APFIVE • registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
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Meet our team
Mert Degirmenci • Head of school
Principal Engineering Manager @
Microsoft
Mert is an engineering leader with 10+ years of experience at Google, Meta, and Microsoft. He mentored dozens of engineers learn necessary skills to thrive in computer science field. These learnings led to getting hired and growing at prestigious technology companies for various mentees.
Jennifer E. Lee • Head of operations
Operations Manager @
Lynwood PFD
Jennifer brings over 20 years of strategic experience to her role. She oversees the day-to-day functions of apfive.org, ensuring our programs run smoothly and efficiently. With a passion for equity in tech, she scaled our impact, streamline systems, and build strong partnerships that support students.
Andrew Martinez • APFIVE instructor
Software Engineer @
Ex-Meta
Andrew is a software engineer with extensive experience in distributed systems. At Meta, he worked on complex technical challenges that span across multiple teams. He is also a ceritifed AP reader who has helped numerous high school students achieve their goals.
Amelia Chen • APFIVE instructor
High school student @
Lincoln High School
Amelia is a high school student with a passion for computer science. She has previously graduated from APFIVE and received top score in the exam. She also enjoys teaching and mentoring other high school students to achieve the same result. Besides teaching, she has passion for computer robotics.
James Arocho • APFIVE instructor
Senior Software Engineer @
Microsoft
James is a senior engineer with 5+ years of experience at Microsoft. He mentored numerous high school students on software engineering projects. In doing so, he helped high school students build stronger college application packets and have head start for their career.
Past programs
AP Computer Science A Exam Prep
Dates: April 2025 (6 hours)
Location: Virtual
Scholarships: available. †
Financial assistance: available.
Deadline: April 11 2025 - Applications are closed.
Apply now!
† Limited scholarships available based on merit and on a first-come, first-served basis.
AP Computer Science A camp - Spring 2025
Dates: February - April 2025 (~4 hours/wk)
Location: Virtual
Scholarships: available. †
Financial assistance: available.
Deadline: February 7 2025 - Applications are closed.
Apply now!
† Limited scholarships available based on merit and on a first-come, first-served basis.
Our approach
Engaging content
The class is designed for optimal efficiency, focusing on the most important content to help you ace the exam. The material is organized with concrete examples to ensure it is easily digestible. Furthermore, we keep the content engaging by creating an environment where students can immediately apply what they have learned.
Group based learning
In addition to traditional teaching methods, we believe that group-based learning is highly effective because it encourages active participation, which enhances understanding. Furthermore, it provides opportunities for peer teaching and helps students develop interpersonal skills essential for future success.
Feedback driven
We recognize that each student is unique. We tailor the teaching experience based on individuals learning pace to keep everyone engaged. Specifically, we break the content into meaningful chunk, allowing for feedback along the way. Students receive personalized feedback and suggestion to maximize learning outcome.
Our goals
College readiness
Ace computer science and get a head start by getting college credit for your work. Our program is designed to match the pace of an equivalent college class. Completing this program will strengthen your college application by showcasing success in college entry level class.
Learning methodologies
Learn not only the content but also the methods to efficiently acquire and apply new knowledge. We embrace including using the latest technology, such as generative AI. This not only helps succeed in the class but also translates to academic improvements and future career success.
Future career success
Explore the IT career path and build confidence. Through the program, students will gain career insights by interacting closely with professionals in the field. Students will be immersed in an encouraging environment to develop their inner drive to excel in whatever direction they choose.
Our story
It all began with a Seattlite dad wanting best possible education for his children. Since Mert is in the IT field, he felt well equipped to give them insights and instill confidence in the computer science field. As an organization, confidence bit is crucial to us. We want our students to feel like they can do anything with time and effort, and not be scared of the unknown.

At the same time, we feel very lucky to have good careers and are looking for ways to give back to our community. Through this organization, we want to enable students achieve their goals with confidence. We also want to share insights and learnings we gained in the industry along the way.
APFIVE © 2020, registered non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
Email: [email protected]