Me (red socks and yellow tee) at a team practice for soccer.
My best ever rated chess game on chess.com.
A scene you might not see anywhere other than in Chefchaeoun, Morocco.
I am currently a junior at Mass Academy of Math and Science. My time here has been filled with opportunities to explore subjects at a higher level, while also allowing me to connect with peers who share my love for problem solving.
Outside of the classroom, I have always had a strong passion for games of strategy and skill. Chess has been one of my favorite hobbies because it requires patience, foresight, and the ability to think several steps ahead.
In addition to strategy games, I love sports, especially soccer. Playing soccer gives me both joy and discipline, and I often follow professional matches, my favorite club being FC Barcelona. Sports help me maintain a balance in my life.
Me (red socks and yellow tee) at a team practice for soccer.
My best ever rated chess game on chess.com.
A scene you might not see anywhere other than in Chefchaeoun, Morocco.
I enjoy giving back to my community through teaching and mentoring. I’ve taught TaeKwonDo at the Boys and Girls Club, led a summer program for elementary school students, and organized a soccer tournament for youth in Connecticut. I also presented a physics lesson to 4th and 5th graders, combining experiments with interactive slides to spark their curiosity about science. Tutoring has been another meaningful part of my service, especially helping students prepare for the SAT.
At school, I stay active in clubs that connect with my interests in math, science, and technology. I founded and currently lead the Scientific Research Club, where we explore big questions and design projects together. I’m also part of the Math Club A Team, Coding Club, and play soccer on the JV team. Outside of academics, I’ve earned my junior black belt in TaeKwonDo and competed successfully in several tournaments.
Research is one of my biggest passions. I earned recognition through Harvard’s AI/ML Program, where I built a PyTorch project comparing the performance of ChatGPT models. I’ve also been a semifinalist in the International Research Olympiad and worked on a proposal for CERN’s Beamline for Schools competition. At UConn, I joined workshops focused on quantum chemistry and hands-on lab work with quantum dots. These experiences have shaped my curiosity and given me the tools to explore science at a deeper level.
Salman Azzimani | sazzimani@wpi.edu
I completed 26 volunteer hours with The T.E.C. Schools, where I designed and taught hands-on LEGO-based science activities for children ages 3-6. My role focused on turning abstract ideas into playful lessons that young learners could build, test, and discuss together. One lesson I designed, "Build Your Own Plant," helped students learn plant anatomy by constructing roots, stems, leaves, and flowers with LEGO pieces and then combining their models into a collaborative classroom ecosystem. You can view a sample lesson plan from this work.
Since October 2024, I have also volunteered as a tutor on Schoolhouse.world, contributing 10 hours in math and SAT prep support. Through this platform, I have hosted 21 tutoring sessions for 23 learners from 6 different countries. These sessions have strengthened my ability to explain concepts clearly while supporting students from diverse backgrounds.