Youth Leadership PROGRAM DIRECTOR AND ADVISORS
Youth Leadership Program Director
Annu Luthra
Annu’s family moved to Seattle in 1982 and she participated and performed in IAWW events from the start of the organization back in the late 1980s. As a teenager, IAWW was one of the platforms which gave her the opportunity to meet other kids with similar backgrounds and build lifelong friendships.
Annu is passionate about volunteering to make a difference. She was the PTSA treasurer for 2 years at Newcastle Elementary and joined the IAWW executive board in 2012 to give back to the community. She has served on the IAWW board as Secretary, Vice President, President and this is her 7th year as the Youth Leadership Program Director.
Annu started her career working at Microsoft while majoring in Marketing at the University of Washington and have held variety of roles over the years.
Email: ypdirectors@iaww.org
Youth Board Advisors
Sai Reddy
Sai Reddy is 3rd year YB Advisor. He is currently in his first term of medical school having completed his Bachelorsdegree from UW.
He was both a part of the IAWW Youth Council (YC) and Youth Board (YB) programs and believes that his experience with the program will give him the ability to be a good influence and role model for the Youth Board. He credits YC & YB for the memories and the friendships that he cherishes to this day.
In his free time, Sai likes to listen to music, watch movies, hang out with his dog, and go on drives.
Serena Ahuja
Serena Ahuja studied Computer Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign with a minor in Business. She currently works as a Software Developer at Microsoft. In her free time, you can find Serena listening to music, reading, and hanging out with her friends.
Serena was a part of the IAWW Youth Board for two years and is grateful for all of the memories, valuable experiences that it provided. She is looking forward to giving back to this program as an advisor and hopes to provide a positive influence for the Youth Program kids.
Sahara Nath
Sahara keeps herself busy as a full time employee at Nordstrom and a Computer Science student at Bellevue College. In addition, she has a passion for baking and has been running her own successful dessert catering business which has been growing over the last few years.
In her free time, she enjoys being active with soccer , working out, spending time with friends, and trying lots of restaurants.
As a child, Sahara enjoyed attending camp, and participating in the Youth Council. She is looking forward to giving back to the IAWW community through this program and working with the youth throughout the year.
Kedar Rao
Kedar studied Computer Science at Georgia Institute of Technology. He currently works as a Software Developer at Agilysys. He’s somewhat new to the Seattle area and loves all the nature around the city. In his free time, he enjoys reading books, watching movies, hanging out with friends, and cooking.
As a fresh face to the IAWW Youth Board Advisory and IAWW in general, Kedar hopes to bring a new perspective and insight for the Youth Board along with making some great and lasting memories.
YOUTH ADVOCACY, COUNCIL & OUTREACH Advisors
Disha Shah
Youth Advocacy Advisor
My name is Disha Shah and I am the YA Advisor! I am a senior at Mercer Island High School and I was on YB for the last 2 years. During my free time I love to be outdoors, read, take pictures, or hang out with friends. I am excited to be an advisor this year because I am interested in advocacy as well as encouraging others to advocate for what they believe in. I can't wait to see what YA accomplishes this year!
Kareena Sikka
Youth Council Advisor
Hi! My name is Kareena Sikka and I’m currently a 12th grader at Issaquah High School. I am a YC advisor and I’m super excited to help the youth get involved in the community and make life-long friendships. I completed YC and did YB for three years and I hope to give the kids an experience as fun as mine. In my free time, I love to play and teach viola to middle schoolers and hang out with my friends.
Anya Sharma
Youth Council Advisor
Hi! My name is Anya Sharma and I am a YC advisor. I am a senior at the Overlake School. I was on the Youth Council for 2 years and the Youth Board for 2 years. In my time on the Youth board, I also served as the social media chair for one year. I really enjoyed planning and running Camp Bharat whether it was virtual or in-person. In my free time, I enjoy long-distance running and scrolling through Tik Tok. I loved my two years as a YC and I'm so excited to come back and meet all these new YCs. I am especially excited about the leadership opportunities presented this year.
Nishita Khosla
Youth Council Advisor
Hi, my name is Nishita Khosla and I am a senior at Newport High School. I am currently a YC advisor, but before this position, I was part of the Youth Board and was a YO advisor. In my free time, I enjoy playing tennis, bullet journaling, cooking, and baking. I am really excited to be a YC advisor this year to mentor this group of students and being able to be a positive role model for them!
Aarushi Verma
Youth Outreach Advisor
My name is Aarushi Verma and I am one of the YO Advisors! I am currently a freshman at UCLA. I was a YO advisor last year, and the year before that, I was on the Youth Board. Some of my hobbies are baking, hiking, and reading! I’m super excited to be YO advisor again this year so I can get to know more people and help guide you ok your amazing projects!
Manav Shah
Youth Outreach Advisor
Hi, my name is Manav Shah. This is my 2nd year as a YO Advisor and I’m currently a first-year student at Purdue University. Previously I have been in the YC and YB programs. I enjoy running, working out, and listening to music. I am really excited to be a YO advisor and help guide the younger kids through middle school!
