Class Of 2013 Valedictorians And Salutatorians
The younger generation of our community continues to amaze. From winning national spelling bees and science competitions to excelling in dance and music, Indian American students truly demonstrate the results of the impact of hard work and perseverance. This month, we recognize the valedictorians and salutatorians of the class of 2013. These students followed a rigorous schedule and pursued advanced academics to achieve the prized accomplishment of being in the top two of their graduation classes.
Desh-Videsh congratulates these young academics and wishes them well as they continue their educational journey.
Information from the South Florida Sun Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
Sanjay Poonaisingh 
Salutatorian
School: Forest Hill High
Hometown: West Palm Beach, Florida
GPA: 3.98
College: Florida Gulf Coast University
Major: Environmental Engineering
Parents: Steve and Mohanie Poonaisingh
Academic Awards: Academic honor roll (4 years); Passed AP Environmental with a 5, AP World History and AP US History both with 3; Took Sunshine State Scholars Assessment for Mathematics and Science, November 15th 2011; Competed in Science Fair and went to county competition twice at the South Florida Fairgrounds; Won the essay contest for Radio Green Earth last year; Received honors for doing field studies at Loxahatchee Impoundment Land Assessment (LILA); Pathfinders Award Nominee in Science 2013.
Future job or position? I am planning to pursue a career in environmental engineering, which involves various aspects such as sustain ability of resources such as water, organism protection, treatment of hazardous waste and pollution, protecting air quality and restoration. It also involves designing facilities/programs, management of systems, regulations and evaluations. It also mixes experience with working in labs and outdoors. I am definitely someone who would love to work in the outdoors. My main goal is to contribute to all the fields of science by creating new technologies that will benefit the environment and people.
What is your favorite quote? “In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.” -Abraham Lincoln
If you could have breakfast with anyone, who would it be and why? Steve Irwin, since I developed my love of nature by watching his shows and trying to imitate what he did although that was not the best of ideas.
Which issue (global or local) is close to your heart, and why? The protection of the environment, since many people neglect it and don’t give the planet a second thought.
What is your little-known talent? I can dance pretty well.
Extracurricular Activities: Summer volunteer at Palm Beach County Library System beginning my tenth grade year. I started packing books through circulation and helping in the kids section.
Joy Hitesh Patel 
Salutatorian
School: Deerfield Beach High
Hometown: Tamarac, Florida
GPA: 5.5755
College: Duke University
Major: Statistics
Parents: Hitesh and Darpita Patel
Academic Awards: In my Mu Alpha Theta Florida math competitions, I averaged 2nd best overall in the state in Statistics (2012) and 4th best overall the state in Calculus (2013) via an award known as the Squirty Chicken Award. I had also helped my school receive a $4000 grant via a Black History tournament sponsored by the Miami Heat. I won the AP Scholar with Distinction Award (2012) for high scores on AP Exams. I have also qualified for the Broward County Silver Cord (for 250+ hours of community service).
Future job or position? I would like to pursue a job in finance. Ideally, I want to become a financial analyst for a corporation or big business.
What is your favorite quote? “A business that makes nothing but money is a poor business.” – Henry Ford
If you could have breakfast with anyone, who would it be and why? I would love to have breakfast with Leonhard Euler. Euler is my favorite mathematician; as such, in my breakfast with him, I would aim to gain insight as to how Euler mathematically thought, approached problems, developed intuition, etc.
Which issue (global or local) is close to your heart, and why? An issue close to my heart is that of education. I always feel that many teachers are teaching simply for the sake of getting students to pass a test (FCAT, AP Exam, etc.); too much of this involves pointless memorizing of information. This is not how education should be. Education should be based on conceptual learning that we can apply theoretically and realistically. While grades and tests are important, I think it is more important to get an education for the sake of learning and developing interest.
What is your little-known talent? My little known talent is transforming everything into mathematical terms and reasoning.
Extracurricular Activities: Mu Alpha Theta (MAO): In MAO, I compete individually and on a team in math competitions. My highest accomplishments include achieving the 2nd best overall individual Statistics ranking (2012) and 4th best overall individual Calculus ranking.
