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Plano Prodigy: From Jasper High School to Washington, D.C.
Submitted Photo - Sahil Khetpal, a resident of Plano and former student of Jasper High School, recently graduated from the Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science and is one of 20 Fellows from The Davidson Institute for Talent Development. He received a $10,000 scholarship for the development of a carbon nanotube-based drug-delivery system for tumor-targeted chemotherapy and phototherapy of cancer, a dual therapy.
By Kim Williams, kwilliams@acnpapers.com
Sahil Khetpal is a recent graduate of the Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science in Denton and is now attending the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business, where he plans to double major in business and chemical engineering. But before he began his legacy as a prodigy, he was a student at Jasper High School.
“The management and technology program was perfect for me, since my interests lie in both engineering and business. It allowed me to expand my knowledge of both fields, instead of confining me to one,” Khetpal said. “One of the great things about the management and technology program is that I will have plenty of options when the time comes. To be honest, I currently do not know what I want to do. For now, I’m really interested in consulting.”
He’s just 17 years old and has already excelled in science, defying the “norm” for not only his peers, but for a majority of the population.
The Davidson Institute for Talent Development recently announced its 2010 Davidson Fellow Scholarship winners.
The Davidson Institute was founded in 1999 by Bob and Jan Davidson. It is a national nonprofit organization headquartered in Reno, Nev. that supports profoundly gifted youth. Marking its 10th anniversary this year, the Davidson Fellows Scholarship program has provided just over $4 million in scholarship funds to 166 Fellows since its inception.
Khetpal developed a carbon nanotube-based drug-delivery system for tumor-targeted chemotherapy and phototherapy of cancer, a dual therapy that attacks tumors on two fronts and mitigates the severe side effects associated with conventional chemotherapy. He investigated a gadonanotube for the development of a new drug delivery system, as well. His system has the potential to both diagnose cancer at an earlier stage and provide the dual therapy mechanism to efficiently combat it.
In recognition of his accomplishment, Khetpal was awarded a $10,000 scholarship and honored in Washington, D.C. with his fellow scholars Sept. 29.
“We are thrilled to celebrate the program’s 10th anniversary and recognize the 2010 Davidson Fellows, not only for their incredible projects, but also for the journey they forged to reach this point,” Bob Davidson said. “Each year the breadth and depth of Fellows’ accomplishments overwhelm us. With nurturing, gifted students will be among those who will solve the world’s most vexing problems, now and in the future.”
Each 2010 Davidson Fellow has worked tirelessly to obtain the resources that enable them to make advances in their fields.
“Our goal is to not have any student left behind,” said Jan Davidson, Ph.D., co-founder of the Davidson Institute. “We applaud the tenacity of these and other profoundly gifted young people, who often take it upon themselves to gather the resources they need to succeed.”
Tacie Moessner, Davidson Fellows program manager, met Khetpal when the institute hosted the fellows to a day on Capitol Hill and reception in Washington, D.C. He also met Congressman Sam Johnson, a longtime representative serving still serving Plano.
“The Davidson Fellows scholarship program seeks to reward students under the age of 18 who are doing significant, college graduate-level work that has the potential to benefit society with $50,000, $25,000 and $10,000 scholarships,” Moessner said. “The scholarship is used for tuition and related expenses.”
Moessner explain the requirements that Khetpal and the other fellows had to meet to apply for the program.
“All students must be under the age of 18 and have completed a significant project in one of the application categories: Mathematics, Science, Technology, Music, Literature, Philosophy and Outside the Box. The work must have the potential to benefit society, and the rule of thumb is that the applicants are working at the college-graduate level,” Moessner said. “All application categories have separate requirements, but for science, the category Sahil applied in, all applicants must submit a formal research paper, a visual representation of their work, a series of essays and three nominating forms. All projects are sent to a panel of judges with Ph.D.s in the field.”
Moessner explained that Khetpal’s work was selected by the judging panel for its comprehensive and creative approach to cancer drug research and therapy.
“We hope that Sahil continues his successful academic career at The University of Pennsylvania Wharton School and that he makes a commitment to encourage and support other young students as they develop their skills and talent,” Moessner said. “We are certainly proud to have Sahil as a member of the 2010 class of Davidson Fellows. We feel he is an excellent representative of what a bright, creative and driven student can achieve with support and nurturing. Great strides in cancer research, environmental and conservation efforts, mathematics, music and literature have been achieved by the 2010 class alone. The cumulative effect of all the Davidson Fellows — past, current and future — will be astonishing.”
Khetpal appreciates his mentors, Dr. Iwao Ojima and Dr. Gregg Dieckmann, for their support.
“I worked with Dr. Dieckmann the summer after my sophomore year in high school. I conducted my science project at the University of Texas at Dallas in Dr. Dieckmann’s lab,” Khetpal said. “The summer after my junior year I worked with Dr. Ojima at Stony Brook University in New York. I had the opportunity to work with Dr. Ojima through the Simons Summer Research Program. Both of my mentors provided me with a laboratory to work in; they provided me with guidance whenever needed. My project was both a result of my own ideas, and the work that was being done in these labs.”
Khetpal grew up playing soccer and the alto saxophone, though he doesn’t have that free time now to play soccer anymore.
Khetpal said that his love for sciences — especially chemistry — was realized through time. He believes that students should take their time to find out just what it is that they can succeed in.
“I discovered this passion through science demonstrations, science fairs, etc.,” Khetpal said, “I would tell kids to take their time to explore everything — the sciences, football, debate, etc.”
As a kid I didn’t have any specific extracurricular activities. However, my parents always encouraged me to explore, and eventually I found that I had a passion for the sciences,” Khetpal said.
For information on the Davidson Institute and to learn about the 2010 Davidson Fellows, visit DavidsonGifted.org/Fellows.
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