Mansi Joshi
Youth Outreach Advisor
Hi everyone! My name is Mansi Joshi, and I am a freshman at the University of Washington. This is my second year as a YO Advisor and I’m super excited! I was on YC and YB, both of which are amazing programs, where I learned a lot and enjoyed my time. I also volunteered with IAWW’s early childhood program, working with young kids, earlier this year. My passions include singing, dancing, spending time with people I love, and more recently, cooking and baking! These YOs are young adults who are the future faces of IAWW, and I want to help them become strong, independent leaders and build a new family with each other!
Ananya Verma
Youth Outreach Advisor
My name is Ananya Verma and I am a YO advisor this year! I am a junior at Newport High School. I am currently on my second year of the Youth Board and I was on the Youth Council for two years as well. Last year, I was a Youth Outreach Lead. I love to read, listen to music, spend time with my friends, and play water polo. I am so excited to be a YO advisor this year because I love meeting new kids and helping them get more involved in the community. I am looking forward to a great year!
Srushti Desai
Youth Outreach Advisor
Hi, my name is Srushti Desai and this is my 2nd year as a YO advisor. I am currently a junior at Skyline High School. I am also currently on the youth board and this is my 3rd year on the board and my 2nd year being an advisor. Some of my hobbies are painting, drawing and listening to music. I’m looking forward to meeting and working with all of the YO’s this year!
Sushma Jain
Admin Coordinator
I live in Seattle and was introduced to the Youth Leadership Program through my daughters who have enjoyed and benefited from it.
I work part time for the Seattle School district. In my spare time I love to hike, read, and watch movies. My all-time favorite is Pulp fiction!
Mona Walia
Youtrh Advocacy Consultant
Mona has been recognized for her excellence in cultural sensitivity through healthcare: earning her a place within the community as an expert in sexual and social health care, advocacy, and education. Spending the last 20 years as a champion for Social and Reproductive justice, Mona recently became an owner of All Women’s Health in Tacoma to ensure undenied access to all people seeking healthcare services.
Youth Board Leaders
Pranav Chainani
President
Hi, I am Pranav Chainani and I am a junior at Interlake High School. How I spend my free time is dependent on the weather outside. When it’s sunny, I enjoy playing basketball outside or going swimming in the lake. When it transitions to the colder seasons, I am more likely to be found binge watching a series of movies or TV shows. My favorite TV shows include The Office, Friends, and Family Guy. An interesting fact about myself is that I have a stuffed pet dinosaur named Dino. My favorite camp memories are always whenever I catch the ball in dodgeball. Despite the uncertainty of how this year will look, I am super excited to get to know and work with everyone on the board this year!
Avni Arkalgud
Vice President
Hi! I am Avni Arkalgud, I am a junior at Eastlake High School and this my second year on YB. I love spending time with my friends and family and doing gymnastics. My favorite TV shows are Gilmore Girls and Grey’s Anatomy and I've been going to camp for 7 years! My favorite memories from Camp Bharat have been meeting new people and going to Garba. I am looking forward to being Vice President this year, getting to work with everyone on the board and camp!
Mahima Joshi
Secretary
My name is Mahima Joshi and I am a junior at Skyline High School. This will be my third, and sadly final year on YB. Some of my favorite things to do are dance, ski, draw, and read! My favorite TV shows include One Tree Hill, Stranger Things, Julie and the Phantoms, and Girl Meets World. I love traveling and visiting new places with my family, and I’d love to see Egypt one day. My favorite camp memories include Garba 2019 and making new friends every year! I am so excited for a fun year on YB and for my 8th year at camp!
Athul Obla
Public Relations
Hi, my name is Athul Obla and I am a junior at Interlake High School, and this is my third year on YB. In my free time, I play baseball and make videos. In the wintertime, you can find me shredding the mountains on my skis and snowboard. My favorite TV shows are The Office and 3%. I am looking forward to being the Public Relations Officer for the second year. This will be my sixth year at camp, and I couldn’t be more excited!
Ari Kothari
Co-Treasurer
Hi, my name is Ari Kothari and I am a junior at Interlake High School. This will be my sixth year going to camp and my second year on YB. Some of my hobbies include playing bad ll, going outside, and hanging out with my friends. My favorite TV show would have to be The Office and my favorite movie is Ratatouille. An interesting fact about myself is that I am right-handed but left-footed. One of my favorite camp memories was when we built a sandcastle during beach walk. I am looking forward to meeting all the new campers this year!
Mahima Uliyar
Co-Treasurer
Hello everyone! My name is Mahima Uliyar, and I am a Junior at Inglemoor High School. Some of my hobbies include driving around in the rain, listening to music, and reading a really good book. Currently my favorite show is the Great British Baking Show, since I love good baked goods and British accents. An interesting fact about myself is that I collect funny/fuzzy socks! A camp memory that I remember fondly is winning sports my first year, I obviously carried as a nine year old :). I am looking forward to bonding with this board and planning an amazing and successful camp! Can’t wait for this great year!
