Two Alachua County students will be recognized at the upcoming Sunshine State Scholars program conference for their shared passion for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math).
Juniors Shivi Tripathi from Eastside High School and Abhith Kasala from Gainesville High School are among the top STEM high school students in the state who will be honored at the upcoming conference on April 10-11 in Orlando. The event will include a ceremony honoring the students with opportunities to meet with representatives from Florida’s universities and colleges, along with workshops on college applications and funding.
Tripathi is in the International Baccalaureate program at Eastside and has completed many college-level math and science courses. She earned the highest score on the Advanced Placement Physics exam in the seventh grade and has also earned A grades in three University of Florida courses to date.
Her extracurricular activities include leadership roles in EHS’ School Advisory Council, National Science Bowl, Mu Alpha Theta Club, Key Club, the EHS Red Cross Chapter, among others. Outside of school, Tripathi has earned certifications in multiple fields, including data science, cartography and coding.
Tripathi’s resume also includes awards from various events such as the Science Olympiad, Mu Alpha Theta contests, science and engineering fairs and more. Last year, she represented Florida in the National FBI Youth Leadership Program in Quantico, Virginia, and this year she was accepted into the Duke University STAR program, a highly selective eight-week summer internship and research program for the nation’s top STEM students.
Outside of school, Tripathi is involved in community service projects, including teaching younger students everything from high-level math to basic literacy to self-defense.
“There are so many students who feel they can’t excel even though they have that potential, so it’s important to me to be able to provide those students with the opportunity to explore their potential,” Tripathi said in a press release. “As a future academician, I am eager to have the opportunity to encourage students of all backgrounds towards the many exciting fields of STEM.”
Kasala is enrolled in the Cambridge Program at GHS and has taken many high-level science and math courses, along with courses at UF. He’s also served in a leadership role in multiple extra-curricular activities, including the STEM Club, Robotics Club, NASA Student Astronaut Challenge Club and the Multicultural Music Performance Club.
He has conducted research at UF, primarily on the impact of microplastics. Kasala’s research has earned him many honors at regional, statewide and international science competitions over the past few years, including a first-place award at this year’s Sunshine State Science and Engineering Fair and the Stockholm Junior Water Prize, both for the second year in a row. He was invited to speak at both the United National Science Summit and the Water Environment Federal Conference last fall
Kasala organized and hosted a TEDx conference at GHS that brought scientists to the school to speak to more than 400 students and staff about STEM and its role in innovating and solving global issues. The event was part of his efforts to promote STEM to young people.
Like Tripathi, Kasala is driven by a desire to promote an interest in STEM to other students, particularly those currently underrepresented in STEM classes. He plans to make teaching others a part of whatever career path he ultimately follows.
“I believe that science and research can be powerful tools for change, and my goal is to instill that curiosity into young learners,” Kasala said in a press release. “The next big idea could come from sitting in a classroom right now. The time is now to empower the next generation to dream big and shape the future with STEM.”