Student Spotlight

Senior Spotlight: Yalini K. ’26’s Road to Johns Hopkins

August 6, 2026 by aixuanwang Leave a Comment

Family. That’s the theme that Yalini came back to again and again as she talked about her time at BASIS Independent McLean. “Because of the small class sizes,” she said, “you have the opportunity to get really close with your classmates, and also really close with your teachers.”

That sense of community was there from day one, when she joined BIM in grade 9, attracted by the school’s rigor. She remembers teaming up with Joel C. and Avi F. on orientation day in a contest to build the tallest tower out of popsicle sticks. She became especially close with her carpool crew of Soumil B., Saaketh V., and Anvika V. At Homecoming that year, she remembers falling over while taking a picture with everyone from her grade. “So there’s a photo of me falling,” she said with a smile. “That’s a fond memory.”

Yalini excelled academically, eventually getting accepted to Johns Hopkins, but even in thinking back on her classes, she kept coming back to family. She remembers grade 9 biology and psychology fondly because she made so many friends. She says AP Literature was her favorite class because “we were very into literature and very close-knit.” At the end of the year, the class produced a chapbook – a collection of poetry, prose, and art. “We all collaborated to make it, and it had a lot of love and effort put into it.” The project sums up her experience as a student: lots of effort, fueled by teamwork and genuine affection for her classmates.

That community feeling extended outside the classroom. She was the school media manager for Science Olympiad and “put a lot of effort into my posts, taking pictures of everybody. And since Science Olympiad is a good mix of almost every grade at BIM, it let me meet a lot of other students that I didn’t normally interact with. It’s again like going kind of back to the idea of like a close-knit family.”

She also found that family feeling in debate, even if she only started because her dad made her. “I had really bad anxiety throughout middle school,” Yalini says, “and didn’t like talking to a lot of people. My dad wanted me to learn to talk more and to get out of my comfort zone.” It was hard at first, but even though debate sometimes stressed her out, Yalini loved the teamwork aspect of it. “It’s a collaboration between the whole team.” She remembers a moment before Metro finals last year, when she spent a Friday prepping with Richard P., Aarya V., Rishik P., Ben R., and Soumil B. “We shared notes. We debated each other. Then, when we went to get lunch together, we accidentally left Ben behind, and he came running after the car. It’s still something I laugh about to this day.”

The sense of community also saw her through a sometimes stressful college application process. But, as Yalini advises future seniors, “It’s ok to be stressed. It’s ok to be scared. Those are normal feelings. But if you take a step back, you’ll realize that it’s not the end of the world.” It helped that she took ownership of the process early on. “I put my foot down with my dad,” she says. “I told him, ‘Just let me do it. I’ll be okay.’ And I think the best work a student can put into their college application comes when they have the freedom to do it themselves.”

It certainly worked for Yalini, who got in Early Decision to Hopkins. She says she loves the campus, the dorms, and the students she’s met, and she’s excited about the research opportunities, especially in her fields of psychology and neuroscience. We hope she finds the same tight-knit community there that she enjoyed at BIM, and we wish her the best of luck!

BASIS Independent McLean is an Age 2–Grade 12 private school, providing students with an internationally benchmarked liberal arts and sciences curriculum, with advanced STEM offerings. Considering joining the Red-Tailed Hawks community? To join our interest list for the next school year and receive admissions updates and more, please click here.

Senior Spotlight: Aarya V. ’26’s Road to Stanford

July 30, 2026 by aixuanwang Leave a Comment

“I remember my first day, orientation day,” Aarya said at the start of our interview. “We did this building competition where we had to build a tower out of popsicle sticks and tape. And that was fun…

“cause I’m pretty competitive.”

Pretty competitive is something of an understatement.

When he started at BASIS Independent McLean in grade 9, Aarya says he “wanted to be the best academically, the best outside of school. I also wanted to have the most friends” (which, he pointed out with a wry chuckle, is not a great way to look at friendship). So he did everything.

“I signed up for like five APs and every club I could think of: Quiz Bowl, debate, Model UN. I started a news channel. I ran for house government. I also did karate after school for like four hours every day.” Two weeks in, Mr. Lentz sat him down, looked at his schedule, and asked him what he was thinking.

