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Saanvi Chigurupati

2,760

Bold Points

2x

Nominee

1x

Finalist

Bio

Hey! I'm Saanvi, and my story starts like this. In October 2021, I found a new family at LINK, a secret retreat teaching high schoolers to become positive influences in their community. This experience changed my life. If I was sure of one thing when I got home, it was that I wanted that feeling to keep going. My experience was an anomaly—most students never felt valued in a school setting the way I did, which is the greatest failure of our education system. I've worked to rebuild that sense of community for the past 3 years. I've interned for our district superintendent and County Commissioners, served as chief editor of the yearbook, directed five theatre productions, captained the mock trial team to state and regional victories, held events as a community organizer for Students Against Gun Violence, and completed a year as a National AAPI Youth Ambassador for Act2Change, a national nonprofit. My future educational goals involve continuing this work on a much larger scale. By majoring in Learning, Equity, and Problem Solving for the Public Good at the University of Michigan, I hope to dedicate my life to creating educational policies that are centered around students feeling seen and heard in a place they spend so much of their life. Just like my immigrant parents, overcoming fear has helped me get this far. My voice is my greatest weapon, and I hope to use it to break barriers all around the world. For now, I settle for breaking them in my community. I'm equipped and armed to take on the world, so I hope it's ready for me.

Education

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Bachelor's degree program
2024 - 2027
  • Majors:
    • Public Administration and Social Service Professions, Other
    • Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research
    • Educational Administration and Supervision
    • Education, General

Downingtown Stem Academy

High School
2020 - 2024

Miscellaneous

  • Desired degree level:

    Master's degree program

  • Graduate schools of interest:

  • Transfer schools of interest:

  • Majors of interest:

    • Political Science and Government
    • Education, General
    • Law
  • Not planning to go to medical school
  • Career

    • Dream career field:

      Education

    • Dream career goals:

      Work in educational policy and consulting

    • Teaching Assistant

      IntoPrep
      2024 – Present10 months
    • Snack Bar Manager/Catering Assistant

      Applecross Country Club
      2022 – 20231 year
    • Kid's Show Counselor

      SALT Community Theater
      2021 – 2021
    • Production Assistant, Costumer, and Backstage Manager

      The Barley Sheaf Players
      2021 – 2021

    Sports

    Swimming

    Club
    2009 – 201910 years

    Research

    • History

      Downingtown STEM Academy — Researcher and Writer
      2021 – 2022

    Arts

    • Downingtown Stem Academy

      Theatre
      The Pepperonis, Prometheus and the God(s)Father, Wake-Up Call, Butterfinger, The Crazy Woman Show, Newsies, The Little Mermaid, Romeo and Juliet, Frankenstein, Black Comedy, Les Miserables, A Midsummer Night's Dream
      2020 – Present
    • Downingtown Area School District

      Music
      2014 Spring Concert, 2014 Winter Concert, 2015 Spring Concert, 2015 Winter Concert, 2016 Spring Concert, 2017 Spring Concert, 2017 Winter Concert, 2018 Spring Concert, 2018 Winter Concert, 2019 Spring Concert, 2019 Graduation, 2019 Winter Concert, 2016 Graduation, 2020 Spring Concert, 2020 Winter Concert, 2021 Winter Concert, 2021 Spring Concert, 2021 Graduation, 2022 Hershey Showcase, 2022 Graduation, 2023 Graduation, 2022 Spring Concert, 2022 Winter Concert, 2023 Winter Concert, 2023 Spring Concert, 2023 Disney Showcase
      2014 – Present
    • Downingtown Middle School

      Theatre
      Fiddler on the Roof, Mary Poppins, The Taming of the Shrew
      2018 – 2020

    Public services

    • Advocacy

      Students Against Gun Violence — Head Community Organizer
      2021 – Present
    • Public Service (Politics)

      Downingtown Area School District Superintendent — Intern
      2023 – Present
    • Public Service (Politics)

      Chester County Commissioners' Office — Communications Intern
      2023 – 2023
    • Volunteering

