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Rudra Potluri - dreaming up the future

Rudra Aryan Potluri entered his second year of the Diploma Programme in August 2018, but he already has the makings of an academic. Unlike other academics, however, his studies aren’t purely theoretical. “My favourite extracurricular activity is engineering,” he says, “I spend most of my free time building robots, quadcopters, drones and smart home systems.”

Rudra has grown into himself since joining the Academy in 2013, most notably through the enrichment programme through which he discovered robotics and design. His work with robots stems from his enthusiasm for engineering, but Rudra has gone beyond just tinkering. “When I was learning robotics as part of enrichment, I never imagined that I would become captain of a robotics team,” said Rudra. Rudra captained a robotics team in January 2018 at the FIRST Lego League competition in Bengaluru. This was the first ever robotics competition that Academy students entered in.

“It didn’t stop there,” he continues, “the Academy provided a platform for me and my team to share our learning and knowledge with the community by letting us conduct a workshop for government schools.” Rudra was part of a team that hosted 48 grade six students for a day, teaching them about robotics and design. “The most unique thing about the Academy is that it doesn’t just stop at teaching, it makes sure that students apply their knowledge in the real world and give something back to society.” Rudra also participated in the Chinna Shodha Yatra, travelling around rural Andhra Pradesh to understand nuances of life in local communities.

In 2014, India's ambitious Mars Orbitor Mission came to fruition and Rudra had the opportunity to take part in a live telecast discussion about the mission on state TV. The following year, Rudra was selected as a Microsoft student ambassador and got to attend a workshop at the Microsoft headquarters in New Delhi. In grade 10, he used his MYP personal project as a chance to explore his interests in engineering and software and built a home automation system. "My aim was to make it for my grandparents, who are older and can’t move around as easily anymore,” he says about the Smarthome Automation System. His SAS, at ₹2,000 per room, is a cost effective alternative to existing systems in the market, which can cost upwards of ₹70,000. In the same year, Rudra showed initiative in his design project, choosing to build a quadcopter. The drone was created to support the Academy's existing security system.

In May 2018, outside robotics events, Rudra also headed the IT and design unit of the Academy’s first ever TEDx. It comes as no surprise then to know that Rudra is considering studying computer engineering after school. Rudra has applied to the Michigan Institute of Technology (MIT) in the USA, and the University of Waterloo, Canada.

Rudra earned a fellowship to spend the 2018 summer vacation in Ryerson University, Toronto, to take part in the Ryerson DMZ Sandbox Basecamp, a workshop for socially conscious young innovators. The urban university is a renowned research institution and we are positive Rudra's contribution will be significant and impactful.

Tvisha Devavarapu - Class of 2018 top scorer

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Tvisha Devavarapu, from the graduating class of 2018, was one of the Academy's two highest scorers in her IB exams with a 42/45. She is also the recipient of the Bowdoin College Book Award 2018. The award goes to students who demonstrate extraordinary service to the public good and an unusual passion for inquiry, discovery and innovative thinking. “Looking back, I've got to agree that all the hard work and effort that I had put in from grade 9, from football, to study, to service, actually ended up paying off! This award, to me, is a sign that reaffirms my faith in continual hard work and focus in a balanced manner,” she says.

Tvisha never shied away from sports and captained the Nizam house in her final year of school. She also loves reading and led the Academy's Modern Literature in Translations Club. At the same time, Tvisha was also excellent academically. “Football enabled me to balance my studies,” she says. “It was an exhilarating stress buster. I’ve never had more fun in school than whilst I was playing football.” She also attributes a lot of friendships she made to the game.

Tvisha joined the Academy in grade 9 because she felt that the school’s values aligned with hers. “The Academy’s mission statement offered a more promising and holistic learning experience compared to the other schools,” she said. Once at the Academy, Tvisha lapped up all she could of the IB curriculum. She enjoyed the objectivity in Biology and Maths classes, and also appreciated the nuances of History and English. She was an active participant in Theory of Knowledge discussions and service activities.

Tvisha volunteered at Teach for Change, an NGO that gave her the opportunity to teach at a public school. “I didn’t only aid the children with their communication and leadership skills but also worked on my own character and values,” she says of the experience. “I strengthened my commitment, resilience, and communication skills, learning to accept and react to challenges in a proactive manner.” Grade 11 students are actively encouraged to take part in summer service internships at locations across India, working with AKDN (Aga Khan Development Network) institutions and other non-profits. “The Academy has a very unique, highly diverse and multicultural environment,” says Tvisha. “This really played a role in enabling me to broaden my perspective through a cosmopolitan way of perceiving things.”

Tvisha is headed to pursue her undergraduate studies at the University of California, San Diego in September 2018. In the near future, Tvisha wants to focus on science and research. But in the long run, Tvisha wants to try her hand at teaching if she gets the chance. “This must surely be the impact of my experience at the Academy,” she says. “Spending time with people like Ms. Alex, I’ve seen the dynamics of the intersection between professional study and academics and how that enables a fuller scope for learning.”