Aarya learned to cut back, but he still juggles so many activities that one wonders where he finds the time. And he’s still competitive. He wanted to get into every college he applied to – Harvard, Stanford, UNC, and UC Berkeley, on a Morehead-Cain scholarship – and he did. But he’s come a long way from the kid whose driving motivation was to be the best at everything.

The biggest change, he says, has been in terms of authenticity. Early on in high school, he felt like “there was a lot of splitting myself up into different personalities based on what fits best for that role. I think that trying to preserve the true Aarya has been a very big change.”

Aarya leading the House Event with fellow house leaders.

So who is the true Aarya?

He’s enthusiastic. In the last four years, he’s started an online tutoring business, done research at labs at Harvard and Stanford, worked for a nonprofit delivering prosthetics to developing nations, competed in the BASIS business competition, debated, TAed classes, taught karate, and done an internship at MITRE. And he’s done all of it with a smile on his face.

He’s curious. Mr. Ramsby noted that he often saw Aarya talking with teachers after class, digging deeper into whatever the topic of the day was. Dr. Hight remembers mentioning the Ship of Theseus to Aarya early in the fall of his senior year, which led to Aarya spending two weeks reading everything he could on the philosophy of identity and developing a mathematical formula to try to prove psychological unity.

His curiosity is perhaps best demonstrated, though, by his AP Research project. Aarya could have dug deeper into his research on the computer modeling of blood flow or delved more deeply into math or computer science. Instead, he explored a different passion: pizza. He did it in the most Aarya way possible: with a complex experimental procedure and sophisticated statistical analysis to determine the ideal technique for making official-quality Neapolitan pizza – which normally requires an 800-degree brick oven – in a conventional home oven.

Aarya says it taught him the importance of being passionate about your work. But he also learned that the biggest rewards don’t always come from the work itself or the article that it produces. “A byproduct of doing these pizza experiments,” he says, “was that I made so much pizza that I had a lot of moments when I invited friends over to my house to try it. It ended up being a lot of fun. And I bonded with my dad, too, because he also loves making pizza.”

Aarya presenting his Senior Project to his classmates in the school parking lot.

Those bonding moments reflect something else important about Aarya: he’s caring.

There’s a moment, he says, that he comes back to at least once every couple of weeks. He was in Trinidad, helping to distribute and fit prosthetics for kids who had never had them. His very first fitting was for a thirteen-year-old boy named Mario, who had never walked. While Aarya struggled to fit the prosthetic, he talked to Mario about how hard it was living in a wheelchair. It wasn’t just that Mario had missed out on sports and a host of other experiences. He said that being in a wheelchair – being lower than everyone else – meant he was routinely left out in everyday conversations.

Aarya remembers that when he finally got the prosthetic on, and Mario was able to stand, “his mom came to me, and she was crying, and she gave me a really big hug. I always come back to this moment to remind myself that everything I’m doing is for moments like this: to give people these experiences that will benefit their life for much longer than I’m in the world.”

Aarya (left) and Rishik P. ’27 (right) meeting with Indian Ambassador Harsh Vardhan (center) and presenting Jaipur Foot, their non-profit project in Trinidad.

That’s Aarya. He’s energetic, outgoing, curious, compassionate, and wise beyond his years. He says that from the start of high school he dreamed of getting into Stanford, but after he got in, “I was happy for maybe twenty-four hours before it faded.” Looking back, he says, he realizes that the things that really mattered are “the happy moments I had. It’s like the moment I had with Mario, the fun I had with my friends, the times chatting and laughing with teachers after class. That’s what I’m going to take away.”

After all the AP classes and lab work and internships, that’s the most important thing Aarya learned at BASIS Independent McLean. It’s not about winning. It’s about the journey.

We wish him all the best and many more happy moments as he continues that journey next fall at Stanford!

