About Me
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, and then to Shrewsbury in December 2019, 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, especially the healthcare industry and neuroscience.
Hobbies & Activities
Brain Bee
I was Vice President of the Brain Bee Tournament team at Shrewsbury
High, helping students prepare for the competition. I participated
myself and earned 2nd,3rd, and 2nd places in 2024,2025, and 2026 respectively.
My favorite aspect of neuroscience is learning about
neurodevelopmental disorders and the many pathologies and
treatments for them.
Click the images to read the UMass Chan
news stories from '24 and '25!
Robotics
467
At my sending school, I was team captain of FIRST Robotics Team
467. I worked primarily in Robot Design, Computer Aided Design
(CAD), and mechanical work, and was also heavily involved with
outreach and awards. I was one of the presenters for the Impact
Award, which we won at the regional level at the Western New
England Competition. In 2024 we made robot Shuffle for FIRST
Crescendo, and in 2025, Nessie for Reefscape, competing in 6
competitions including the World Championship in the Ballard
division! Flickr page.
Click the images to visit the Shrewsbury
Robotics website.
190
At my current school, I serve as the Outreach Lead for FIRST Robotics Team
190. I heavily focus on community engagement and STEM education, notably
our XRP (Experiential Robotics Platform) curriculum development and
outreach initiatives to make robotics more accessible. Alongside these projects,
I was honored to be named a FIRST Leadership Award Finalist for my contributions
to the team. I also served as a presenter for the Impact Award, which we proudly
won! Team page.
Click the images to visit the Team 190
website.
Bharatanatyam
Bharatanatyam is a south Indian dance form that tells stories through expression and gesture. I have been learning from the Lasya School of Dance in Shrewsbury, MA, and have performed in temples across the state.
Click the images to visit my dance school's website.
Books & Reading
In my free time I love to read, my 2026 goal is 120 books (I read 100 in 2025!). I'll read almost any fiction genre depending on my mood, and I write reviews on Goodreads. Favorite authors include Suzanne Collins, Holly Jackson, Stephanie Garber, Ann Liang, Roshani Chokshi, Lauren Roberts, Rebecca Ross, Jesse Sutanto, and more.
Have a recommendation? Email me at pckarapakula@wpi.edu. (Fair warning: my TBR is 93 books long.)
Click the images to go to Goodreads.
Community Service
North South Foundation
I have been volunteering at North South Foundation since 2023, teaching classes like Junior Science Bee, Brain Bee, and Introduction to Neuroscience. I work with kids to make complex concepts clear and teach them ways to remember facts for competitions.
← Click to visit their website!
India Society of Worcester
The India Society of Worcester (ISW) connects and supports the community through various activities. I have volunteered as a Telugu language teacher and as a photographer at the India Day Cultural Fest.