Yash Buddheo
Social Media Chair
Hi! My name is Yash Buddhdeo, a first year YB. I am currently a freshman at Tahoma Senior High School. A little about me: I love to play sports such as Tennis and Taekwondo, video games like Rocket League and Valorant, and I love to sleep. My favorite shows are The 100, One Day at a Time, and The Good Place. My favorite movies are Pink Panther and the Ride Along series. I love to travel with my family and hang out with friends. Fun fact: I have visited 5 out of the 7 continents and have enjoyed each and every one of them. I have been going to Camp Bharat for over 5 years now and each year has brought more and more memories. Camp Bharat is something I have always looked forward to and now I have the privilege to be a part of it. During camp, I had the opportunity to meet so many new people and participate in so many fun events, my favorite of course being camp sports. I will forever remember the time our team made it to the semifinals in handball, which is the farthest I have ever made it in the rankings. In the past, I have been able to get involved through community work and advocacy in YA. Now, I am looking forward to working with my fellow YB's to spread cultural awareness, become more involved in the community, and help introduce new and passionate campers to Camp Bharat.
Vani Jain
Scribe Chair
Hi I'm Vani! I am a sophomore at Ingraham High School this year and I'm so excited to be part of the Youth Board for a second year. Some of my hobbies include playing sports, reading, and crafts. I love hanging out with my friends and watching crime shows. My favorite movie would be any Disney Princess one. Some fun facts about me; science is my favorite subject in school, and I love rollercoasters. My favorite camp memories are the YC hip hop dance a few years ago, and CB 2020 because it was so amazing that we held a successful and fun virtual camp! This year I'm looking forward to hopefully an in person camp and all the fun events the Youth Board organizes.
Ananya Verma
YO Lead/Advisor
Hi! My name is Ananya Verma and I’m a junior at Newport High School. This is my second year on YB and this will be my fourth year at camp. I love swimming, playing water polo, playing with my dog, and hanging out with my friends! My favorite TV shows are Criminal Minds and The Office and I love any romantic comedy movie. I love baking and my favorite thing to bake are cookies and brownies! I’m so excited for a great year on the board and for camp!
Srushti Desai
YO Lead/Advisor
Hi, my name is Srushti Desai and I am a junior at Skyline High School. This is my 3rd year on the board and my 6th year at camp. My hobbies include drawing and painting. I also enjoy hanging out with my friends and listening to music. My favorite TV show is Gossip Girl. My favorite camp memory is going to the sports championship my second year at camp. I am looking forward to another amazing year on the board!
Aakash Banerji
Youth Board
My name is Aakash Banerji. I am in 10th grade and go to Tesla STEM Highschool. Some of my hobbies include playing basketball with friends, reading books, and biking around the neighborhood. My favorite movie is Inception, and my favorite TV show is Avatar The Last Airbender. One interesting fact about me is that my favorite food is Sushi. My favorite camp memory is eating s’mores around the campfire. I am looking forward to camp sports, which we can hopefully play if it is in person.
Aarav Khanna
youth Board
Hi, my name is Aarav Khanna and I am a sophomore at Redmond High School. I have been going to camp for 5 years, but this is my first year as a Youth Board member. I am thrilled to build off my previous memories with the program, but also to make new memories as well! In my free time, I like to play sports, play video games, listen to music, and cook food for my family (and myself). I am super excited to meet new campers and create new memories at camp this year!
Aayush Talati
Youth Board
Hi, my name is Aayush Talati. I am a sophomore at North Creek High School. This would be my first year as a Youth Board member and I am thrilled for this year. In my free time, I like to hang out with friends and I also like to bike. My favorite TV shows are Cobra Kai and Stranger Things. My favorite camp memories are playing camp sports and meeting new friends. I am looking forward to this year and I am excited for Camp 2021.
Aneesh Harwalkar
Youth Board
My name is Aneesh Harwalkar and I am a junior at Interlake High School. In my free time I like to hang out with friends and play sports. My favorite TV shows are How I Met Your Mother and Naruto. One interesting fact about myself is that I am learning to play the Ukulele through YouTube. Some of my favorite camp memories are the late-night talks in the YC room with my friends and competing with them in sports. I’m looking forward to working with everyone on the board in helping our community.
Anika Mohan
Youth Board
Hi! My name is Anika Mohan, and I am a Junior at Newport High School. I've been going to camp for 8 years now and this is my second year on the board. Outside of YB, I compete with my school’s Drill team and do Dance. In my free time, I love to eat, hang out with my friends, and sleep. My favorite camp memory is eating s'mores at campfire and listening to the scary stories. This year I'm so excited and looking forward to another great year on YB and at camp!!