Somya Ranjan Sha
Valedictorian
School: Miramar High School
Hometown: Miramar, Florida
GPA: 5.65
College: University of Miami
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Parents: Tushar and Jayashree Sha
Academic Awards: FSU Young Scholar, National AP Scholar, Harvard Book Award
Future job or position? I plan to pursue a career in biomedical engineering. This filed combines all of my passions in school: biology, chemistry, and physics. As a biomedical engineer, I can play an active role in the creation of new technology in medicine as well as use my own knowledge and creativity into all aspects of my career
What is your favorite quote? “We are what we repeatedly do; excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.” – Aristotle
If you could have breakfast with anyone, who would it be and why? I would have breakfast with Albert Einstein to understand how he came up with the method for revolutionizing modern physics
Which issue (global or local) is close to your heart, and why? I care about malnutrition in poverty stricken areas. Humans produce enough food to feed every person on the planet, yet some starve while others live in decadence and waste the food that is given to them. I feel that malnutrition is an avodiable problem in our society and should be addressed as quickly as possible.
What is your little-known talent? Amateur Magic Card Tricks
Extracurricular Activities: Mu Alpha Theta Math honor Society Treasurer, National Honor Society Secretary, SECME Bridge Building and Bottle Rocket team, Key Club
Vishal Garbaran 
Salutatorian
chool: South Plantation High
Hometown: Plantation, Florida
GPA: 5.3113
College: University of Florida
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Parents: Haitram and Shanta Garbaran
Academic Awards: National AP Scholar Senior Symposium – Superior Project Solar Research Fair child Challenge – 1st place FIRST Tech Challenge – 1st Place County Level Magnet Program – Environmental Steward Student Astronaut Challenge – 2nd place Outstanding Achievement – AP Physics B AP Scholar with Distinction SECME – 3rd place Under class Awards – Algebra 2 Honors Under class Awards – Technology Studies 1
Future job or position? I plan on pursuing a career in research to develop cures for various diseases and improve people’s quality of life.
What is your favorite quote? “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”
If you could have breakfast with anyone, who would it be and why? If I could have breakfast with anyone, I would have it with Nikola Tesla. Tesla was a man ahead of his time, he created and discovered many things, such as DC current, and offered many of his discoveries for free just to advance science and society.
Which issue (global or local) is close to your heart, and why? An issue that is close to my heart is the human condition. In every corner of the world people are suffering. America, Europe, Asia, Africa, no matter where you look people are suffering. Many times they suffer needlessly, caught in the middle of wars and corruption or unable to afford the basic necessities, or simply unable to get the help they need. We have the technology and the knowledge today to do something about this and yet we don’t. I wish to do something about it, something to alleviate the suffering. I hate seeing people suffer, and as a society, we have no excuse to allow this to happen, especially when we have the ability to change it.
What is your little-known talent? My little-known talent is that I’m rather good at solving problems, hence I have a talent for video games.
Extracurricular Activities: Student Astronaut Challenge Mu Alpha Theta Fair child National Honor Society SPHS Engineering
Vineet Nadkarni
Valedictorian
School: Saint Andrews School
Hometown: Boca Raton
GPA: 4.0 (unweighted)
College: Duke University
Major: Neuroscience
Parents: Sandhya and Sachit Nadkarni
Academic Awards: Pathfinder Nominee- Academic Excellence Academic Excellence Awards for AP Physics, AP Macroeconomics, AP Microeconomics, AP Biology, AP English Literature, AP BC Calculus, AP European History, AP US History, AP Spanish Language, AP Spanish Literature, AP Chemistry, AP English Language, World History I Honors, Physics Honors, Spanish III Honors, Pre-Calculus Honors, English 9 Honors, Chemistry Honors, and Percussion Ensemble. Headmaster’s List National Merit Scholar Cum Laude Society Member AP Scholar with Distinction Award. AP Scholar with Honor Award. Princeton Book Award
Future job or position? I want to be a neuroscientist because neuroscience is a relatively new field of study in which lots of breakthroughs have yet to be achieved. I want to study disorders of the CNS and hopefully find a cure for the betterment of society
What is your favorite quote? “The harder I work, the more luck I have” If you could have breakfast with anyone, who would it be and why? Thomas Edison, as he was also a very hard worker and very innovative. He contributed positively to society
Which issue (global or local) is close to your heart, and why? Income Inequality / Poverty because, for example, it is sad to see children begging for money and food in India
What is your little-known talent? I play golf
Extracurricular Activities: School Band Concerts Jazz Band Music Performance Assessment Heritage Festivals Solo and Ensemble AMC / AIME, Florida Math League, Mu Alpha Theta Chemistry Olympiad National Youth Leadership Forum in Medicine English Essay Writing Competition- NC
Divya R. Sha
Salutatorian
School: Miramar High School
Hometown: Miramar, Florida
GPA: 5.6417
College: University of Miami
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Parents: Tushar and Jayashree Sha
Academic Awards: Harvard Book Award, Young Scholars Program Participant, AP Scholar with Distinction, Presidential Award in Mathematics, and Presidential Award in Biology
Future job or position? In the future I hope to working in a research lab. I went to the Young Scholars Program, and I had the opportunity to work with Dr. Paik of the biology department. I assisted her with an experiment researching possible modifiers of the cell cycle. I spent an enormous amount of time working in the lab, and I loved it. I want to go back to research.