      Downingtown Middle School — Student Volunteer
      2021 – 2023
    • Volunteering

      More Love Letters — Letter Writer
      2021 – Present
    • Volunteering

      National Junior Honor Society — Volunteer
      2019 – 2020
    • Advocacy

      Black Student Union — Letter Writer
      2021 – 2021
    • Volunteering

      The CYWA — Cook and Server
      2019 – 2020

    Future Interests

    Advocacy

    Politics

    Volunteering

    Philanthropy

    Ken Larson Memorial Scholarship
    The first thing I remember about my LINK trip is a tin of Vaseline. I heard a voice calling out for Chapstick, and as girl code dictates, I rushed up with my miracle product. The voice turned out to be my senior leader Lucy, who was effusive in her gratitude. I thought, “I’ve never met someone like her.” I loved her in an instant. When you get invited to go on LINK, people tell you it’s about to change your life, but not much else. It is a secret weekend retreat for high school students in order to teach them to become positive influences in their community. On these annual trips, students discover their families. The people there were like a permanent safety net—so much so that, despite being terrified of heights, I scaled a 26-foot pole and jumped off it with ease at the cheers of my fellow Creamsicles. I spent much of the weekend in shock at the ease with which we all became incredibly close. I barely knew these people, yet at the same time, I knew everything about them. Maybe I didn’t know their favorite colors or their comfort movie or their siblings’ names, but I knew that someone was scared of secondhand grief. I knew that someone’s biggest priority was being the parent that they never had. I knew that someone would save everyone they possibly could from addiction if they had the chance. These people were so strong and real and compelling and, my god, did that make me feel like I could do anything. LINK brought me so much joy for people, joy for watching them grow and learn to care about themselves and others, and pursuing a degree in educational policy to make the lives of young children better is an opportunity for me to nurture that excitement for building relationships. My goals are broader than just education—they center around fostering the innate empathy that we have as humans when creating systems and organizations in which children spend the majority of their lives. At LINK, I found peacekeepers. I found students who were willing to be vulnerable and teachers who were willing to listen. I found a group of people with genuine care and passion for bettering the student experience. Every student deserves to feel supported and wanted beyond what they can contribute academically, and every teacher deserves the resources to make that happen. There needs to be a seismic shift in how we as a country treat the education system—our goal should be community, not caliber. My dream is to take the spirit of LINK national. I want to give every school a concrete place for open and honest dialogue between all those impacted by any major decision: students, parents, teachers, and administrators. I want to place the reins in the hands of the students and teachers to advocate for their needs that aren’t being filled and build curriculums with a focus on growth and collaboration. I want to put people and their love for each other back into the heart of schools because that is truly what education is about in the first place.
    From Anna & Ava Scholarship
    The first thing I remember about my LINK trip is a tin of Vaseline. I heard a voice calling out for Chapstick, and as girl code dictates, I rushed up with my miracle product. The voice turned out to be my senior leader Lucy, who was effusive in her gratitude. I thought, “I’ve never met someone like her.” I loved her in an instant. When you get invited to go on LINK, people tell you it’s about to change your life, but not much else. It is a secret weekend retreat for high school students in order to teach them to become positive influences in their community. On these annual trips, students discover their families. The people there were a permanent safety net—so much so that, despite being terrified of heights, I quad-jumped off a 26-foot pole to the cheers of my fellow campers. I spent much of the weekend in shock at the ease with which we all became incredibly close. I barely knew these people, yet at the same time, I knew everything about them. Maybe I didn’t know their favorite colors or their comfort movie or their siblings’ names, but I knew that someone was scared of secondhand grief. I knew that someone’s biggest priority was being the parent that they never had. I knew that someone would save everyone they possibly could from addiction if they had the chance. Maybe I didn’t know the minute details of their lives, but I knew their greatest fears and their wildest dreams. These people were so strong and real and compelling and, my god, did that make me feel like I could do anything. LINK brought me so much joy for people, joy for watching them grow and learn to care about themselves and others, and pursuing a degree in educational policy to make the lives of young children better is an opportunity for me to nurture that excitement for building relationships. My goals are broader than just education—they center around fostering the innate empathy that we have as humans when creating systems and organizations in which children spend the