Annika Singh
Youth Board
Hey guys, I am Annika Singh, and I am a junior at Interlake high school! Some things that I enjoy doing in my free time include Tae Kwon Do, debate, skiing, and snowboarding. When I am not studying or doing one of those things, you can probably find me watching TV. My all-time favorites are Kingsman, Now You See Me, Grey’s Anatomy and Money Heist (if you have seen any of them, we are automatically best friends). Some things about me that most people might not know is that I was born in Michigan, I skipped a grade, I can sleep essentially anywhere at any time and I really want to learn to surf. One of my favorite memories from camp was being really good at kabaddi as a younger camper and I am hoping that we can have camp in person this year!
Harsh Bhimani
Youth Board
My name is Harsh Bhimani and I'm a sophomore at North Creek. This is my second year on YB and I am super excited! In my free time I like to hang out with my friends and family, listen to music, and play tennis. My favorite TV shows are All American, and The Office, and one of my favorite movies is Creed. An interesting fact about myself is that I am a black belt in taekwondo, and my favorite artist is Travis Scott. My favorite camp memories are meeting new people and competing in camp sports. I am looking forward to another year as YB and meeting my campers at Camp Bharat 2021!
Ishaan Subramanian
Youth Board
Hi, my name is Ishaan and I'm currently a junior at International Community School. This will be my third year on the youth board. One interesting thing about me is that I've been playing piano for 12 years. My other hobbies include hanging out with friends, playing lacrosse, skiing, and watching Formula 1. My favorite TV shows are Perry Mason and The Mandalorian and my favorite movies would probably be Tenet and The Dark Knight. My favorite camp memory is running the escape room workshop during my first year on YB because it was super fun to see the campers solve the puzzles and riddles. I'm excited to hopefully do in person events soon, but I'm also excited for unique things we can do in the virtual environment!
Kamya Raman
Youth Board
Hi, my name is Kamya Raman and I am a sophomore at the Overlake School. Some of my hobbies include dance, playing lacrosse, and hanging out with my friends. My favorite TV show is Parks and Recreation and an interesting fact about me is that I love meeting new people. I have been going to camp for 6 years and my favorite camp memory is when a camper complimented my face paint skills during carnival. I am looking forward to a great year!
Kavya Gajjar
Youth Board
Hi! My name is Kavya Gajjar, and I'm a junior at Eastlake High School. This is my second year on YB and I’m pumped for camp! I love dancing, spending quality time with my friends & family, and listening to music. My favorite TV show would definitely be The Office and my favorite food is Chipotle. My favorite camp memory is coming up with an awesome chant with my group during virtual camp last year! I’m looking forward to serving the community throughout the year and camp in the summer!
Mahima Vadlamani
Youth Board
Hi! I am Mahima Vadlamani and I am a sophomore at Eastlake High School. This is my second year on YB and I’m so excited! Some of my hobbies include reading, watching TV, and hanging out with (or facetiming) my friends. My favorite TV show is Grey’s Anatomy and a fun fact about me is that I can sing the alphabet backwards. My favorite camp memories are getting to hang out with friends, and I can’t wait for an amazing year!
Manav Balakrishnan
Youth Board
Hi, I am Manav Balakrishnan and I am currently a sophomore at Redmond High School. This is my first year on the Youth Board, and this will be my 6th year of camp. Some of my hobbies include playing soccer, listening to music, and hanging out with friends. During the winter, you'll probably see me skiing almost every weekend. My favorite TV show is Parks and Recreation, and my favorite movie is Us. My favorite camp memories are playing sports, the YC dances, and making a bunch of new friends. I can't wait to make even more memories with all the new people I meet this year!
Neelakshi Berdan
Youth Board
Hi! My name is Neela Berdan and I'm a sophomore at Mount Si high school. In my free time, I play the saxophone, hang out with friends, and watch Outer Banks! I love animals and sleeping in. One memory I have from Camp Bharat is falling down while finding Bigfoot. I'm looking forward to being on the board this year and getting to meet the campers!
Nihaar Movva
Youth Board
Hi, my name is Nihaar Movva and I am a sophomore at Redmond High School. My hobbies include playing sports and videogames. My favorite TV shows are the Arrow and White Collar. I have been to camp for 5 years, and my favorite memories are playing sports and talking to my friends. I am looking forward to making new friends and memories this year.
Pari Katyal
Youth Board
Hi, my name is Pari Katyal and I am a junior at Newport High School. My hobbies include hanging out with my friends, binge watching TV shows and hanging out with my dog. My favorite TV shows are Criminal Minds and All American. This is my 8th year going to camp and my second year on the board. I’m looking forward to meeting campers in person this year!
Pranay Annapantula
Youth Board
Hi, my name is Pranay Annapantula. I am a junior at Eastlake High School. Some of my hobbies are playing some of my instruments, gaming with my friends, and doing taekwondo. My favorite tv shows are Doctor Who and Naruto. An interesting fact about me is that I have a dog. Some of my favorite camp memories are the horror stories during campfire night, and just hanging out with my friends. I am so excited to meet the campers and have a good time with everyone!
