Aspiring Engineer
I began my robotics journey in elementary school and continued as a founding member and mechanical lead/captain of an FTC Team, Tech Tigers (#19411). Through dedication and perseverance, we grew into a powerhouse, advancing to the FIRST World Championship in each of the last three seasons and earning top honors in design, autonomous performance, gameplay, and STEM outreach.
More than accolades, FIRST taught me how to mentor with empathy, think critically under pressure, and collaborate across disciplines. I developed core skills in CAD, mechanical design, and effective leadership, tools that will serve me well as I continue my pursuit of robotics engineering.
Driven Innovator
Growing up, I loved watching shows like “How Do They Do It?” and “Mythbusters." In my free time, I deconstructed old pieces of tech and tinkered with spare parts. Among many projects, I built a solenoid engine, a working seismograph, and XTick, a device that utilizes heat and pheromones to attract and eradicate ticks. I was recognized as a State Merit Winner in the Young Scientist Challenge for inventing EmuLight, a lighting solution that aligns with the body’s circadian rhythm to improve sleep patterns. For the past three summers, I have interned at CSC, an engineering firm specializing in process controls and automation, where I overhauled two large-format 3D printers and worked on a number of live customer projects.
Mindful Leader
I was selected to represent my town as the ambassador for Project 351, a statewide youth leadership organization. For the past four years, I have organized 10+ community-wide volunteer initiatives. In recognition of my commitment to service, I was appointed to the Alumni Leadership Council. I guided 20 new ambassadors through their first year of civic leadership as an Alumni Mentoring Corps Fellow and collaborated with the program administrators to increase organizational reach and impact as a Senior Legacy Fellow.
Throughout high school, I was also actively involved in my school community. I served as Communications Co-Chair of Student Council, advocated for my peers’ interests as Student Advisory Committee Co-Chair, and fostered a culture of service and inclusion as VP of NHS and Spanish Co-Chair of WLNHS.
Savvy Entrepreneur
Working alongside like-minded peers, I co-founded Internect, an online recruiting platform that empowers high school students through impactful internships. We built a fully functional prototype, developed marketing materials, and established partnerships with six non-profit organizations. Internect was one of the few startups to meet LaunchX’s stringent criteria for "business viability."
To help my peers develop important life skills, I started a financial literacy club in my freshman year. I vetted educational resources, organized speaker series, and prepared our members for nationwide competitions. We placed second in the year-long session of the Stock Market Game and were top scorers in the National Personal Finance Challenge.
Avid Researcher
Frequent discussions at our dinner table about electric vehicles inspired me to delve deeper into the rapidly evolving landscape of green technologies. Over the course of six months, I examined the role of batteries in accelerating the electrification of transportation and enabling the transition to renewable energy generation. I compiled information from secondary sources, conducted original analysis, and summarized my findings in a research paper titled: “Cost of Battery Storage: A Catalyst for Electric Vehicle Adoption.” (published in the International Journal for High School Research)
Digital Artist
Throughout high school, I used my digital art skills to enhance my work and support my many passions. For example, I developed creative flyers to promote service initiatives sponsored by Project 351 and STEM outreach events organized by my FTC team. In my free time, I enjoy capturing the beauty of the natural world through landscape and macro photography. My artistic talents allow me to augment my ideas with powerful visuals and increase their impact.
Just for Fun
RC Cars: A birthday gift from an indulgent grandparent quickly evolved into a hobby. Not only did I become a skilled driver, but by modifying my cars to achieve higher performance and durability, I further honed my engineering skills.
Model Trains: After visiting a museum while vacationing in New Hampshire, I became obsessed with the world of model trains. I spent a fun summer meticulously constructing my own model from scratch. I dedicated countless hours to sculpting landscapes, designing complex track layouts, and creating intricate miniatures.
Tennis: From the day I first picked up a racket, I was hooked. I trained competitively at a local club and went on to captain my high school's varsity team. To this day, I seize every available opportunity to hit the courts.
- Designed and developed by Sava Kassev