majority of their lives. At LINK, I found peacekeepers. I found students who were willing to be vulnerable and teachers who were willing to listen. I found a group of people with genuine care and passion for bettering the student experience. Every student deserves to feel supported and wanted beyond what they can contribute academically, and every teacher deserves the resources to make that happen. There needs to be a seismic shift in how we as a country treat the education system—our goal should be community, not caliber. This scholarship would help me achieve my dream: finishing my education debt-free so I can start my own educational consulting company to take the spirit of LINK national. I want to give every school a concrete place for open and honest dialogue between all those impacted by any major decision: students, parents, teachers, and administrators. I want to place the reins in the hands of the students and teachers to advocate for their needs that aren’t being filled and build curriculums with a focus on growth and collaboration. I want to put people and their love for each other back into the heart of schools because that is truly what education is about in the first place.
    North Star Dreamers Memorial Scholarship
    The first thing I remember about my LINK trip is a tin of Vaseline. I heard a voice calling out for Chapstick, and as girl code dictates, I rushed up with my miracle product. The voice turned out to be my senior leader Lucy, who was effusive in her gratitude. I thought, “I’ve never met someone like her.” I loved her in an instant. When you get invited to go on LINK, people tell you it’s about to change your life, but not much else. It is a secret weekend retreat for high school students in order to teach them to become positive influences in their community. On these annual trips, students discover their families. The people there were a permanent safety net—so much so that, despite being terrified of heights, I quad-jumped off a 26-foot pole at the cheers of my fellow campers. I spent much of the weekend in shock at the ease with which we all became incredibly close. I barely knew these people, yet at the same time, I knew everything about them. Maybe I didn’t know the minute details of their lives, but I knew their greatest fears and their wildest dreams. These people were so strong and real and compelling and, my god, did that make me feel like I could do anything. LINK brought me so much joy for people, joy for watching them grow and learn to care about themselves and others, and pursuing a degree in educational policy to make the lives of young children better is an opportunity for me to nurture that excitement for building relationships. My goals are broader than just education—they center around fostering the innate empathy that we have as humans when creating systems and organizations in which children spend the majority of their lives. At LINK, I found peacekeepers. I found students who were willing to be vulnerable and teachers who were willing to listen. I found a group of people with genuine care and passion for bettering the student experience. Every student deserves to feel supported and wanted beyond what they can contribute academically, and every teacher deserves the resources to make that happen. There needs to be a seismic shift in how we as a country treat the education system—our goal should be community, not caliber. This scholarship would help me achieve my dream: finishing my education debt-free so I can start my own educational consulting company to take the spirit of LINK national. I want to give every school a concrete place for open and honest dialogue between all those impacted by any major decision: students, parents, teachers, and administrators. I want to place the reins in the hands of the students and teachers to advocate for their needs that aren’t being filled and build curriculums with a focus on growth and collaboration. I want to put people and their love for each other back into the heart of schools because that is truly what education is about in the first place.
    Our Destiny Our Future Scholarship
    The first thing I remember about my LINK trip is a tin of Vaseline. I heard a voice calling out for Chapstick, and as girl code dictates, I rushed up with my miracle product. The voice turned out to be my senior leader Lucy, who was effusive in her gratitude. I thought, “I’ve never met someone like her.” I loved her in an instant. When you get invited to go on LINK, people tell you it’s about to change your life, but not much else. It is a secret weekend retreat for high school students in order to teach them to become positive influences in their community. On these annual trips, students discover their families. The people there were a permanent safety net—so much so that, despite being terrified of heights, I quad-jumped off a 26-foot pole at the cheers of my fellow campers. I spent much of the weekend in shock at the ease with which we all became incredibly close. I barely knew these people, yet at the same time, I knew everything about them. Maybe I didn’t know the minute details of their lives, but I knew their greatest fears and their wildest dreams. These people were so strong and real and compelling and, my god, did that make me feel like I could do anything. LINK brought me so much joy for people, joy for watching them grow and learn to care about themselves and others, and pursuing a degree in educational