Priyal Sahai
Youth Board
My name is Priyal Sahai and I am a junior at Interlake High School! This is my second year on YB and I am so excited to be a part of this community. In my spare time, I love to sing, songwrite, cuddle with my dog Mia, dance, spend time with my friends, go on adventures, and read! My favorite TV shows are Friends, the Office, and The Good Place, and my favorite movie right now is Love, Rosie. Something interesting about me is that I have a cactus named Greg! My favorite camp memories are Bhangra, from 2 years ago and doing karaoke with my two best friends and roommates and doing the escape room workshop last year! I am looking forward to getting to know all of you and a super fun year!
Sanjana Nath
Youth Board
My name is Sanjana Nath and I am a sophomore at Edmonds Woodway High School. Some of my hobbies include, playing tennis, baking, listening to music, and spending time with my friends. My all time favorite movie is Grease and I love the show All American. Some interesting facts about me is that my birthday is on New Year’s Eve and I have the cutest dog named Lola. My favorite camp memories are winning sports my first year of camp and getting to stay up late and have dance parties. I am really looking forward to working with my fellow board members to come up with creative solutions to work around the pandemic and have a successful year!
Shivas Kumar
Youth Board
Hi my name is Shivas Kumar! I'm a sophomore in the Cambridge program at Juanita High School. My favorite TV show is All American and my favorite movie is Fight Club. One interesting fact about me is that I can speak fluent Hindi, but I'm unable to read or write. My favorite Camp Memory is in my 3rd year of camp I got 9 people out in Kabaddi and that was the moment it became my favorite CB sport. I'm looking forward to making it through the playoffs and going to the CB sports Finals.
Suraj Vaghela
Youth Board
Hi, my name is Suraj Vaghela and I am a sophomore at North Creek High School. I enjoy listening to music, playing basketball, watching movies, and hanging out with my friends. My favorite TV show is The Office, and my favorite movie is Jigsaw. An interesting fact about me is that this year, I got into making music. My favorite camp memory is sitting around the campfire with my friends while the YB’s told some scary stories! This is my first year on the board and I am looking forward to getting to know more people!
Trisha Illapani
Youth Board
Hi! My name is Trisha Illapani and I’m currently a junior at Redmond High School. This is my second year on the board and my fifth year going to camp. In my free time I enjoy dancing, listening to music, hanging out with friends and family, and traveling. My favorite TV shows would have to be All American and Gossip Girl and my favorite food is definitely Chick- Fil- A. Camp Bharat is one event I really look forward to every year and hope we are able to conduct an in person one this year. One distinct memory I have from camp is staying up late with friends and singing camp songs.
Yug Purohit
Youth Board
Hi, my name is Yug Purohit and I'm a junior at North Creek High School. Some of my hobbies are playing tennis, spending time with my family, and playing video games with my friends. My favorite TV shows are All American and the Flash. Some interesting facts about myself are that I've been singing for 8 years and my favorite artist is Juice WRLD. My favorite camp memories are dodgeball and campfire. I'm looking forward to a great year on YB and hopefully, in-person camp!
Youth Advocacy Leaders
Aanya Vashisht
President
My name is Aanya Vashisht, and I am a junior at Mount Si. I love to swim, paint, and write. My favorite movie is “I’m Thinking of Ending Things” or “Lady Bird”, and some of my hobbies are storytelling and art. I am passionate about advocating for those who have been victims to systems of injustice, and working for a better America, where generations into the future can truly be equal and have the opportunities they deserve.
Shreya Murti
PR Officer
My name is Shreya Murti and I am in 10th grade attending Roosevelt High School in Seattle. I run cross country and play tennis with my school. I also play violin in my school orchestra and sing in Northwest Girlchoir. My favorite movie is Mama Mia!! I am very passionate about climate change as it is something that my generation has a direct impact on. In Youth Advocacy, I hope to bring awareness to all types of advocacy work and help get people, especially youth, involved, because youth are the future of our world and the people who can make a true difference. I am so excited to be part of the Youth Advocacy team this year and am looking forward to what's to come.
Ria Bahadur
Secretary
My name is Ria Bahadur and I am a sophomore at Eastside Preparatory School. In my spare time, I love to sing (Hindustani Classical), dance (Kathak), paint, and draw. I am part of my school's Speech/Debate and Robotics teams. My favorite movies are the Harry Potter series, and my favorite show is Avatar: The Last Airbender. I am really passionate about the difference us youth can make by working together and advocating for important causes. I am specifically interested in equality for women and girls (specifically in STEM), human rights, preventing child trafficking, and education for all. I am so incredibly excited to be part of YA this year as I am looking forward to the opportunity of working with like-minded peers and being part of a greater solution. I hope to learn with the team and raise awareness for Women's rights.
