Opening Doors with Advanced Coursework Opportunities: The Story of Emerson Farrar & Lew Acampora

In schools across the Bluegrass, offering a full catalogue of Advanced Placement® (AP) courses is often out of reach. Tight budgets, small class sizes and staffing limitations mean that subjects like AP Chemistry, which require specialized resources, frequently go untaught.

That was the challenge facing Bryan Station High School when Emerson Farrar, a student with a growing passion for science, wanted to take AP Chemistry. The school simply didn’t have the resources to offer it.

Filling the Advanced Coursework Gap with AdvanceKentucky

Dr. Verdecchia, a science teacher at Bryan Station, sees the value of programs like AdvanceKentucky firsthand. “The school just doesn’t have the resources — or sometimes we just don’t have the class offered here,” he explains. “We had a small number of students that wanted to take AP Physics and AP Chemistry. It’d be a shame to leave three or four kids without that exposure.”

That’s when the school connected with AdvanceKentucky, a nonprofit working to expand access to advanced coursework across Kentucky. Through remote AP classes, homework help, videos and exceptional teacher support, AdvanceKentucky fills the gap for schools that can’t offer advanced content in-house. 

Brandi Ogdon, an advisor at Bryan Station, worked closely with students and AdvanceKentucky to make it all possible. “We haven’t had a physics certified teacher on staff to be able to do physics the last few years,” she says. 

“They partnered me up with Lew, and Lew is amazing. He would take kids into Dr. Verdecchia’s lab when needed. We would work it out with their parents and with the school and get those kids to the places they needed to be. If they needed to leave campus… to do basic labs, or if they needed to use my office for a Zoom we made it happen.” Bryan Station High School Advisor, Brandi Ogdon

Expanding Minds and Opportunity with AP Chemistry

One of those students was Emerson Farrar. With an interest in science but no clear direction, he enrolled in AdvanceKentucky’s AP Chemistry course and everything changed.

"After the class I took with Lew, I knew I definitely wanted to major in chemistry." AdvanceKentucky Student, Emerson Farrar

What began as a remote course soon became a turning point in Emerson’s academic journey. 

Lew Acampora is AdvanceKentucky’s Senior Content Director for Science and is known for transforming remote learning into a hands-on experience. While many remote courses rely on slides and lecture videos, Acampora takes a more interactive approach: mailing custom lab kits, hosting regular Zoom sessions and even visiting students in-person when needed. 

“Lew recognizes the importance of students actually being able to do lab work themselves,” says Aaron Timmons, AdvanceKentucky’s College Readiness Program director. “He’s developed an expansive repertoire of labs and at-home kits so students can do those activities without needing massive lab setups.”

The Road to Emory University

For Emerson, Acampora’s hands-on style made all the difference. He remembers receiving lab kits in the mail, complete with detailed instructions and videos and conducting experiments that directly connected to the AP exam. 

“It was challenging, but I won’t complain. It prepared me for the AP exam and for college.” And it paid off in a big way. Emerson earned a perfect five on the AP Chemistry exam. 

Stephanie Farrar, Emerson’s mom, saw firsthand the work he put into earning that score.

“He really had to manage his time — it was like a real college class. But I don’t think that should scare any kids away, I think it’s a real benefit.”  Stephanie Farrar

That preparation helped him earn the prestigious Woodruff Scholarship to Emory University — a full-ride that covers tuition, fees, housing, meals and even international study opportunities. 

During his scholarship interview, a panel of teachers, including a chemistry professor, quizzed him on his knowledge.

“They were really impressed by my knowledge of chemistry as a senior,” he says. “That [class] played a huge role in earning the scholarship.” AdvanceKentucky Student, Emerson Farrar

What Access to AP Courses Really Means

Emerson’s story is one of many proving that access to AP courses can reshape a student’s future. AdvanceKentucky’s approach, pairing motivated students with experienced instructors in unique learning modes, opens doors that otherwise remain closed in underfunded schools.

AdvanceKentucky serves dozens of schools across Kentucky through teacher training, resource support, exam preparation and remote courses like AP Chemistry, ensuring that students with ambition aren’t held back by resource shortages. When schools can’t offer a class, AdvanceKentucky makes sure the opportunity still exists. 

Teaching Beyond the Curriculum: Lew Acampora

As Acampora prepares to retire this year, he reflects on the ripple effect of students like Emerson. 

“The challenges in chemistry are so abstract that I think students that meet those challenges will do well no matter what field they go into,” he says. “Whether they become doctors, lawyers or plumbers, it gives them a way to think critically.”  AdvanceKentucky Senior Content Director for Science, Lew Acampora

What matters most to him, though, are the relationships he’s built along the way. “It’s gratifying to know they’ll carry a little bit of me in their mental DNA,” Acampora reflects. His advice for students? “Be proactive, even if you’re not the best student. Everyone learns from shortcomings. Teachers want you to come to us for help. We’re their advocates.”

The Power of Advanced Coursework Access

As more Kentucky students face gaps in access to advanced coursework, programs like AdvanceKentucky and success stories like Emerson’s make sure no student with potential is left without opportunity. 

In the end, Emerson’s story isn’t just about chemistry. It’s about what’s possible when every student, no matter their school’s resources, gets a chance to succeed.