Overview
Work History
Education
Volunteer Experience
Extracurricular Activities
Honors & Awards
Timeline
Generic

Aarush Penmetsa

Flower Mound,TX

Overview

3
3
years of professional experience

Work History

Student Researcher - Biomedical & Public Health Applications

Remote
03.2025 - Current
  • Conduct interdisciplinary research under Yale Ph.D. Dr. John Ledo, utilizing video analysis and movement diagnostics to identify frailty in elderly populations, with applications in preventive care and physical therapy.
  • Conducted research with other students across the United States under Dr. Taruna Agarwal to explore societal medical disparities, analyzing root causes of daily health-related challenges and proposing practical community-based interventions.
  • Strengthened my analytical skills through observational and qualitative data interpretation, while gaining exposure to health-focused research design, real-world application of clinical data, and ethical patient-centered practices. Sharpened collaboration, initiative, and communication through direct mentorship with experts, and developed a clearer understanding of how research translates into tangible improvements in healthcare delivery and community well-being.

Chief Outreach Officer

Scholify
Remote
03.2025 - Current
  • Company Overview: An educational startup connecting high school and middle school students with college student mentors for personalized guidance on the college application process.
  • Serve as a founding officer for Scholify, an educational startup connecting high school and middle school students with college student mentors for personalized guidance on the college application process.
  • Worked alongside the executive team to build the company from the ground up, contributing to its legal and operational foundation, including drafting critical documents such as the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
  • Launched and manage Scholify's presence across all major social platforms, including Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, LinkedIn, X, and Facebook, driving audience growth and platform engagement.
  • Craft and publish weekly blog content on LinkedIn to enhance Scholify's brand authority, deliver actionable college admissions insights to a growing audience of students and mentors, and elevate Scholify's credibility as a go-to resource for college planning, mentorship, and application strategies.
  • Conducted targeted outreach to 20+ middle and high school students and onboarded prospective college mentors, scaling initial user interest and solidifying the startup's mentorship pipeline.
  • An educational startup connecting high school and middle school students with college student mentors for personalized guidance on the college application process.
  • Developed experience in startup strategy, legal compliance, outreach operations, and digital marketing, while advancing access to higher education through personalized, peer-based mentorship.

Founder & Chief Executive Officer

Shining Bright Smiles
Dallas, TX
09.2024 - Current
  • Founded and led a 501(c)(3) certified nonprofit that supports children and adults affected by cleft lip and palate through financial assistance, curated recovery packages, improving hospital environments, and global medical access.
  • Established strategic partnerships with renowned medical professionals, private practices, schools, local businesses, and service organizations to expand outreach, enhance credibility, and deliver holistic care solutions to underserved cleft patients.
  • Gained approval to distribute the prestigious President's Volunteer Service Award, incentivizing service among volunteers.
  • Spearheaded and directed all organizational strategy, donor outreach, legal documentation and filings, and nonprofit governance, managing a growing executive team and national volunteer base.
  • Strengthened leadership, nonprofit operations, communication, and policy-writing skills, while gaining firsthand experience in healthcare equity and sustainable impact. Developed a deeper understanding of community-centered service, inspiring a long-term commitment to creating structural solutions for vulnerable populations.

Co-Manager & Social Media Director

FM Hacks
Remote
09.2024 - Current
  • Company Overview: A national student-led organization that designs and hosts inclusive hackathons to foster innovation, coding skills, and creative problem-solving among students.
  • Serve as co-manager and director of social media for FM Hacks, a national student-led organization that designs and hosts inclusive hackathons to foster innovation, coding skills, and creative problem-solving among students.
  • Collaborated with Dr. Aledhari, a professor at the University of North Texas, to co-develop a multi-category hackathon that attracted students nationwide across various technical backgrounds.
  • Directed promotional campaigns and social media strategy to increase visibility and engagement; personally outreached to and secured interest from 100+ prospective participants across the U.S.
  • Contributed to event logistics, sponsor coordination, and platform setup, working towards a professional and impactful experience for all attendees.
  • A national student-led organization that designs and hosts inclusive hackathons to foster innovation, coding skills, and creative problem-solving among students.
  • Strengthened leadership, communication, and project management skills while building bridges between secondary education and university-level innovation ecosystems.

Vice President and Competitor

Marcus High School
Marcus High School
08.2022 - Current
  • Elected Vice President of the largest and most prominent DECA chapter in the district, serving over 150 members; oversee chapter operations, guide the officer team, and lead strategic initiatives to drive recruitment, engagement, and competitive success.
  • Led initiatives that increased social media reach and chapter visibility, fostering partnerships across DFW and beyond.
  • Organize and execute service projects, interchapter collaborations, and preparation workshops, enhancing community impact and competition readiness.
  • 2025 District Champion and State Qualifier in Entrepreneurship Individual Series Roleplay event.
  • Sharpened public speaking, event planning, and team leadership abilities while learning how to strategically manage large student organizations and inspire performance under pressure.
  • Developed real-world problem-solving skills by analyzing business scenarios under time constraints, presenting actionable solutions to industry professionals, and receiving direct feedback through roleplay competition, strengthening confidence, adaptability, and critical thinking in high-pressure environments.

Head of Marketing and Competitor

Marcus High School
Marcus High School
08.2022 - Current
  • Serve as Head of Marketing for a competitive debate program, managing promotional strategy, community visibility, and event communications to expand membership and public engagement.
  • Plan, market, and lead service projects and peer-led debate workshops; provide mentorship to new members and curate learning resources.
  • Earned multiple speaker awards at local and regional tournaments across three consecutive years of competition.