policy to make the lives of young children better is an opportunity for me to nurture that excitement for building relationships. My goals are broader than just education—they center around fostering the innate empathy that we have as humans when creating systems and organizations in which children spend the majority of their lives. At LINK, I found peacekeepers. I found students who were willing to be vulnerable and teachers who were willing to listen. I found a group of people with genuine care and passion for bettering the student experience. Every student deserves to feel supported and wanted beyond what they can contribute academically, and every teacher deserves the resources to make that happen. There needs to be a seismic shift in how we as a country treat the education system—our goal should be community, not caliber. My dream is to start my own educational consulting company to take the spirit of LINK national. I want to give every school a concrete place for open and honest dialogue between all those impacted by any major decision: students, parents, teachers, and administrators. I want to place the reins in the hands of the students and teachers to advocate for their needs that aren’t being filled and build curriculums with a focus on growth and collaboration. I want to put people and their love for each other back into the heart of schools because that is truly what education is about in the first place.
    Kalia D. Davis Memorial Scholarship
    The first thing I remember about my LINK trip is a tin of Vaseline. I heard a voice calling out for Chapstick, and as girl code dictates, I rushed up with my miracle product. The voice turned out to be my senior leader Lucy, who was effusive in her gratitude. I thought, “I’ve never met someone like her.” I loved her in an instant. When you get invited to go on LINK, people tell you it’s about to change your life, but not much else. It is a secret weekend retreat for high school students in order to teach them to become positive influences in their community. On these annual trips, students discover their families. The people there were a permanent safety net—so much so that, despite being terrified of heights, I quad-jumped off a 26-foot pole at the cheers of my fellow campers. I spent much of the weekend in shock at the ease with which we all became incredibly close. I barely knew these people, yet at the same time, I knew everything about them. Maybe I didn’t know the minute details of their lives, but I knew their greatest fears and their wildest dreams. These people were so strong and real and compelling and, my god, did that make me feel like I could do anything. LINK brought me so much joy for people, joy for watching them grow and learn to care about themselves and others, and pursuing a degree in educational policy to make the lives of young children better is an opportunity for me to nurture that excitement for building relationships. My goals are broader than just education—they center around fostering the innate empathy that we have as humans when creating systems and organizations in which children spend the majority of their lives. At LINK, I found peacekeepers. I found students who were willing to be vulnerable and teachers who were willing to listen. I found a group of people with genuine care and passion for bettering the student experience. Every student deserves to feel supported and wanted beyond what they can contribute academically, and every teacher deserves the resources to make that happen. There needs to be a seismic shift in how we as a country treat the education system—our goal should be community, not caliber. This scholarship would help me achieve my dream: finishing my education debt-free so I can start my own educational consulting company to take the spirit of LINK national. I want to give every school a concrete place for open and honest dialogue between all those impacted by any major decision: students, parents, teachers, and administrators. I want to place the reins in the hands of the students and teachers to advocate for their needs that aren’t being filled and build curriculums with a focus on growth and collaboration. I want to put people and their love for each other back into the heart of schools because that is truly what education is about in the first place.
    Schmid Memorial Scholarship
    The first thing I remember about my LINK trip is a tin of Vaseline. I heard a voice calling out for Chapstick, and as girl code dictates, I rushed up with my miracle product. The voice turned out to be my senior leader Lucy, who was effusive in her gratitude. I thought, “I’ve never met someone like her.” I loved her in an instant. When you get invited to go on LINK, people tell you it’s about to change your life, but not much else. It is a secret weekend retreat for high school students in order to teach them to become positive influences in their community. On these annual trips, students discover their families. The people there were a permanent safety net—so much so that, despite being terrified of heights, I quad-jumped off a 26-foot pole at the cheers of my fellow campers. I spent much of the weekend in shock at the ease with which we all became incredibly close. I barely knew these people, yet at the same time, I knew everything about them. Maybe I didn’t know the minute details of their lives, but I knew their greatest fears and their wildest dreams. These people were so strong and real and