Meet Our Executive Team & Mentors
Neal Kedia: Co-Founder & Executive Director
Neal Kedia is a dedicated sophomore at Eastlake High School with a profound commitment to microbiology and disease pathology. As a USABO Semifinalist and a multi-time medalist in Science Olympiad biology events, Neal has combined his academic rigor with practical expertise, including two years of biomedical research at Brown University. With hands-on experience in DNA isolation and PCR, he is driven by a long-term vision to contribute to life-saving pharmaceutical research and laboratory innovation
Rithesh Rajagopal: Co-Founder & Director of Programs
Incoming freshman at Tesla STEM and a multi-time Science Olympiad medalist, Rithesh Rajagopal pairs a deep-seated interest in chemistry and physics with a mission to lead.
His experience in drafting a biology focused research paper and service as the captain of his NSB team have furthered his perseverance and leadership skills. Rithesh desires to contribute to the scientific community by exploring and researching the field of allergies while supporting the next generation’s success in high-level science and math.
In addition, he is a Co-Founder of the non-profit Peer-Up (www.peer-up.org), a student-led initiative focused on peer-to-peer learning.
Math Mentorship Board
Edward Xie
Shiv Ram Narendra Babu
Ishaan Saboo
Incoming freshman at Tesla STEM High School with a strong interest in advanced mathematics and a record of national achievement. He has earned an Achievement Roll distinction on the AMC 10 and a Distinguished Honor Roll placement on the AMC 8, reflecting his commitment to problem‑solving at a high level. Edward has also developed leadersh
Incoming freshman at Tesla STEM High School with a strong interest in advanced mathematics and a record of national achievement. He has earned an Achievement Roll distinction on the AMC 10 and a Distinguished Honor Roll placement on the AMC 8, reflecting his commitment to problem‑solving at a high level. Edward has also developed leadership and teamwork skills as the captain of his MATHCOUNTS team and as math representative of his National Science Bowl team. He is equally dedicated to giving back, volunteering his time to coach and support middle school students in their math preparation.
Ishaan Saboo
Shiv Ram Narendra Babu
Ishaan Saboo
Incoming freshman at Tesla STEM High School with a strong passion for mathematics and computer science. Ishaan's love for math began in 3rd grade, when he ranked 3rd in the North America Math Challenge.
He earned Honor Roll recognition in MathCON, placed in the top 5% nationally on the AMC 8 in both 7th and 8th grade, advanced to the state
Incoming freshman at Tesla STEM High School with a strong passion for mathematics and computer science. Ishaan's love for math began in 3rd grade, when he ranked 3rd in the North America Math Challenge.
He earned Honor Roll recognition in MathCON, placed in the top 5% nationally on the AMC 8 in both 7th and 8th grade, advanced to the state round in MATHCOUNTS, and competed at the state level with the Evergreen Math Team.
In computer science, his team won 1st place in Zero Robotics (2024), and he placed 5th at the Eastlake Hackathon 2025. He will also be leading website development for NorthStar Prep, applying his skills to support the organization's programs.
He is committed to mentoring younger students in math and coding, bringing curiosity and enthusiasm to every interaction.
Shiv Ram Narendra Babu
Shiv Ram Narendra Babu
Shiv Ram Narendra Babu
Incoming freshman at Tesla STEM High School with a deep passion for mathematics and science, and a drive to make seemingly intimidating subjects approachable for younger learners.
As a former National Science Bowl (NSB) captain and a national-level NAQT competitor, Shiv Ram has built both the subject mastery and the composure needed to ex
Incoming freshman at Tesla STEM High School with a deep passion for mathematics and science, and a drive to make seemingly intimidating subjects approachable for younger learners.
As a former National Science Bowl (NSB) captain and a national-level NAQT competitor, Shiv Ram has built both the subject mastery and the composure needed to excel in fast-paced, high-pressure academic competition. He pairs this competitive experience with a genuine curiosity about the real world, fascinated by the ways abstract fields like number theory surface in the patterns of nature.
Above all, Shiv Ram is committed to combining his knowledge with his ambition to teach — helping students who are just beginning their STEM journeys build confidence and a lasting love of learning.
Physical Science Mentorship Board
Saahil Dugar
Shivam Chowdhary
Shivam Chowdhary
Incoming sophomore at Eastlake High School with a deep passion for physics — particularly quantum and modern physics — and a love for gardening.
