As the coordinator for Gifted and Talented at Edward Little High School, I have seen many students take rigorous, content-driven Advanced Placement courses. At the end of the school year, they can take an AP exam for $94. Good grades in the courses and scores on the exam can result in receiving college credit.

College Board reduces the costs for low income students from $94 to $53. In other years, the state has chipped in, or the local school budget has helped defray the remaining expense. This year, no help was given.

Thinking that these bright, but income-challenged students could use the help, I emailed state senators to see what they could do. Two of them responded by forwarding my request to Sen. Eric Brakey. I heard nothing back from him, so I followed up with another email. After my conversation with her, Rep. Bettyann Sheats took it upon herself to bring it to her congregation at St Michael’s Episcopal Church. They donated $200 to help those students.

First, I want to recognize Rep. Sheats and St Michael’s as good examples of how folks can slip the reins of politics and break forth with heart. These days, it is important to see these acts of kindness as a strategic response to the nastiness the public sees in the unfortunate headlines of contemporary news.

Secondly, I want to commend those AP students for going the extra academic mile and challenging themselves. In addition, their AP teachers work hard to prepare them for those exams.

Phil Brookhouse, Auburn