Team Member, Marcus Robotics Team 19991 "Chuckleheads"

Marcus High School
Marcus High School
08.2022 - Current
  • Core member of the Chuckleheads FTC Robotics team, contributing to all functional domains, including mechanical design, CAD modeling, autonomous and driver-controlled programming, and system integration.
  • Played a pivotal role in enhancing team collaboration, communication, and strategy, which led to consistent performance improvements across competition seasons.
  • Advanced to the FTC State Championships and earned a Bronze Medal at UIL State Robotics in 2023, marking a milestone in program history.
  • Supported and mentored students through the launch of a new FLL (FIRST LEGO League) team composed of feeder elementary school students, helping them reach state-level competitions.
  • Helped lead and participated in community outreach initiatives, including LEGO toy donations for underprivileged children via local law enforcement, canned food drives, and volunteering at robotics tournaments to promote STEM education and civic engagement.

Education

High School -

Edward S. Marcus High School
Flower Mound, TX
05-2026

Volunteer Experience

Teen Court Volunteer Attorney
Flower Mound, TX | September 2024 – Present

  • Volunteered as a courtroom attorney in the local Teen Court system, representing both prosecution and defense in real peer-led cases involving juvenile offenses.
  • Maintained an 83% case success rate, winning 5 out of 6 trials, 3 as prosecutor and 2 as defense, by building persuasive arguments and delivering confident presentations before a jury of peers.
  • Developed critical thinking, legal reasoning, and public speaking skills while supporting restorative justice efforts in the community.

Youth Campaign Team Member, Suresh Manduva, for the FISD Board of Trustees
Frisco, TX | March 2025 – May 2025

  • Served as part of the youth campaign committee for Suresh Manduva’s successful candidacy for Place 1 on the Frisco ISD Board of Trustees.
  • Participated in block walking, direct voter outreach, and campaign marketing events; helped design and distribute signage to increase candidate visibility throughout the community.
  • Contributed to a movement that resulted in a decisive election win, gaining hands-on experience in political campaigning, teamwork, and civic engagement.

Volunteer, Marcus Robotics Events & Outreach
Marcus High School | 2022 – Present

  • Supported robotics competitions by organizing logistics, providing aid in concession stands, and maintaining match field equipment, ensuring smooth operation during regional events.
  • Engaged in STEM-focused outreach initiatives, including LEGO toy drives for underprivileged children, canned food collections, and interactive STEM nights at local elementary and middle schools.
  • Helped foster early interest in robotics and STEM among youth while promoting inclusivity in technology education.

Volunteer, National Honor Society Service Events
Marcus High School | April 2024 – Present

  • Contributed to multiple NHS-led community and school events, including the Timber Creek Elementary Carnival, Prairie Trail Spring Fest, and MEDS Club Blood Drive.
  • Created celebratory posters for Teacher Appreciation efforts and supported event execution through setup, logistics, and community engagement.
  • Demonstrated dependability, creativity, and a strong commitment to service across a variety of initiatives.

Extracurricular Activities

Junior Varsity Tennis Team Member
Marcus High School | August 2023 – May 2025

  • Competed in 11 tournaments over two years as a singles and doubles player; reached the finals in 3 competitions, contributing to team point totals and overall standings.
  • Balanced competitive athletics with academics, learning how to manage time effectively, and perform under physical and mental pressure.
  • Strengthened resilience, strategic thinking, and discipline through match preparation and training.

Co-Founder & Instructor, Bollywood Dance Camp

Frisco, TX | June 2024 – July 2024

  • Co-organized and led a two-week Bollywood dance camp for elementary school students, teaching choreographed routines that combined four songs into one final performance.
  • Instructed 20+ children in movement, rhythm, and stage presence, culminating in a public recital for parents and community members.
  • Developed leadership, creativity, and public engagement skills while fostering cultural appreciation and confidence in young performers.

Coding Student, Byju’s Future School
Remote | February 2021 – February 2024

  • Completed a rigorous coding curriculum through Byju’s Future School, gaining proficiency in JavaScript, HTML, React Native, and Python.
  • Built over 150 hands-on projects, including a functional app, an interactive website, and a custom-designed game, demonstrating applied knowledge and creativity.
  • Strengthened problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and digital literacy while receiving mentorship from professional developers.

Private Art Instructor
Flower Mound, TX | June 2023 – August 2023

  • Taught foundational art techniques to family and friends, including sketching, shading, and color blending, guiding them through step-by-step creative projects.
  • Encouraged artistic confidence and expression in beginner learners while refining communication, patience, and instructional delivery.
  • Used art as a medium to foster connection, creativity, and mental well-being in a supportive, low-pressure environment.

Honors & Awards

DECA District Champion/State Qualifier
Texas DECA | March 2025

  • Recognized as District Champion in the Entrepreneurship Individual Series; advanced to compete at the Texas DECA State Career Development Conference among top-performing business students statewide.

FTC Robotics Regional Finalist/State Qualifier and Bronze Medalist
FIRST Tech Challenge X-League | March 2023

  • Helped lead the robotics team to a top regional finish, qualifying for the Texas FTC State Championship.
  • Awarded the Bronze Medal at the UIL Robotics State Championship.

Timeline

Student Researcher - Biomedical & Public Health Applications

03.2025 - Current

Chief Outreach Officer

Scholify
03.2025 - Current

Founder & Chief Executive Officer

Shining Bright Smiles
09.2024 - Current

Co-Manager & Social Media Director

FM Hacks
09.2024 - Current

Vice President and Competitor

Marcus High School
08.2022 - Current

Head of Marketing and Competitor

Marcus High School
08.2022 - Current

Team Member, Marcus Robotics Team 19991 "Chuckleheads"

Marcus High School
08.2022 - Current

High School -

Edward S. Marcus High School

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Aarush Penmetsa