As a medalist in Quantum Physics at State Science Olympiad, Saahil has demonstrated mastery of advanced physical concepts at the highest level, also earning medals in Machines and Circuits. His
Incoming sophomore at Eastlake High School with a deep passion for physics — particularly quantum and modern physics — and a love for gardening.
As a medalist in Quantum Physics at State Science Olympiad, Saahil has demonstrated mastery of advanced physical concepts at the highest level, also earning medals in Machines and Circuits. His team was placed 11th overall in middle school Nationals Science Olympiad. As captain of his National Science Bowl team, he led his squad to a 4th place finish at Nationals, showcasing both his subject-matter expertise across physics and biology and his ability to inspire and coordinate under pressure.
His performance in independent physics competitions further reflects his rigor: a 39/40 on the Physics Bowl and a 14/25 on the F=ma exam, placing him among the nation's most competitive high school physicists.
Beyond competition, Saahil is committed to making STEM accessible to younger students. He currently runs weekly teaching sessions for the Evergreen NSB Club, and from 2022–2024, co-founded a science tutoring business serving around 10 students, building lasting mentorship skills alongside academic excellence.
Shivam Chowdhary
Shivam Chowdhary
Shivam Chowdhary
Incoming sophomore at Eastlake High School with a deep passion for physics, mathematics, and computer science.
As the physics lead for his National Science Bowl team, Shivam helped his squad earn a 3rd place finish at Regionals, with particular strength in mechanics and quantum physics. His mathematical range is equally competitive — he h
Incoming sophomore at Eastlake High School with a deep passion for physics, mathematics, and computer science.
As the physics lead for his National Science Bowl team, Shivam helped his squad earn a 3rd place finish at Regionals, with particular strength in mechanics and quantum physics. His mathematical range is equally competitive — he has qualified for AIME twice, a distinction that reflects elite problem-solving ability at the national level.
In computer science, Shivam has built a growing portfolio of projects and games spanning many years. This year, he advanced to nationals in TSA for both Software Development and Technology Bowl, demonstrating his breadth and depth across STEM disciplines.
Shashank Seela
Shivam Chowdhary
Shashank Seela
Incoming sophomore at Eastlake High School with strong interests in chemistry, medicine, computer science, and STEM leadership. As a Science Olympiad competitor with top placements in events such as Forensics and Chemistry Lab at regional and state competitions, he has developed strong skills in scientific reasoning and problem-solving.
Incoming sophomore at Eastlake High School with strong interests in chemistry, medicine, computer science, and STEM leadership. As a Science Olympiad competitor with top placements in events such as Forensics and Chemistry Lab at regional and state competitions, he has developed strong skills in scientific reasoning and problem-solving. He has also built advanced STEM skills in web development, robotics programming in C++, and databases, reflecting his interest in applying technology to real-world challenges.
He is passionate about exploring the intersection of chemistry, medicine, and technology, and is equally committed to mentoring younger students and helping them build confidence, curiosity, and strong foundations in STEM.
Avni Waghamare
Shivam Chowdhary
Shashank Seela
Incoming freshman at North Creek High School with a deep passion for chemistry and the life sciences.
As a 4th-place national title holder in the You Be The Solution Challenge (formerly You Be The Chemist), Avni has demonstrated exceptional mastery of chemical concepts at the highest competitive level. She is a multi-medalist in Science Ol
Incoming freshman at North Creek High School with a deep passion for chemistry and the life sciences.
As a 4th-place national title holder in the You Be The Solution Challenge (formerly You Be The Chemist), Avni has demonstrated exceptional mastery of chemical concepts at the highest competitive level. She is a multi-medalist in Science Olympiad and a national competitor in the North South Foundation Science Bee, showcasing her strength across analytical chemistry, life sciences, and rapid-recall STEM problem-solving.
Beyond academics, Avni is a dedicated figure skater and accomplished vocalist who has performed in prestigious venues. She has contributed over 200 hours of community service preparing food for those in need and has been formally recognized for her commitment to giving back.
Earth Science Mentorship Board
Shreyom Paul
Ved Ashvik Bonala
Sachin Shankar
Incoming sophomore at Tesla STEM High School with a deep passion for Earth Science and Biology.