compelling and, my god, did that make me feel like I could do anything. LINK brought me so much joy for people, joy for watching them grow and learn to care about themselves and others, and pursuing a degree in educational policy to make the lives of young children better is an opportunity for me to nurture that excitement for building relationships. My goals are broader than just education—they center around fostering the innate empathy that we have as humans when creating systems and organizations in which children spend the majority of their lives. At LINK, I found peacekeepers. I found students who were willing to be vulnerable and teachers who were willing to listen. I found a group of people with genuine care and passion for bettering the student experience. Every student deserves to feel supported and wanted beyond what they can contribute academically, and every teacher deserves the resources to make that happen. There needs to be a seismic shift in how we as a country treat the education system—our goal should be community, not caliber. This scholarship would help me achieve my dream: finishing my education debt-free so I can start my own educational consulting company to take the spirit of LINK national. I want to give every school a concrete place for open and honest dialogue between all those impacted by any major decision: students, parents, teachers, and administrators. I want to place the reins in the hands of the students and teachers to advocate for their needs that aren’t being filled and build curriculums with a focus on growth and collaboration. I want to put people and their love for each other back into the heart of schools because that is truly what education is about in the first place.
    Gussie Lynn Scholarship
    The first thing I remember about my LINK trip is a tin of Vaseline. I heard a voice calling out for Chapstick, and as girl code dictates, I rushed up with my miracle product. The voice turned out to be my senior leader Lucy, who was effusive in her gratitude. I thought, “I’ve never met someone like her.” I loved her in an instant. When you get invited to go on LINK, people tell you it’s about to change your life, but not much else. It is a secret weekend retreat for high school students in order to teach them to become positive influences in their community. On these annual trips, students discover their families. The people there were like a permanent safety net—so much so that, despite being terrified of heights, I scaled a 26-foot pole and jumped off it with ease at the cheers of my fellow Creamsicles. I spent much of the weekend in shock at the ease with which we all became incredibly close. I barely knew these people, yet at the same time, I knew everything about them. Maybe I didn’t know the minute details of their lives, but I knew their greatest fears and their wildest dreams. These people were so strong and real and compelling and, my god, did that make me feel like I could do anything. LINK brought me so much joy for people, joy for watching them grow and learn to care about themselves and others, and pursuing a degree in educational policy to make the lives of young children better is an opportunity for me to nurture that excitement for building relationships. My goals are broader than just education—they center around fostering the innate empathy that we have as humans when creating systems and organizations in which children spend the majority of their lives. At LINK, I found peacekeepers. I found students who were willing to be vulnerable and teachers who were willing to listen. I found a group of people with genuine care and passion for bettering the student experience. Every student deserves to feel supported and wanted beyond what they can contribute academically, and every teacher deserves the resources to make that happen. There needs to be a seismic shift in how we as a country treat the education system—our goal should be community, not caliber. My dream is to take the spirit of LINK national. I want to give every school a concrete place for open and honest dialogue between all those impacted by any major decision: students, parents, teachers, and administrators. I want to place the reins in the hands of the students and teachers to advocate for their needs that aren’t being filled and build curriculums with a focus on growth and collaboration. I want to put people and their love for each other back into the heart of schools because that is truly what education is about in the first place.
    #Back2SchoolBold Scholarship
    My #Back2SchoolBold moment is my logo mockup for the business I'm planning on launching this month! I want to help all the young girls in my community go #Back2SchoolBold by reframing the shame surrounding period and puberty education. In my school district especially, it is viewed as this secretive thing that girls should not inconvenience others with by talking about it. I am going to sell "The Wingwoman", a curated kit with products to help girls ages 9-14 deal with puberty in a fresh, new way, with things like organic pads, glycolic acid, and a razor. They'll also include a self-designed and self-written book teaching them about different age-appropriate topics in a way that empowers them, not grosses them out. I've spent hours researching and budgeting and designing and surveying, and it is so cool to see my dreams almost coming to fruition but even cooler to think about the impact it will have on my community!