Shayan Bawaney makes waves on DHS InvenTeam and in the Community

Shayan Bawaney has taken an active role in leadership at Dublin High School (DHS) through the Engineering Academy, and as a Freshman Mentor Program mentor. He is on the MIT InvenTeam, one of 15 teams chosen by Lemelson MIT from applicants across the nation to receive a $10,000 grant and create a prototype to share in Boston this summer.

The Gaels Video Bulletin Team generously decided to donate profits from the 7PM showing of their 2018 DHS Film Festival to the InvenTeam, who are trying to offset the cost of additional prototyping materials and travel to EurekaFest from June 19-23 at MIT. Working prototypes developed by high school and college students who invent solutions for solving real-world problems will be on show at EurekaFest.

Dublin High School’s InvenTeam describes its project as follows "Our aim is to build a safe, easy-to-use and low maintenance machine that allows handicapped students to enjoy modified versions of soccer and basketball. To accomplish this, we have designed a machine with an interactive user experience that allows students to aim and shoot a ball at a basketball hoop or a soccer goal placed fifteen feet away. Based on their ability, students will be provided with three levels of control of the machine to be able to adjust the direction and upward angle at which the ball is shot."

Eugene Chou is the Teacher Lead on the InvenTeam, and recently spoke at Dublin's first TEDx about inspiring students to participate in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math). Shayan is the Co-Communications Lead on the InvenTeam and is involved in leadership, academics and the community and has been described as kind, funny, creative, insightful, and a person of integrity.

It was these qualities that lead to his nomination for Young Citizen of the Year 2017 by DHS Principal Maureen Byrne.

In her nomination Ms Byrne indicated that Shayan is a person of faith and is involved nationally with the Muslim Youth of North America (MYNA). A youth focused organization, MYNA is managed by youth with minimal input from adult advisors who serve as mentors and guides. The development and implementation of their activities is driven by its youth leaders and members. Shayan is currently serving as Public Relations chair of the organization which is a major responsibility."He has helped organize and promote national conferences in Chicago," said Ms Byrne "but you would not know it, as Shayan is also humble."

He is insightful and looks at life from a creative perspective. This creativity is realized in the form of photography. He has worked on the Dublin High School newspaper, photographs events, and owns his own photography business called Shayan B. Photo.

On his website Shayan states "I believe my youth gives me a unique advantage in the photography world. At this age, it is easier to learn and adapt to different situations as well as reach out to people I would not be able to as an adult. As some of my main clients are parents of students, I know exactly what a student wants in their photos and how to bring out their personality in photos."

Shayan also has a light-hearted side and participated in the DHS Mr. Dublin contest, regaling everyone with his stand-up magic show. "Shayan is someone who seems happy and calm," said Ms Byrne "doing all of the above while maintaining a 4.38 GPA. He lives his life with kindness and integrity, and it shows. Shayan is an exceptional individual. He is a delight to be around and an excellent role model to others."

The InvenTeam is still raising money for additional prototyping to improve the structural components of the machine and casing. OneDublin.org has recently highlighted the InvenTeam’s fundraising effort reporting that “money raised will be used to bring the SpORT (Special Olympics Robotic Thrower) machine to hundreds of handicapped students all across the Tri-Valley and enable them to participate in modified basketball and soccer.”

Please consider supporting the continuation of the project at: https://www.gofundme.com/dhsinvent.