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
Ishaan Saboo
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
Ishaan Saboo
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.
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.
Life & 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.