Montgomery Blair High School students Jonathan Gootenberg and Sneha Kannan were named state winners of the Siemens Award for Advanced Placement (AP) for 2009. The awards, which include a $2,000 college scholarship, are given each year to one male and one female student in each state with the greatest number of scores of 5 on eight specific AP math and science exams (Biology, Calculus BC, Chemistry, Computer Science AB, Environmental Science, Physics C: Mechanics, Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism; and Statistics.) Five is the highest score that is given on an AP exam.

Kannan received ten 5s on AP exams, six of which were in math and science. Gootenberg received twelve 5s, eight of which were in math and science. Both students are seniors and attend the Blair Science, Mathematics, Computer Science Magnet.

Gary Rogers, an environmental science teacher at Winston Churchill High School, won the Siemens state teacher award for Maryland, recognizing his excellence in teaching AP science. Rogers has been a teacher for 14 years, the past five in MCPS at Churchill. He received $1,000 and a plaque.