Hi! I’m Parnitha Karapakula, a current junior at the Massachusetts Academy of Math and Science (MAMS). My sending school is Shrewsbury High School in Shrewsbury, MA.
I have moved a few times in my life. I was born in India where I moved from Bangalore to Pune and back again. I then moved to Columbus, Ohio in early 2016. Then in December of 2019, I moved to Shrewsbury where I still live today.
My family includes my mom, my dad, and me. I love spending time with them and with my friends.I have always been interested in science and how things work. I am especially interested in the healthcare industry and neuroscience.
I was the Vice President of the Brain Bee Tournament team at
Shrewsbury High where I helped students at my school prepare for the
competition. I also participated in the competition where I earned 2nd
and 3rd places in 2024 and 2025 respectively. My favorite thing about
the brain is learning about neurodevelopmental disorders and the many
pathologies and treatments for them.
Click the images to read the UMass Chan news stories on the 2024 and 2025 Brain Bees!
At my sending school, I was the team captain of FIRST Robotics
Team 467. I worked primarily in Robot Design, CAD and mechanical work.
I was also heavily involved with outreach and awards. I was one of
presenters for the Impact Award which we won at the regional level in
the Western New England Competition. In 2024, we made robot Shuffle
for the FIRST crescendo game. In 2025, we made our robot Nessie for
the Reefscape. This robot was able to participate in a total of 6
competitions, one of which was the World championship in the Ballard
division! Click here to see their flickr page!
Click the images to go to the Shrewsbury Robotics Team Website
Bharatanatyam is a south Indian dance form that shows various
stories through expression and gestures. I have been learning this art
form from the Lasya School of Dance in Shrewsbury, MA. I have performed various pieces in temples across the state.
Click the images to visit my dance school's website.
In my free time, I enjoy reading books and my 2025 reading goal
is 100 books (I’m at 72 books now!). I read almost any fictional genre
depending on my mood. I also write reviews for books on Goodreads! My
favorite authors include Suzanne Collins, Holly Jackson, Stephanie
Garber, Ann Liang, Roshani Chokshi, Lauren Roberts, Rebecca Ross and more.
If you have any book recommendations, feel free to email me at pckarapakula@wpi.edu. Although... my TBR is 93 books long and counting.
Click the images to go to goodreads
I have been volunteering at North South Foundation since 2023. So far, I have taught classes like Junior Science Bee, Brain Bee, and Introduction to Neuroscience. I work with kids to make complex concepts more clear and teach them ways to remember facts for competitions
← Click to visit their website!
The India Society of Worcester (ISW) is an organization that conducts various activities to connect and help the community. I have volunteered as a teacher for Telugu (my mother tongue). I have also volunteered as a Photographer at the India Day Cultural Fest.