From Dream to Reality: Aditya N.’s Football Journey to the University of Rochester

July 24, 2026 by ezekielbracamonte Leave a Comment

For many student-athletes, the idea of playing at the collegiate level begins as a dream. For BASIS Independent Silicon Valley graduate Aditya N., that dream became a reality through persistence, discipline, and a willingness to bet on himself—even when the path forward was uncertain. This fall, Aditya will continue his academic and athletic journey at the University of Rochester, where he plans to study finance while contributing to the football program.

Like many young athletes, Aditya’s football journey began with a dream of competing at the highest level. Over time, that dream evolved into something deeper, with football becoming a source of growth, discipline, and life lessons. “My goal now is to use football as a means to be successful in any career path that I take,” he shared.

That mindset guided him throughout the recruiting process and ultimately led him to the University of Rochester, where the program’s C.L.I.M.B. philosophy—Commitment, Little Things, Intensity, Movement, and Belief—aligned closely with his own values. Rochester’s emphasis on balancing academics and athletics also stood out, reflecting the same priorities Aditya maintained throughout his time at BISV.

His path was not without challenges. During his sophomore and junior years, Aditya continued training despite not having a team to play for, staying committed to his goal even when the opportunity ahead was uncertain. That resilience also shaped his experience at BISV, where he helped establish the school’s football program. Through that process, he learned the importance of taking initiative, embracing challenges, and believing in what is possible.

BASIS Independent Silicon Valley’s inaugural tackle football team.

Behind his success is a strong support system that helped guide and motivate him throughout his journey. He credits his parents, coach, and close friends for shaping both his character and work ethic. From long drives to practices to demanding training sessions, their consistent support played a critical role in his development both on and off the field.

Aditya and his parents celebrate his signing to the University of Rochester.

Looking ahead, Aditya is focused on making an immediate impact at Rochester. On the field, he aims to contribute wherever the team needs him, with the goal of earning playing time early in his collegiate career. In the classroom, he is eager to take advantage of Rochester’s open curriculum to explore different academic paths while building toward a future in finance.

Reflecting on his journey, Aditya hopes others understand what it truly takes to reach this level. “Seemingly impossible things are never out of reach,” he said. “Anything remarkable is characterized as rare or unlikely—that’s what gives it value. My advice… would be to tune out the noise, throw the statistics in the trash, and bet on yourself.”

Aditya’s story is one of determination, initiative, and belief. The entire BISV community is proud to celebrate his accomplishments and looks forward to all he will achieve at the University of Rochester and beyond.

BASIS Independent Silicon Valley is a TK – Grade 12 private school, providing students with an internationally benchmarked liberal arts and sciences curriculum, with advanced STEM offerings. Considering joining the Bobcat community? To join our interest list for the next school year and receive admissions updates and more, please click here.

Senior Spotlight: Alan M. ’26’s Road to Berkeley

July 1, 2026 by aixuanwang Leave a Comment

“I’m ready to brag!”

Alan declared when he sat down to be interviewed. Alan is not given to bragging, so this demanded an explanation. “There aren’t a lot of moments in life,” he went on to explain, “when people notice your accomplishments. Graduating from high school is one, and I’m going to take advantage of it.” He said this with a knowing smile that suggested he was joking.

Sort of.

Because Alan does have every reason to be proud. He has left his mark on BASIS Independent McLean. He’ll be remembered for his dry humor, the WWE-style wrestling match he held for the December talent show, and his sleeping mat in the Reading Room, which he donated to future classes. And the list of schools he was admitted to this spring is equally impressive: Berkeley, Duke, Michigan, Emory, Rice, UCLA, UNC, UVA, and Washington University.

Alan arrived at this point with good humor, a big personality, and hard work. It all started in 8^th grade, when he joined BIM after four years in the US and a year spent in China due to COVID. Alan settled in at BIM quickly. He recalls meeting students in orientation that he is still friends with today. Academically, he felt like he was up to speed after only a few months.

The one thing that did take time, Alan says, was coming out of his shell. It’s safe to say that with the support of teachers and his fellow students, he had certainly overcome any shyness by the time he was a junior in high school. His teachers remember him as bold and funny.