Rishi Lakshminarayanan
Social Chair
Hello! My name is Rishi Lakshminarayanan and I am a freshman at Lakeside High School. Some of my hobbies are chess, piano, photography, crew, and investing. If I had to choose a favorite movie, it would be the classic: "Baby's Day Out." I have fond memories of watching this movie on-repeat at sleepovers and it cracks me up each time I watch it. I am passionate about learning and teaching others. Part of why I enjoy teaching someone is the look on their face when the pieces of the puzzle finally start to click together, and this in turn motivates me to learn more. I am also passionate about photography and investing because to me, these are more than just hobbies: they are a way to relax, to have fun, and to meet new people. As part of Youth Advocacy, I would like to make an impact in my community. Whether it is informing others about how they can stop racism to the small things they can do to help the climate, I would like to be a part of the change being made for the better. Overall, I am very excited for the upcoming year on YA and looking forward to making some new friendships!
Youth Advocacy
Youth Advocacy Team Members
Arjun Menon
Youth Advocacy
Hi, my name is Arjun Menon and I am a sophomore at Eastlake High School. You can often find me deeply buried in a book, walking through nature with my camera, building an assortment of things, and taking care of my aquarium. My favorite movie is Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure. I am passionate about several issues that I have seen in my community, as my firsthand experiences with the issues make them all the more pressing. Climate change and homelessness are the primary examples of this, as the recent smoke from California's wildfires and the immense homelessness crisis that can be seen regularly in the Greater Seattle Area have had a profound effect on me. I joined YA because I want to make a difference in areas that I am passionate about. Change starts small, and I want to help make my community an eco-friendlier place and help the many unhoused people in the U.S. city with the third largest homeless population, Seattle. I hope to work towards this goal with my fellow YA members and finish the year having made a positive impact.
Divij Ashwinkumar
Youth Advocacy
Hi my name is Divij Aswinkumar and I am a 9th grader at Tesla STEM High School. I joined YA because I am passionate about empowering youth and helping youth learn more so that we all become better people to lead the next generation. I am a part of Youth Advocacy because I feel it is a place where I will learn a lot and become a better person because I will be exposed to problems around our community and world and also have a great team to be able to help spread awareness and solve those problems. In my free time I like to play sports like soccer and tennis and also play board games and video games. One of my many favorite movies is Back to the Future.
Drithi Doreswamy
Youth Advocacy
My name is Drithi Doreswamy, and I'm a freshman at Interlake High School. In my free time, I play piano, read books, and participate in swimming and karate. I am passionate about helping the community, especially during these trying times, and a way I'm doing that is by forming a club to tutor younger students online. I'm excited to be a part of YA this year, and can't wait to give back to the community by advocating for topics I'm passionate about!
Harnoor Virk
Youth Advocacy
My name is Harnoor Virk, and I'm a junior at Eastlake High School. My hobbies include reading, playing guitar and listening to music. A movie I really like is Clueless! I'm also passionate about learning more about the world, and I hope to advocate for issues in the world and make a positive change as a part of Youth Advocacy. I'm really excited for the upcoming year, and I'm looking forward to having a great experience on YA!
Jaisal Vohra
Youth Advocacy
My name is Jaisal Vohra, and I am a freshman at Redmond High School. My hobbies include drawing, reading, and playing the violin. My favorite movie is Hidden Figures. And I am passionate about traveling and exploring new places and cultures. As part of YA, I hope to raise awareness about the issues that I am passionate about and impact my community in a positive way, and I am really excited for the upcoming year!
Manan Vora
Youth Advocacy
My name is Manan Vora. I am a sophomore at Skyline High School. In my free time I love to swim and go hiking. Watching movies is also a great way to spend time and my favorite movie is Black Panther. I am passionate about many of the climate related issues our world is facing. As a member of the YA Program I hope to educate people of these issues and make a difference. I am looking forward to advocating for a better future.
Mili Joshi
Youth Advocacy
Hello! My name is Mili Joshi and I am a sophomore at Lake Washington High School. I absolutely love reading, playing card games with my friends and family, and embroidering neat designs! I am passionate about helping teens gain the experience they need to be prepared for their futures and serving my community. Through the YA program, I want to use my voice and make change in my community. I want to work with my peers to tackle issues that need to be acknowledged. Most of all, I want to make a difference, even if it’s a small one— by working one step at a time. I’m incredibly excited for this year ahead with the YA program and can’t wait to see what we work on!
Pranav Alaparthi
Youth Advocacy
Hi everyone! My name is Pranav Alaparthi, and I'm a sophomore at Issaquah High School. I joined YA this year because I wanted to help make a difference on social issues, I am passionate about. I feel passionate about things that I'm heavily involved in or things that I'm very interested in (like some social issues). On YA, I hope to use teamwork and this platform we are presented with to meet my goal of making a difference. I also hope to grow my leadership skills and meet some new friends! Some of my hobbies include playing sports - mainly soccer - but a variety of others while playing them with my friends. In addition, I also play the piano, read books, play chess, and have accumulated an antique coin collection over time. I also like spending time with my family, and sometimes we watch movies together. I would say my favorite movie is Interstellar. On a final note, I'm very excited to be part of YA this year and I can't wait to see what we will accomplish together!