What is your favorite quote? “If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.”– Albert Einstein
If you could have breakfast with anyone, who would it be and why? Mahatma Gandhi: he showed that one can show courage and fight for what they believe in without having to hurt others.
Which issue (global or local) is close to your heart, and why? World Hunger: although there is enough food in the world, there are still people that die every day because they can’t access it.
What is your little-known talent? Building houses of cards
Extracurricular Activities: President of Mu Alpha Theta Treasurer of National Honor Society, Bridge Building Team in SECME, Key Club, Volunteering at Memorial Hospital Miramar, and Horses for Handicapped
Mekha Mathew
Salutatorian
School: South Broward High
Hometown: Hollywood, Florida
GPA: 5.02
College: nova southeastern university
Major: Biology (Doctor of osteopathic program)
Parents: Mathew John and Ansamma Joseph
Academic Awards: Principal Honor Roll , NASA Space settlement contest honorable mention, state level winner of Malayalam recitation competition, Women of tomorrow scholarship winner, Hollywood rotary scholarship recipient, nova southeastern university dean scholarship recipient.
Future job or position? I want to pursue a career in medicine because I love the satisfaction of helping others and believe that by becoming a doctor I can make difference in the world.
What is your favorite quote? “ The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in service of others”- Mahatma Gandhi
If you could have breakfast with anyone, who would it be and why? I would love to have breakfast with Mother Teresa
Which issue (global or local) is close to your heart, and why? Our nation’s and our world’s current health care systems are in need of adjustment. I would like to be actively involved in finding solutions to the potential problems in the health care system.
What is your little-known talent? singing
Extracurricular Activities: choir at St Jude knanaya catholic church, English Honors Society (Treasurer, Technology Officer), National honors society, science honors society, Mu Alpha Theta, Women of tomorrow club, alternative energy club.
Sidhartha Sen
Valedictorian
School: Plantation High
Hometown: Sunrise, Florida
GPA: 5.6214
College: University of Florida
Major: Chemical Engineering
Parents’ names: Sanjib and Ratna Sen
Academic Awards: Quest bridge National College Match Finalist, Quest bridge College Prep Scholar, AP Scholar with Honor, Academic Achievement Award, IB Honor Roll, President’s Award for Educational Achievement, Moody’s Math Challenge Participant, Burger King Scholar, and Academic Department Achievement Award in Social Studies.
Future job or position? I plan to pursue a job in Chemical Engineering after hopefully acquiring a Masters Degree. I love the practicality and logic of the field. It is something I will definitely enjoy as a career and I hope to join management at a well-known firm.
What is your favorite quote? “For in dreams, we enter a world that’s entirely our own.” – Albus Dumbledore If you could have breakfast with anyone, who would it be and why? I would love to have breakfast with the philosopher, Socrates. He would probably have very interesting things to say and I’d love to test his mind to understand all of his inspirational thoughts. It also wouldn’t hurt to hear how the world was functioning centuries ago.
Which issue (global or local) is close to your heart, and why? Truly protecting civil rights against the corruption of the legal system. It is unfair how government sometimes acts with its own self interest without geniunely taking into account citizens’ opinions on matters. We elected representatives to represent us, not do their own thing.
What is your little-known talent? I can read people’s minds.
Extracurricular Activities: Key Club President, Mu Alpha Theta (Math Honor Society) President, Senior Class 1st Vice President, National Honor Society Treasurer, Student Government Treasurer, Save What’s Left Treasurer, and a member of the International Club.