Madame Sèye recalls a time on a French exam when Alan encountered a free-response question to which he didn’t know the answer. Rather than leave it blank, Alan wrote an entire page flattering French President Emmanuel Macron. He reasoned that since Madame Sèye had mentioned she thought Macron was handsome, a heartfelt tribute to the president might earn him extra points. “I had to admire his creativity and confidence,” she concludes. “His essay had absolutely nothing to do with the prompt, but it did earn a permanent place in French class history!”

BIM also helped Alan focus on his future. He shares, “Even in eighth grade, I knew I wanted to go into finance… but I didn’t really know what it was!” That changed in AP Economics in his ninth-grade year. “It transformed how I see the world and led me to the path I’m on now.”

That path has involved a lot of work outside of school, helping others with their finances. For three years, Alan worked with the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program. It was a lot more than just a way to polish his resume. He recalls spending two hours helping a woman who came in clutching crumpled pay stubs and receipts save a few hundred dollars on her taxes. Tears in her eyes, she told him she would use the money to buy a tablet for her son’s schoolwork. Alan used the skills he learned in the IRS program to create a website that helps immigrants with taxes. This last year, his Senior Project explored how family businesses responded to the COVID crisis, with the goal of creating a playbook to help these businesses cope with systemic economic crises.

Alan presenting on his Senior Project topic: Credit Access and Financial Resilience of Local Small Businesses During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Between volunteering and school, Alan had a heavy workload, which he handled in two ways. First, he kept school and home separate. “I didn’t work on school stuff at home at all,” he says. He took advantage of lunch, free time during the day, and time right after school to get his work done. Second, he practiced martial arts seven days a week to keep himself centered. As a kid, he said he played tennis, basketball, and soccer, but as he grew older, he was drawn to what he calls the “directness” of martial arts. He did boxing, kickboxing, wushu, kung fu, and jiu-jitsu.

All of this helped Alan remain calm as he entered the college application process, which he mostly enjoyed.

“I liked how we were all working together towards the same goal.”

The part he didn’t like was the writing. He said it was hard to make himself vulnerable in his personal statement. It took eight drafts for him to get it where he liked it.

And it worked! Of all the schools he was accepted into, Alan found himself choosing between Duke, Berkeley, and Michigan. Michigan, he says, was out because it was too cold. He liked Duke, but Berkeley offered him in-state tuition. That, combined with their excellent business program, tipped the scales. In the end, it was a “very, very, very easy choice.” Alan is excited that he will be joined there by fellow BIM grads Gabe Z. and Adithya P.

Next fall, Alan will bring his warmth and good humor to the West Coast. We wish him the best of luck!

Senior Spotlight: Alina A. ’26’s Road to Oxford

June 23, 2026 by aixuanwang Leave a Comment

When Head of School Kate Reynolds thinks of Alina A. ’26, she thinks of the same thing most of us do: a wisp of a girl carrying a mountain of books. “I have known her since she was in grade 4,” Ms. Reynolds says, “when the books she carried around looked comically large for her. She’s grown taller, but the books are still just as intimidating!”

In Alina’s own words, “The central, defining feature of my life is that I really like reading and writing.” Her college personal statement was about how books have shaped her understanding of herself and the world. That love of books has led her all the way to Oxford University, where she’ll be studying literature next year.

Alina’s road to Oxford began ten years ago, when she joined BASIS Independent McLean in our very first year. Back then, she says, “I was shyer about having special interests. I really wanted to be on that STEM track the way everyone else was.” She credits her middle and high school English teachers with helping her realize that “I can do what I want, and it’s fine.”

In grade 5, she wrote a twenty-page story about a modern pantheon of gods in response to a two-page assignment. In eighth-grade English, she began combining her love of literature and art by illustrating scenes from novels for book-report projects. By the time she took AP Literature in grade 11, she was reading books on literary theory, consuming two to three novels a week, and taking classroom assignments to the next level. “Like one time,” she recalls, “we had an assignment to do a basic outline. I asked if I could use the windows and create this project where I would illustrate each scene and then break it down and annotate it.’” For the rest of the semester, the classroom windows were covered with Alina’s beautifully illustrated annotations.