As a category first-place winner in Animal Science at CSRSEF and a first-place winner at WSSEF, Shreyom has proven himself at the highest levels of regional / state science fair & Nationals Science Olympiad competition. His accomplishments exte
Incoming sophomore at Tesla STEM High School with a deep passion for Earth Science and Biology.
As a category first-place winner in Animal Science at CSRSEF and a first-place winner at WSSEF, Shreyom has proven himself at the highest levels of regional / state science fair & Nationals Science Olympiad competition. His accomplishments extend into computer science, where he competes as a USACO Gold competitor — a distinction that reflects both his analytical rigor and his ability to tackle complex, multi-disciplinary challenges.
Known for his work ethic and curiosity, Shreyom is driven by a genuine love of the natural world and a commitment to mastering the subjects he cares about most. Outside of academics, he enjoys unwinding with Lego builds — bringing the same focus and patience to every set that he brings to his science and coding work.
Sachin Shankar
Ved Ashvik Bonala
Sachin Shankar
Incoming freshman at Tesla STEM High School with strong interests in astrophysics, quantum physics, and a deep passion for earth science.
As a multi-medalist and national competitor in Science Olympiad, Sachin led the Earth Science component of his team’s participation in the National Science Bowl, developing strong analytical thinking, t
Incoming freshman at Tesla STEM High School with strong interests in astrophysics, quantum physics, and a deep passion for earth science.
As a multi-medalist and national competitor in Science Olympiad, Sachin led the Earth Science component of his team’s participation in the National Science Bowl, developing strong analytical thinking, teamwork, and problem-solving skills.
He is passionate about advancing scientific understanding through research in deep space exploration and the future of human colonization across the solar system. He is also committed to giving back by mentoring and supporting middle school students in their STEM journeys.
Ved Ashvik Bonala
Ved Ashvik Bonala
Ved Ashvik Bonala
Sophomore at Eastlake High School with a strong interest in astronomy, chemistry, and technology. Through his involvement in Science Olympiad and the National Science Bowl, he has developed subject expertise with notable experience in astronomy and earth science.
Beyond competitions, Ved is passionate about giving back to the STEM communit
Sophomore at Eastlake High School with a strong interest in astronomy, chemistry, and technology. Through his involvement in Science Olympiad and the National Science Bowl, he has developed subject expertise with notable experience in astronomy and earth science.
Beyond competitions, Ved is passionate about giving back to the STEM community. He coaches middle school Science Bowl teams and has helped writing qualifier assessment tests, helping younger students build confidence and strengthen their foundational skills. He continues to expand his knowledge through advanced coursework and independent exploration while supporting initiatives that make STEM learning more accessible and engaging.
Life Science Mentorship Board
Anya Parson
Incoming freshman at Eastlake High School with a strong interest in the life sciences, particularly neuroscience and computational biology. As a Science Olympiad National Tournament medalist at USC, a multi-state medalist in biology events, and a Top 10 finalist at the HOSA International Leadership Conference, Anya has built a strong fou
Incoming freshman at Eastlake High School with a strong interest in the life sciences, particularly neuroscience and computational biology. As a Science Olympiad National Tournament medalist at USC, a multi-state medalist in biology events, and a Top 10 finalist at the HOSA International Leadership Conference, Anya has built a strong foundation in advanced life science concepts through national-level competition. Her research interests include computational drug design focused on bacterial biofilms and antimicrobial target discovery. Outside academics, she is an accomplished pianist who has performed at Carnegie Hall and Benaroya Hall, and is committed to making a meaningful impact through community service and youth leadership.
Public Speaking Mentorship Board
Shivam Loyalka
Shivam Loyalka
Shivam Loyalka
Incoming senior at Tahoma High School with a deep passion for public speaking, debate, and effective communication.
As captain of Tahoma's Speech & Debate team, Shivam has led his squad while excelling individually as a Washington State Tournament qualifier and a top competitor at the state level — a distinction that reflects both his com
Incoming senior at Tahoma High School with a deep passion for public speaking, debate, and effective communication.
As captain of Tahoma's Speech & Debate team, Shivam has led his squad while excelling individually as a Washington State Tournament qualifier and a top competitor at the state level — a distinction that reflects both his command of argumentation and his poise under pressure.