Rohan Saraiya
Youth Advocacy
What’s up, I’m Rohan Saraiya and I’m a freshman at Bellevue High School. I enjoy listening to music and being with friends. My favorite movie is The Pursuit of Happiness and I’m passionate about sports and the outdoors. I’m super excited about this year on youth advocacy!
Srujana Kodavalla
Youth Advocacy
Hi, my name is Srujana Kodavalla and I am a sophomore at Eastlake High School. My favorite hobbies are reading, dance, playing tennis, and hanging out with my friends. I have way too many favorite movies, but here are a few: The Devil Wears Prada, any James Bond without Sean Connery, and the Mission Impossible series. I am most passionate about education. Educating people about the issues that exist in the world and making sure everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed. I hope that I can educate my community on the issues that exist in our world so that they can go out and educate their communities. I think it's important to advocate for these issues so that people are aware that they exist, and that people experience them. I am super excited to be a part of YA this year!
Tara Bhagwat
Youth Advocacy
My name is Tara Bhagwat and I am a 10th grader at Redmond High School. In my free time, I enjoy playing the violin, listening to music, and hanging out with friends. My favorite tv show is Grey's Anatomy. I am really passionate about women’s rights and I joined youth advocacy to raise awareness about topics that aren’t commonly talked about.
Tisha Gulati
Youth Advocacy
Hello, my name is Tisha Gulati and I'm a sophomore at Lake Washington High School. I love to swim, run, and spend time with my family and friends. My favorite movie is Titanic, and my favorite TV show is Grey's Anatomy. I am passionate about making a change and shaping our world into a society where everyone feels heard and acknowledged. As a part of Youth Advocacy, I hope to use my voice in a way where I can make change. I want to be able to educate and inform more people about common issues in our world, and how they can aid in solving them. Change always starts with you. I am super excited for this upcoming year in the YA program and how much we will accomplish with it!
Vennela Panja
Youth Advocacy
Hello! I'm Vennela Panja, and I'm in 11th grade at Lake Washington High School. In my free time, I like to draw, play video games, and take photos. I'm passionate about accurate, unbiased information being available for free, and the power science has to change the world. I am part of YA because I believe that we can change our community for the better, and I hope we are able to make a change in the climate movement.
Youth Council Leaders
Anika Tara Rao
Social Chair
Hi! My name is Anika Tara Rao, and I go to Shorecrest High School. Some of my hobbies include singing, dancing, baking, play ultimate frisbee and traveling. I also love leadership and activism as well as spending time with my friends. My favorite Bollywood movies right now would have to be Kalank or Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi. My favorite TV show right now is the Vampire Diaries.
Arpitha Coorg
Scribe Chair
Hi! My name is Arpitha Coorg, and I go to Eastlake High School. I enjoy watching TV and hanging out with friends. My favorite TV show is Greys anatomy.
Diya Modi
Social Media Chair
Hi! My name is Diya Modi, and I go to Timberline Middle School. I love to competitive dance, sing, do theater, play instruments, and help my community. I also love to snuggle with my adorable puppy that we got during quarantine! My favorite book is "I will always write back". I highly recommend it!
Jasleen Kapoor
Social Chair
Hi! My name is Jasleen Kapoor, and I go to Kentridge High School. I like to play basketball, and paint. My favorite TV show is Grey’s Anatomy
Jia Shah
Social Media Chair
Hi! My name is Jia Shah. I go to North Creek High School. During my free time I love to cook and bake, but I also enjoy outdoor activities. My favorite tv show is The Vampire Diaries or Grey's Anatomy.
Medha Thummala
Social Chair
Hi! My name is Medha Thummala. I go to Mount Si High School. I enjoy hanging out with friends. My favorite book series is Harry Potter.
Neha Mahesh
Social Chair
Hi! My name is Neha Mahesh, and I go to Redmond High School. I enjoy debate, skating, and dance. I love the book “Until the End” by Christopher Pike, I highly recommend it.
Neha Mukhara
Scribe Chair
Hi! My name is Neha Mukhara. I love dancing, paddle boarding, traveling, trying new foods and gardening. Currently, my favorite books are the School for Good and Evil series by Soman Chainani.
Aanchal Bhardwaj
Youth Council
Hi! My name is Aanchal Bhardwaj, and I go to Kentwood High School. Two of my hobbies are playing volleyball, and art. My favorite TV show is Grey’s Anatomy.
Aarav Talati
Youth Council
Hi! My name is Aarav Talati, and I go to North Creek High School. Some of my hobbies are football, and gaming. My favorite movie right now is the 3 Idiots.
Aasha Parikh
Youth Council
Hi! My name is Aasha Parikh, and I go to Kirkland Middle School. I like to play basketball, do karate, and draw. My favorite book is Harry Potter.
Angad Bains
Youth Council
Hi! My name is Angad Bains, and I go to Kentridge High School. I like to play sports, and my favorite game is 2k
Anika Kothari
Youth Council
Hi! My name is Anika Kothari, and I go to Redmond Middle School. My hobby is playing the piano and watching TV. My favorite book is one of us is lying.