Alina’s love of literature and art extended outside the classroom. She has entered numerous poetry competitions, mentored young writers, and tutored others in writing. She has also spent years creating an art portfolio filled with works inspired by literature. In short, she’s done what every college Dean of Admissions advises students to do: find what you enjoy and lean into it.

The mixing of her two passions culminated in her creation of the senior mural, signed by each of the graduating seniors and inspired by a Margaret Atwood quote that she loved: “In the end, we are all stories.”

When it came time to apply to college, Alina’s clear love of learning earned her admission to many top universities, including Cornell, Emory, William & Mary, St. John’s, and Oxford. Alina recalls that the application process was often stressful, but the Oxford application was actually fun. She had two hour-long interviews with Oxford professors and was delighted to talk about poetry and books with people who loved them just as much as she did. That mutual love of literature is why she chose Oxford, and it is no doubt a huge part of why they chose her.

Now, the girl with the book is off to read at the Bodleian! All the best to you, Alina!

Alina proudly showing her graduation cap, which she decorated with the phrase, “Read my way to the Bodleian.”

Global Finance And Fearless Curiosity Collide: Brookfield Investors Visit Our Upper School

May 29, 2026 by christineklayman Leave a Comment

What happens when some of the world’s leading institutional investors step inside an NYC private school powered by fearless, independent thinking?

[Read more…]

BASIS Independent Silicon Valley Quiz Bowl Earns National Recognition at Middle School National Championship

May 28, 2026 by ezekielbracamonte Leave a Comment

The BASIS Independent Silicon Valley Quiz Bowl team earned an impressive 8th-place finish at the 2026 NAQT Middle School National Championship Tournament, held May 8–10, 2026, in Chicago, Illinois. Competing against 192 teams from across the country, the result marks the program’s first national-level trophy since 2018. The tournament is widely regarded as the pinnacle of middle school academic competition in the United States.

Qualifying for the national championship alone is considered a major accomplishment, particularly within the highly competitive Northern California Quiz Bowl circuit. BISV entered the tournament as one of the top-ranked teams in the nation after winning multiple regional tournaments throughout the season, carrying that momentum into one of the strongest national fields in recent years.

Team members from left, Andrew F., Ishani D., Ishaan D., and Aditya H.

What makes the team’s achievement especially remarkable is the composition of the roster. Despite being one of the younger teams competing at the tournament, the group worked together to secure a top-10 national finish and establish BISV among the country’s elite middle school Quiz Bowl programs.

The National Championship result also capped an exceptional season for Ishaan D. Earlier this year, he was named NAQT Middle School Player of the Week by the National Academic Quiz Tournaments organization, a national recognition awarded to standout players during the regular season. At the national championship tournament, he also earned an All-Star Award, an honor reserved for the top 30 highest-scoring individual competitors across the entire field. These accomplishments follow his Rising Star Award earned at the 2025 National Championship, further establishing him as one of the nation’s most accomplished middle school Quiz Bowl competitors.

The 2026 National Championship team included Ishaan D. (Grade 8) as captain, along with Grade 6 students Aditya H., Andrew F., and Ishani D. as team members. The team’s achievement was also featured in the Mercury News, highlighting this exciting milestone on a broader stage.

Congratulations to the BISV Quiz Bowl team on an outstanding season and a historic national finish.

Redefining Student Agency in the Financial World

May 1, 2026 by christineklayman Leave a Comment

Josh A. (Class of 2027) remembers watching the markets long before he had a portfolio of his own. Seeing the data move on a Bloomberg terminal at home sparked a curiosity about what it takes to “see the green” on a trade. During high school at BASIS Independent Manhattan, he found peers who shared that same drive. Along with fellow juniors Aidan B. and Finn B., they launched the Upper School Investment Club—a student-led initiative that has quickly become a standout example of high-level academic application and student initiative.

Recently, these student leaders met with Michael Collins, CEO of Spring Education Group (SEG), at the Upper School campus in Chelsea to discuss the future of financial literacy and their club’s unprecedented trajectory in the New York City education landscape.

