Student Spotlight is sponsored by Kluth-Richardson Family & Cosmetic Dentistry.
Anant Kamath, a third grader at Shamrock Springs Elementary and Student of the Month, is already an accomplished student at a young age.
Anant recently participated in the International Academic Competition Regional Finals. He also qualified for the International Geography Bee and came in first in the Regional Science Bee.
Anant’s mother, Surbhi Jagotta, said the International Academic Competition is a global contest.
“International Academic Competition (IAC), established in 2010, is a global academic tournament that hosts quiz competitions in history, science, and geography,” she says. “These competitions cater to students across various levels, ranging from elementary and middle school to varsity and junior varsity.”
Jagotta said participating in IAC offers an exciting opportunity for students like Anant to demonstrate their knowledge and compete with peers from around the world.
Anant has had quite a journey since he became involved with IAC. He worked very hard to compete in the bees. “Anant participated in the IAC Regional Finals for the Science and Geography Bee at Westfield Middle School on Feb. 3,” Jagotta says. “He also secured first place in the Science Regional Finals.”
Anant’s accomplishments didn’t stop there.
“Additionally, Anant qualified for the National Science Bee, National Geography Bee, and International Geography Bee,” she says.
Anant will be traveling to Orlando this summer to compete in the National Championship.
“He is looking forward to going to Orlando and competing in the National Science Bee,” Jagotta says. “Additionally, he’s thrilled about exploring the theme parks in Orlando.”
Anant thoroughly loves school. Jagotta said he has his personal favorite subjects.
“He loves science and math at school,” Jagotta says. “He is part of his school’s Robotics team. He also enjoys reading books…his favorite series is ‘Spy School.’”
When Anant isn’t busy in school, he enjoys participating in his favorite hobbies.
“He likes building with Legos and playing with Pokémon cards,” Jagotta says. “He loves art, drawing, and origami. He also loves solving a Rubik’s Cube and wants to be a fast cuber. He can solve a 3×3 cube in under two minutes. He also loves playing board games with his family and spending time with his one-and-a-half-year-old sister, Anika.”
Anant also loves playing piano and he actively participates in a band at his music school. Jagotta said Subu Kamath, Anant’s father, has really helped Anant.
“Subu played a key role in nurturing his curiosity by engaging him in discussions about science topics and encouraging him to ask questions,” she says.
Jagotta encourages other students to get involved with IAC.
“Students can register for IAC competitions either through their schools or as individual participants,” she says. “The first step involves an online qualifying exam, which then leads to the regional finals.”
Jagotta added that the regional finals are buzzer-based exams where multiple students compete head-to-head.
“The National/International Championships have qualifying students from the regional finals proceed to the National Championships (and, in some cases, the International Championships),” she says.
