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Meet The Team
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"The Visionary"
ARYAN KALIA
COFOUNDER
COFOUNDER
As the Cofounder of BASIC Aryan believes in making education more relevant and meaningful. Aryan is passionate about research has published a longitudinal study of topics tested on the AMC10 for the past 20 years. He is studying Statistics and Mathematics at Harvard.
Aryan is dedicated to improving math education and community in local schools. He has been organizing math coaches to help the middle school math team and hosting mock Mathcounts competitions. Aryan won the state championship for Mathcounts head to head competition in middle school and has been placing in the top 1% for the American Mathematical Competition for the last several years.
He wants to utilize his background in Math, Statistics, and Physics to work and learn Quantitative Finance. Having developed key skills in probability, trading, and data analysis, he enjoys tackling the challenges of this dynamic field.
"The Problem Solver"
AARUSH KALIA
Aarush, a junior at South Windsor High School belongs to a community of eccentric and versatile kids who share his passion for research, obsession for quirky Tiktoks, and aspirations for making a difference in this world (not necessarily in that order!).
I strive to excel in my academic pursuits that extend beyond the classroom. From dissecting shifts in math competition topics over the past decade to delving into the Cosmic Microwave Background to decode the universe's evolution, my interests span the abstract to the cosmic. I'm also collaborating with a Yale professor to explore disparities in telehealth, an endeavor that aligns with my passion for analyzing patterns and advocating for impactful changes in digital healthcare.
His pursuits, both on and off the field, reflect his enthusiasm for learning, teamwork, and contribution to the broader social good. As the Founder of 2nd-chance.org, he is also dedicated to creating libraries in juvenile detention centers, promoting literacy and providing educational resources to incarcerated youth.
His leadership extends to serving as a Student Representative on the South Windsor Board of Education, advocating for student interests and promoting STEM opportunities.
In every endeavor, Aarush aims to inspire and empower others, fostering a community where knowledge, opportunity, and teamwork drive positive change.
"The People's Person"
KAYLA JOHNSON
CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER
In a country as diverse as the United States, why shouldn’t educational opportunities be as well? Internships shouldn’t just be for students with traditional connections, and interns shouldn’t just be for large corporations, and as part of the BASIC team, Kayla hopes to help spread this message and make professional opportunities and help more widely available to businesses and students alike.
Before joining the BASIC team, Kayla has been widely involved in education and the fight for educational justice. Some current and past endeavors include offering pro-bono college applications resources, advice, and help to students from low-income backgrounds and teaching business and pre-medical courses to diverse classrooms. Kayla is also currently developing a thesis on educational justice at Harvard University.
In the future, Kayla hopes to continue working towards her goals of making educational and professional resources more available to students all over the country, as well as supporting local businesses, both through BASIC and elsewhere. She currently hopes to pursue joint graduate studies in business and public policy to continue building the skillset to do just that.