Sahana Kaliyaperumal WTSA State Office - Candidate Website

My Ideas

1. Improve the quality of information on the WTSA website, including extra resources for new TSA participants. When I first joined TSA I loved how I could easily navigate through events and event examples, but I was also completely lost on some competition aspects. My local chapter really helped with providing competition resources and support, like interview tips, reminders near the deadline, and providing competition updates. I would love to help extend this competition support to the WTSA website, to allow people to focus more on creating their event entries.
2. Another idea I have is to help organize crowds at the TSA activities in a way that prevents huge clumping or disorienting blobs. I'm curious to see how that might already be avoided at the Davenport Grand, since it's larger than the Doubletree hotel from last year's conference.
3. Finally, I would love to expand the activities offered at the WTSA State Conference. One way to do this is include more engineering challenges beyond the cardboard boat race-- like the marshmallow tower challenge, bridge building challenge, or duct tape challenge.

Bio

I’m Sahana Kaliyaperumal, a sophomore at Tesla STEM High School in Redmond. I joined TSA, in 9th grade, for two reasons—Digital Video Production, and Fashion Design. Those two events enabled my biggest core value, creativity, where I experimented with different fabrics and ideas for Fashion Design, and even composed a basic soundtrack for Digital Video Production! As a result, I’ve greatly developed my technical and detail-oriented skills, as well as leadership and communicative skills. I’m deeply committed to TSA, through both the leadership skills I’ve gained in the mentor program, the weekly chats I have with my events’ teammates, preparing for the state conference, and interest in WTSA State Office. Beyond TSA, I play tennis, partially for the competition and partially for the physical exercise outlet!

Currently, I play tennis in JV singles for Eastlake High School. Outside of the school sports season I take classes weekly, and I really hope that I keep finding time for tennis as my schedule fills up. I joined Science Olympiad this year and have won 2 invitational level awards for the event Optics, and I play flute and am in my school’s orchestra. Last but not least, I’m also working on a research project outside of school, related to quantum computing and neuromorphic algorithms to ensure safe virtual reality usage!

I firmly embrace creativity, where I know that it’s so valuable when people can create their own unique ideas and build off of existing ideas, or generate completely new ones. Additionally, connection to family, friends, collaboration with peers, and learning leadership are a huge part of my core values, where I thrive off of sharing and exchanges—from how someone’s day is going, to how we can build a better world.

My Events

In TSA I have competed, and/or am competing the following events:

• Digital Video Production
• Fashion Design and Technology
• Children's Stories
• Animatronics
• Board Game Design

My favorite event is Board Game Design! I'm so excited to show the judges my team's board game at the WTSA State Conference after months of creativity, trial, error, and collaboration.

Introduction Video

Here's my introduction video, introducing me and my ideas for TSA! Make sure to unmute the video if it mutes automatically.