Inspiring Innovation in Student Research      

Alumni Corner

Meet Nicholas Boyer

Nicholas Boyer was born in Australia and also lived in England and Florida before settling in NC about 9 years ago. With living in all of those places, he fondly notes that he has gotten to see a lot of interesting things, including historical sites such as castles in England. He loves living in the mountains where he enjoys camping, hiking, and exploring nature. Nicholas also enjoys playing soccer. He is a recent graduate of the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (NCSSM) and is living in Horseshoe, NC. At NCSSM he founded a geology club which he was able to run virtually during the COVID-19 shutdown. The club discussed various topics ranging from rocks & minerals, looking at different crystals and how the atoms are arranged and calculating density.

Meet Prabuddha Ghosh Dastidar

Prabuddha Ghosh Dastidar was born in India and moved to California at a couple of months old.  His family remained in Irvine, CA for a few years before finally settling in Waxhaw, outside of Charlotte, during his pre-school years.  They remained in Charlotte where Prabuddha grew up and eventually attended Metrolina Scholars Academy.  

Prabuddha has a passion for soccer, which he has been playing since 10 years old- inspired by watching the world cup with his grandfather.  Recently he picked up road and trail biking, calling it a “quarantine hobby”.  He jokes that this new hobby led to a lot of weight loss, as it increased his quarantine activity significantly.   He also describes himself as very extroverted. Outside of soccer and biking Prabuddha loves to spend time with his friends.

Meet Reva Kumar

Reva Kumar is a rising sophomore at North Mecklenburg high school in Huntersville, NC. She likes to be in clubs both in and outside of school and has been playing piano since age 6.  As she thinks of her six year old self, she remembers that at first was forced into piano lessons, but has developed a passion for it throughout the years and enjoys it tremendously now. Her out of school clubs & activities include sports (tennis) and debate club and she was a member of her middle school honor society. 

Meet Krisalyn Higerd

Krisalyn Higerd is a fifteen-year-old rising junior and the oldest in a family of eight children who lives in Camp LeJeune, North Carolina, where her father has been stationed as a marine for the past four years.  Over the years, she has lived in Virginia, California, and North Carolina.  An early reader, beginning at age two, Krisalyn has earned her education as a homeschool student taught by her mother and remains so today.  In addition to her interest in science, she reads a lot, attends church and bible studies regularly, volunteers in her church nursery, and loves to swim. 

Meet the De Silva Family

 

The De Silva family has three children, Sayumi, Mihin, and Senith who have diverse interests and hobbies, but also share many interests, one of which includes science and engineering research. The family lives in Sylva, NC, attending NC Schools, and participating in typical NC family activities, but also cherises their Sri Lankan heritage and culture. 

Meet Jack Bivins

Jack Bivins is 13 years old and lives in New Hanover County, NC.  Originally born in Davis California, Jack’s family moved to North Carolina when he was 4 years old.  Jack attended elementary school at New Horizons Elementary and now attends Murray Middle School.  Outside of school Jack loves to surf and hang out with friends.  Jack also volunteers at the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher. As a student in grades 3-5 Jack participated in science and engineering fairs and in grade 6 he participated in Science Olympiad at Murray Middle.