Beyond competition, Shivam is committed to helping younger students find their voice. He is passionate about building confidence in emerging speakers, guiding them through the fundamentals of structure, delivery, and persuasion so they can communicate their ideas clearly in classrooms, competitions, and beyond.
Saloni Sutari
Shivam Loyalka
Shivam Loyalka
Rising sophomore at Redmond High School with a strong passion for biology and a talent for making complex science accessible to young learners.
As a Science Olympiad competitor, she has competed at the state level in Anatomy and Physiology, building a deep academic foundation in the life sciences. She pairs this subject-matter strength wit
Rising sophomore at Redmond High School with a strong passion for biology and a talent for making complex science accessible to young learners.
As a Science Olympiad competitor, she has competed at the state level in Anatomy and Physiology, building a deep academic foundation in the life sciences. She pairs this subject-matter strength with proven communication skills, having pitched at the Youth 4 Us nonprofit business fair and represented youth associations in official engagements with local government leadership, including the Mayor.
Beyond competition, Saloni is committed to youth development. She has served as a Teaching Assistant directing STEM activities at Camp Invention and volunteers with Positive Ally, helping students build academic confidence and teamwork skills. She brings energy, clarity, and genuine care for young learners to every mentoring interaction.
Kasyap Ganjam
Shivam Loyalka
Kasyap Ganjam
Incoming Sophomore at Tesla STEM High School with a deep passion for the life sciences, medical technology, and the arts.
As a Science Olympiad competitor, he has earned multiple first-place medals at the state level, along with several awards at WSSEF and a role as a core speaker at the STEM Expo. He is currently channeling his scientifi
Incoming Sophomore at Tesla STEM High School with a deep passion for the life sciences, medical technology, and the arts.
As a Science Olympiad competitor, he has earned multiple first-place medals at the state level, along with several awards at WSSEF and a role as a core speaker at the STEM Expo. He is currently channeling his scientific curiosity into a research partnership with University of Washington professors, studying orthopedic foot health and diabetic foot conditions.
Beyond academics, Kasyap is an award-winning artist and an active swimmer. He brings his life-science depth and communication skills to NorthStar Prep's National Science Bowl program, helping students build the subject mastery and quick-recall confidence the competition demands.
NSB Mentorship Board
Dhyaan Sriraman
Arjun Reddy Chittamuru
Arjun Reddy Chittamuru
Incoming sophomore at Redmond High School with a deep passion for biology, chemistry, and public health.
Dhyaan's drive in the sciences showed early — he completed high school biology while still in middle school and finished high school chemistry by the end of his freshman year. Building on that foundation, he has been exploring his grow
Incoming sophomore at Redmond High School with a deep passion for biology, chemistry, and public health.
Dhyaan's drive in the sciences showed early — he completed high school biology while still in middle school and finished high school chemistry by the end of his freshman year. Building on that foundation, he has been exploring his growing passion for public health by collaborating with researchers at the University of Washington on earthquake and disaster-prevention research.
Beyond the classroom, Dhyaan is fully CERT certified (Community Emergency Response Team) and actively serves as a registered member in Redmond, bringing his scientific training directly into community preparedness.
Dhyaan is excited to give back to the community and be a positive influence on middle schoolers' journeys through the STEM world. He volunteers with NorthStar Prep's NSB classes.
Arjun Reddy Chittamuru
Arjun Reddy Chittamuru
Arjun Reddy Chittamuru
Incoming freshman at Eastlake High School with a deep passion for the physical sciences, particularly aerospace engineering and robotics.
As a multi-time Science Olympiad medalist in physical science and chemistry events and a National Science Bowl team member, Arjun has built strong subject mastery alongside genuine hands-on engineering
Incoming freshman at Eastlake High School with a deep passion for the physical sciences, particularly aerospace engineering and robotics.
As a multi-time Science Olympiad medalist in physical science and chemistry events and a National Science Bowl team member, Arjun has built strong subject mastery alongside genuine hands-on engineering expertise — even designing and building his own remote-controlled (RC) planes. He pairs this technical range with proven communication skills, earning third place in a regional public speaking competition. Outside the classroom, he plays the cello, swims, and bikes.
Guided by a deep empathy for environmental issues and underserved communities, Arjun looks forward to combining his technical and communication skills to drive meaningful change through youth leadership and community service.