense to take all four AP science classes,” Bonitz said. “While it’s cool to get a lab coat,… they’re not easy classes, and they aren’t for everybody.” 

Iwanowicz mentions what his future in science is going to look like.

“I’m going to college for the next four years at Lafayette, and I’m going to be studying either chemistry or chemical engineering,” Iwanowicz said. “Depending on that, there’s a variety of different jobs and career paths to go into. A lot of them are working for companies in the workforce, engineering new ways for them to increase their product. I could also be involved in some sort of research where I’m creating new scientific ideas and formulas and things like that.”