The founding investors club students stand on the staircase inside the Upper School with CEO of Spring Education Group (SEG) Michael Collins and club advisor, Kirk Murphy. — From L to R: Mr. Murphy (Club Advisor), Josh A., Aidan B., Finn B., and Mr. Collins (CEO, SEG)

A Flight Simulator for Money Management

At BASIS Independent Manhattan, our students can begin taking economics in grade 8 and complete the AP level by the end of their junior year. What makes our students unique is how they engage with finance and the economy as active participants.

Like a pilot practicing in a “flight simulator,” our Investment Club leaders have created a space to implement practical skills in real-life situations without the immediate risk of real-world capital. They run mock trials, build separate portfolios, and rigorously analyze their performance every two weeks. This methodology has already yielded results: in the Trading Day Competition hosted by the Stevens Institute of Technology, Josh A. secured 1st place and Aidan B. took 3rd place among over 800 participants.

A classroom for economics class has a game set up with a Market Tally sheet on the board, worksheets on a desk, and buyer-trader cards laid out. — During their required economics course in high school, BASIS Independent Manhattan students get a taste of the real financial world when they act as buyers and sellers trying to make the highest profits by trading in an “In The Chips” activity.

The Path to a Real-World Endowment

However, for these students, simulations are only the beginning. The meeting with Mr. Collins represented a major milestone: presenting a “proof of concept” to secure SEG leadership’s support for an unprecedented high school model.

The club’s ultimate goal is to transition from mock portfolios to managing a real-money endowment that stays with the school’s Investment Club. By demonstrating their rigorous risk-management strategies and analytical mastery, the students are seeking the buy-in and investment necessary to trade with real capital—a level of responsibility not traditionally seen at the high school level.

**Mastery Through Winning and Losing**

To prepare for that responsibility, the students have developed a sophisticated understanding of risk. They have learned that true mastery often means learning what not to do through winning, and learning what to do through losing.

While their 1st and 3rd place finishes at Stevens brought returns of up to 400% in a month, the students reflected on the experience with a critical eye. “The Stevens competition actually taught us the wrong things,” the leaders shared during the roundtable. “You can go ‘all in’ every time and win in a simulation, but that is just not true in the real world.”

The club saw a different kind of value when they competed in the Wharton Global Youth Program Investment Competition. Though they didn’t take home the top prize, the experience was a catalyst for growth. “Here’s what we did wrong: we didn’t meet the client’s expectations. What we need to do is change our philosophy,” they noted. This ability to identify failure and pivot is exactly why their Investment Club has a strong future.

The 11 students in the 2025-26 Young Investors Club stand in a classroom taking a photo for the yearbook.

Redefining Student Agency in NYC

The conversation with Michael Collins highlighted a core belief at our school: that student agency has no age limit.

“You guys are a concrete example that any high schooler can do this,” shared Mr. Collins. “There’s no requirement to be an adult or a college graduate. At any point in your life, you can start managing money.”

Mr. Collins was particularly impressed by how the founders translated their personal success into a structured peer-to-peer mentorship program, demystifying complex financial systems for the rest of the student body.

The Wildcat Edge

For colleges and universities, Aidan, Finn, and Josh represent the gold standard of grit. They go beyond the BASIS Curriculum, applying the logic learned from their Subject Expert Teachers to identify market trends and manage real-world risk.
For NYC families, this club represents our mission in practice. Students take the techniques acquired in the classroom and apply them to their own inquiries, developing the resilience required for the world’s most competitive environments.

Join Our Wildcat Community

Are you curious about how the BASIS Independent Manhattan experience prepares each child for success? We invite prospective families to visit our campuses and speak with our leadership and students.

Middle School Program Tour (Grades 5-8): May 13
High School Program Tour (Grades 9-12): May 21

Register to Visit Our School Today

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Leading with Purpose: Shogun R. Receives NJHS Outstanding Achievement Award

April 23, 2026 by ezekielbracamonte Leave a Comment

We are proud to celebrate Grade 7 student Shogun R., who has been recognized with the prestigious National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) Outstanding Achievement Award—a national honor that highlights exceptional scholarship, service, leadership, character, and citizenship.

For Shogun, the award represents more than recognition—it reflects the values he strives to live by every day.

