Shreya Vardhan, (16), a class XII student of the nationally reputed Delhi Public School, R.K. Puram, has become a DPS and India star by scoring a perfect 100 in the US-administered SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test), AP (Advance Placement) and TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) — all mandatory qualifying examinations for admission into American universities. She scored 2400/2400 in the SAT reasoning test (held on January 28), 800/800 in chemistry, physics and mathematics level-2 each in subject SATs (May 5), 5/5 in chemistry, calculus AB and physics C (mechanics) in the APs (7-14 May) and 120/120 in TOEFL (June 9), to cap a perfect summer. “Hard work and lots of practice paid off. While I had to put in a lot of extra effort and focus on my studies, I also read plenty of fiction and non-fiction which improved my language and general knowledge,’’ says Shreya, explaining the secret of her success.

A consistent class topper, Shreya secured a cumulative grade point average of 10 in CBSE’s class X exams and 94 percent in class XI. Moreover she is a National Talent Search Examination (a national-level scholarship programme run by National Council of Education Research and Training) scholar and was ranked among the top 10 in the International Olympiad of English Language in class X, and fifth in the International Olympiad of Science in class IX. A child rights champion, she has written extensively on autism, child labour and related issues in leading national dailies.

However, despite these impressive scholastic laurels, this bubbly teenager is not at all the stereotypical classroom nerd. Shreya takes keen interest in theatre, and has written and acted in several short plays/skits for the Poona Arts Theatre. Apart from playing tennis and enjoying the occasional swim, she is a teacher volunteer at the Delhi-based NGO Umeed Foundation, a school for autistic and differently abled children. “She is assured of our 100 percent support in all she does,” says Shreya’s father Col.(Dr.) Shakti Vardhan, a senior advisor at the Army Hospital (Research & Referral), Delhi. Her mother Reena is a teacher and software professional.

“I worked hard consistently to qualify for admission into prestigious international institutions like Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Princeton University where I want to read physics,” says Shreya, excited that she’s on the threshold of a career in research in her chosen subject.

Wind beneath your wings!

Swati Roy (Delhi)

A.V. Jayaveena

A.V. Jayaveena (14), a class IX student of Chettinad Vidyashram, Chennai, was crowned the junior national girls swimming champion, an honour she shares with another swimmer from Maharashtra, at the 39th Junior National Aquatics Championship held between July 11-16 in Chennai. Jayaveena won three gold medals in the 50 m, 100 m and 200 m breaststroke, breaking the national record in each event and also bagged gold in the 100 m freestyle. Nor was this a flash in the pan. She followed up this record-breaking performance by winning six golds and the individual championship at the TVS-Delphi Tamil Nadu State Aquatics Championship held on August 31.

Modest and soft-spoken, she took to swimming like a duck to water four years ago, and has a simple success formula. “I always focus on bettering my previous timing and this formula has worked. My parents, coach and school principal have also been very supportive,” she says.

The younger of two siblings, Jayaveena is the daughter of popular Kerala movie star A.R. (‘Thalaivasal’) Vijay and homemaker Rajeshwari. She drew inspiration from elder brother Jaywant, an international swimmer.  At age ten, Jayaveena began formal training with head coach B. Girish of the Turtles Swim Club, Chennai. True to prediction, she burned up pools across the state winning sub-junior medals and championships through 2008-10.

Applying her winning formula, there’s been no looking back for this energetic aquanaut. At the 34th National Games in Ranchi in 2011, she was the youngest swimmer countrywide to win two silver and four bronze medals. Subsequently she broke Tamil Nadu swimmer Saba Sait’s long-standing national record (2004) in the 50 m breaststroke at the 65th Senior National Aquatics Championship, also held in Ranchi in 2011.

Jayaveena’s consistent triumphs are the result of hard work, discipline and die-hard determination. “I train for two hours in the morning and two in the evening everyday, and strictly follow the advice of my physiotherapist and dietician. So far I have been able to strike a balance between academics and swimming and have fared well in my school exams,” says the swimming star.

Currently Jayaveena is training hard for the forthcoming (October) Senior Nationals in Pune. “I want to qualify for the Junior Asian Games and 2016 Rio Olympics. And parallely I wish to pursue a career in sports medicine,” she says.

Way to go, mermaid!

Hemalatha Raghupathi (Chennai)

Also read: Shivansh Chaturvedi