Pat-Med student becomes a Bezos scholar

The first-ever Patchogue-Medford student, Rithika Sivapokaran, was recently accepted as a Bezos scholar, making a trip to Colorado with her mentor and district counselor for the IDEAS Festival.

The Bezos Scholars Program began in 2005. The founders, Jackie and Mike Bezos—mother and stepfather of Jeff Bezos—attended the festival, which is a premier gathering of leaders from around the globe, and wondered, “Where are the young people?”

“Since then, the program has evolved from a way to include outstanding students at the festival to a rich, yearlong leadership development program spanning the U.S. and Africa—one that not only delivers specific and measurable learning outcomes, but also amplifies youth voice and action by supporting scholars as they produce real-world projects aimed at positive change,” the website reads.

This June, then junior, now senior Sivapokaran and high-school counselor Emily Rohme, traveled to Aspen, Colo., for a weeklong leadership program funded by Mike and Jackie Bezos. Sivapokaran was one of 12 students selected in the United States for this program, where over 3,000 students nationwide applied. 

The application process, according to Medford resident Sivapokaran, was lengthy and included several longform essay submissions. Upon being selected as a finalist, she then interviewed with alumni from the program via Zoom.

“They wanted to see who I am as a person and student and a community leader,” she explained. “How I am involved in my community and taking action.”

As a Sri Lankan American, Sivapokaran is proud to be the first from both sides of her family to receive an American education. She is also passionate about helping young women feel empowered, especially in the STEM field.

She has been involved in various clubs, with leadership positions including president of her class for the last three years.

Sivapokaran is also part of the emPowering Minds guidance program started at the high school focusing on mental health within the student body. The group meets twice a month, with topics on healthy relationships and overall mental health awareness. The advisor of that program is Sivapokaran’s guidance counselor, Gina Romani, the district’s counselor’s department leader.

“She was the perfect fit for the program,” said Romani, explaining how she helped her apply after receiving an email about the program, though no one else has ever gone in the district.

Once at the festival, Sivapokaran said the idea was to get comfortable with being uncomfortable.

“We were surrounded by older, powerful, intellectual people,” she said.

During the festival, Sivapokaran gravitated toward computer science sessions as well as anything with mental health and digital literacy, as she is interested in pursuing a career in computer science, currently applying to an undisclosed Ivy-League institution (she didn’t want to jinx the application).

“There were so many people you see on social media, and now with this program they were right in front of me, we were face to face with them, and when we got back to our community we were inspired with ideas,” she said.

“It was really nice to see her go outside of her comfort zone and her bubble and be at some of the sessions, standing up and raising her hand or going over to the speakers to talk to them,” said Rohme, proud of her student.

Though there was plenty of learning, she and Rohme were also able to explore Aspen Mountain and were even invited to the Bezos’s home.

“The entire trip was 100 percent fun,” Sivapokaran said, now inspired.

Upon her return home, she is now tasked with creating a project for change within her district. She is looking at focusing on creating a STEM program at one of the middle schools to inspire young women to take interest in the field.

“All they really need is to be exposed to it, to see if they like it,” she said of the typically male-dominated field. “I want to open the door up to them by providing them with this opportunity.”

The program, once completed, will be piloted at one of the middle schools. In addition, Sivapokaran was invited by one of the session leaders, MIT professor and founder of Cortico, for an internship to help work on developing an app utilizing A.I., and she has been working with fellow Bezos scholars on a podcast.

“She is by far the most unique and outstanding student, not only because she is so academically brilliant, but she is a genuinely kind and compassionate human who is always willing to help others,” added Romani.

For more information about the program visit: www.bezosscholars.org.