Anya Lukka
Youth Council
Hi! My name is Anya Lukka, and I go to Redmond Middle School. My hobby is doing different types of art. My favorite book/movie series is Harry Potter.
Aria Vashisht
Youth Council
Hi! My name is Aria Vashisht, and I go to Mount Si High School. I enjoy hanging out with friends, baking, and going on walks with my dog. My favorite TV show is Greys Anatomy.
Arnav Shah
Youth Council
Hi! My name is Arnav Shah, and I go to North Creek High School. I enjoy running, watching sports, and playing video games. My favorite game right now is NBA 2k21.
Avanti Bhandari
Youth Council
Hi! My name is Avanti Bhandari, and I go to Issaquah High School. Some of my hobbies include hiking, Kathak, camping, and reading. My favorite TV show is Criminal Minds.
Krish Doshi
Youth Council
Hi! My name is Krish Doshi, and I go to Woodinville High School. Some of my hobbies include playing outside, playing video games, reading, and board games. My favorite board game is The Settlers of Catan
Laksh Patel
Youth Council
Hi! My name is Laksh Patel, and I go to Canyon Park Middle School. I enjoy playing video games. I like Assassin’s Creed.
Liam Parikh
Youth Council
Hi! My name is Liam Parikh, and I go to Snoqualmie Middle School. Some of my hobbies include gaming, snowboarding, mountain biking, and playing volleyball. My favorite game is Valorant.
Mallika Sheth
Youth Council
Hi! My name is Mallika Seth, and I go to Interlake High School. I love to binge Netflix, play video games, and watch TikTok. My favorite movies are the Star Wars collection.
Mihir Mishra
Youth Council
Hi! My name is Mihir Mishra. I attend Eastlake High School. Some of my hobbies include baking, painting, and drawing. My favorite movie is Om Shanti Om.
Nandini Sinha
Youth Council
Hi! My name is Nandini Sinha, and I go to Redmond High School. I enjoy playing badminton. My favorite TV show is the Umbrella Academy.
Pranaav Sund
Youth Council
Hi! My name is Pranaav Sund, and I go to Summit Trail Middle School. I enjoy basketball, football, and reading. My favorite book is Harry Potter.
Reuhen Bhalod
Youth Council
Hi! My name is Reuhen Bhalod, and I go to Finn Hill middle school. Some of my hobbies are Playing football and basketball.
Ria Gupta
Youth Council
Hi! My name is Ria Gupta, and I go to Willow’s Prep. Some of my hobbies include, drawing, painting, decorating, music, and spending time with animals. My favorite book is called " The rhino with glue-on shoes", it mostly talks about different people who took care of zoo animals.
Rishi Mehta
Youth Council
Hi! My name is Rishi Mehta, and I go to Overlake School. My hobbies include, reading, biking, origami, and photography. My favorite subject is Science, and my favorite TV shows are Kim’s Convenience and Sherlock Holmes.
Rishi Vora
Youth Council
Hi! My name is Rishi Vora, and I go to Beaver Lake Middle School. I like biking, swimming, and watching football. My favorite TV show is Shark Tank.
Ruthu Mavnur
Youth Council
Hi! My name is Ruthu Mavnur, and I go to Woodinville High School. I enjoy baking, playing with my dogs, and hanging out with friends. My favorite book right now is The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See.
Saanvi Datta
Youth Council
Hi! My name is Saanvi Datta, and I go to Islander Middle School. I like baking, swimming, and hanging out with friends and family. My favorite movie is Harry Potter.
Sana Chaudhary
Youth Council
Hi! My name is Sana Chaudhary, and I go to Northstar Middle School. I love to play tennis, and volunteer. My favorite TV show is The Office.
Shivani Mathur
Youth Council
Hi! My name is Shivani Mathur, and I go to Mount Si High School. Some of my hobbies include Listening to music, hanging out with friends, and babysitting. My favorite movie is Aladdin.
Shivraj Raichur
Youth Council
Hi! My name is Shivraj Raichur, and I go to Shorecrest High School. Some of my favorite hobbies are Selling cards, painting, and baking. My favorite game is Monopoly.
Shruti Chadalava
Youth Council
Hi! My name is Shruti Chadalava, and I go to Timberline Middle School. Some of my hobbies include creative writing, singing, and dancing. Glee, Supernatural, Criminal Minds, NCIS, and Avatar the Last Airbender are my favorite TV shows right now.
Tarisha Chokshi
Youth Council
Hi! My name is Tarisha Chokshi, and I go to Inglewood middle school. I love playing the guitar, tennis, skating, skiing, and reading. My favorite tv genre is Anime and favorite tv show is Avatar: The Last Airbender
Viraj Chaudhary
Youth Council
Hi! My name is Viraj Chaudhary, and I go to Lake Washington High School. I enjoy drumming and tennis. My favorite tv show is Friends.
Yash Bhandari
Youth Council
Hi! My name is Yash Bhandari, and I go to Willow’s Prep. I enjoy playing soccer, playing video games, and photography. My favorite tv show is The Office.