“Winning the NJHS Outstanding Achievement Award is incredibly meaningful to me because it validates that hard work, kindness, and a dedication to learning are impactful,” he shared. “It reminds me that being a good person and having a strong work ethic can turn all my dreams into reality.”

Shogun’s journey to this achievement has been shaped by both his leadership and his commitment to service. After earning the NJHS Pillar of Character recognition in the 2024–2025 school year, he stepped into the role of NJHS Vice President, where he helped lead initiatives and create new opportunities for student involvement.

“Volunteering at a variety of local community agencies helped me better understand the needs of our community,” he explained. “I wanted to make community service more accessible for middle school students and create opportunities for others to get involved.”

As Vice President, Shogun strengthened his leadership through collaboration and communication—working closely with fellow NJHS members and advisors to organize meetings, plan agendas, and bring ideas to life.

“I’ve honed my skills through respectful interactions and positive engagement with my peers and teachers,” he said.

Behind his success is a strong network of mentors and supporters. Shogun credits NJHS advisors Ms. Mujic and Mr. Salazar, along with Director of Student Affairs Ms. Moorthy, for helping him grow as a leader and encouraging him to use his voice to make a positive impact.

He also draws inspiration from his teachers and family. “My teachers consistently bring positivity and passion into the classroom, even with a rigorous workload,” he noted. “At home, my parents have supported me through academics, community service, and even the demands of competitive fencing, always reminding me to maintain balance and wellbeing.”

His NJHS advisor, Ms. Mujic, shared her pride in his accomplishments: “I am pleased to hear Shogun was named a recipient of the NJHS Outstanding Achievement Award! Shogun has been a stellar example of the five pillars of NJHS for our campus community. He has done an excellent job as Vice President of our chapter this year, consistently demonstrating strong leadership, responsibility, and initiative.”

Looking ahead, Shogun remains focused on growth and impact. He hopes to continue developing creative solutions to support his community while maintaining excellence in his academic pursuits.

To students considering NJHS or leadership opportunities, his advice is simple but powerful:
“Don’t be afraid to try something new. Leadership can start with being thoughtful, respectful, and kind. It’s not just about academic success—it’s about how you help improve the lives of others.”

Shogun’s achievement is a reflection of both his dedication and his character, and we are excited to see the continued impact he will make in our community and beyond.

BASIS Independent Silicon Valley is a TK–Grade 12 private school, offering an internationally benchmarked liberal arts and sciences curriculum, with advanced STEM offerings. Considering joining the Bobcat community? To join our interest list for the next school year and receive admissions updates and more, please click here.

Student Spotlight: Ishani D. Advances to the Scripps National Spelling Bee

April 2, 2026 by ezekielbracamonte Leave a Comment

Ishani D. (Grade 6) recently competed in the Scripps Regional Spelling Bee on Sunday, March 29, where she placed among the top four students, qualifying for the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. this May. The Bay Area regional is known for its high level of competition, bringing together top spellers from across the region.

Ishani has been building toward this achievement over several years, having participated in spelling competitions since Grade 4. Her preparation for the regional bee centered on the Words of the Champions list, a core resource for competitive spellers. Over time, she has developed a strong understanding of spelling patterns and word origins, which helps her approach unfamiliar words with greater confidence—an important skill in later rounds of competition.

“I am really excited that I was able to qualify for the Nationals. It is such a prestigious tournament! I will prepare hard and give it my best shot!”

Following the regional bee, Ishani described an initial sense of surprise at qualifying, which quickly shifted to excitement as she connected with other participants and families and began preparing for the next stage of competition.

In preparation for Nationals, Ishani is using the Merriam-Webster app as a primary study tool. Her plan includes daily practice of about an hour, along with longer study sessions on weekends. This consistent approach reflects the level of commitment typically required to compete at the national level.

“Our school could not be more proud of Ishani’s success at the Regional Spelling Bee. This impressive achievement is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our Bobcats. We look forward to cheering her on at Nationals.” — Mr. Henriquez, Associate Head of School

Ishani will represent the BISV community at the Scripps National Spelling Bee this May, joining top student spellers from across the country.