YOUTH
applying for early admission at Harvard and considering
Stanford University in California.
THE SANA ASTEROID
At 15, Sana Shareef is highly accomplished in two separate
areas — biology and history. Sana was selected to represent
Indian River County in Intel’s International Science and Engineering
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Fair in May, winning second place in the zoology
category. Along with the honor and cash prize of $3,000, Sana
received a special MIT award naming an asteroid “Sana”
after her.
“It’s on an outer belt of the galaxy so we don’t think it will
crash into us,” her father says with a laugh.
Working under the mentorship of Dr. Stephen La Pointe,
a research entomologist for the USDA in Fort Pierce, Sana’s
winning project addressed the destructive Sri Lankan weevil.
“The weevils eat avocados, citrus and peaches,” says Sana.
“We wanted to study them and prevent their destroying such
important crops.”
Sana’s parents and younger brother, Omar, 13, caught
weevils together, scooping them into bottles. They built 20
tents (weevil-houses) in the backyard.
Working with La Pointe, Sana figured out that weevils like
peaches best.
“Knowing the structure of their DNA leads to so much
knowledge. I have a passion for science and know how much
it means to my dad. Being able to start a discussion in science
is important, too. That’s what I’ve learned with the Model
U.N.,” Sana says.
A MODEL DIPLOMAT
She takes down the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Award from a
shelf. The award is for diplomatic finesse.
“Sana was invited to the Model U.N. in the eighth grade,”
says her mother.
Sana performs traditional Indian dance in the Atlantic India
Association and plays the clarinet. She recently completed
an intense course in Arabic.
“The different things I’m pursuing are what I want to do. I
like a challenge,” Sana says.
PARENTS INSPIRE THEM
When asked how they’ve accomplished so much at such an
early age, all four students credit their parents.
“I’d be nothing without my parents,” says Haniya Shareef.
“They’re the reason I am who I am.”
Koushal is also grateful to his brothers, Kathan, 20, an
undergraduate at Columbia University in New York, and
Kahrik, 26, now finishing medical school at Johns Hopkins in
Baltimore, calling them his ongoing advisers.
“And my parents are there for me in every way,” Koushal
says.
“My parents have high expectations, but that inspires me to
fulfill them,” says Nishanth.
“When we go through family photos, it’s always Omar and
me with books, sitting in our parents’ laps. There is a constant
emphasis on reading and learning,” Sana says.
When it comes to the parents’ wishes for their children,
Mehr Shareef speaks for all in saying, “I want them to pursue
their passions and give them their best. Whatever profession,
they should serve humanity however they can and I want
them to be happy. Success doesn’t bring happiness. Happiness
brings success.”
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