Despite already securing a scholarship that funds his undergraduate degree, don’t expect Akilan Sankaran ’25 to take it easy. The Academy junior and recipient of the prestigious Coolidge Scholarship is actively involved in many activities, ranging from music and sports to scientific research, and always gives his best effort.
Akilan learned he was named one of only five 2024 Coolidge Scholars in early May. “I still can’t really believe it! When I first found out about the scholarship, I really did not expect to be in contention to win it,” he says. “Still, though, I tried to give it my best shot.”
A Coolidge Scholarship is among the most generous college scholarships one can receive. It covers a student’s full tuition, room and board, and required fees for four years of undergraduate study. The Coolidge may be used by recipients at any accredited college or university in the United States.
“Being able to have the ability to select various undergraduate institutions without a direct worry about the financial cost will certainly alleviate the stress quite a bit during senior year and going into college,” Akilan says.
Operated by the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation, the Coolidge Scholars Program honors 30th U.S. President Calvin Coolidge, who was known for his focus on academics and public speaking, primarily on public policy. Therefore, the main criterion that distinguishes Coolidge Scholars is academic excellence, followed by humility, service, and an interest in public policy.
At the Academy’s all-school awards ceremony last week, Akilan also received the 2024 Charles Wong Memorial Award, which recognizes academic achievement, curiosity, creativity, and integrity. “His teachers have been uniformly impressed by his drive, intellectual curiosity, creativity, enthusiasm, and exceptional talent,” said 10-12 Division Head David Kim during the award presentation. “Whatever he engages with, in or out of the classroom, he does so with excellence, humor, and joy.”
Akilan’s interests are vast, and his commitment to them is deep.
As a classically trained pianist, he has performed with professional orchestras and in international competitions. He’s a runner who has been a four-year member of the Academy’s cross-country and track and field teams. Akilan volunteers at this temple and will be part of the Academy’s Student Wellness Advisory Board next school year. In addition to being part of the Science Olympiad and Science Bowl teams, his enthusiasm for math and science has led to research in topic modeling, computational chemistry, algebraic number theory, and, most recently, interdisciplinary research centered in quantum chemistry with Sandia National Laboratories. Akilan has also mentored younger students through the Academy’s new Math Endeavors Club. He is a frequent contributor to The Advocate, a public forum debater with the speech and debate team, and a former class officer – activities, he says, that “often complement my scientific investigations.”
Starting this summer, Akilan will join the world of Coolidge Scholars, spending several days in Plymouth Notch, Vermont, the birthplace of President Coolidge, learning more about Coolidge and helping oversee the foundation’s debate programs.
“The scholarship,” he says, “will hopefully open many new doors for me to enter an amazingly supportive community of individuals in the broader Coolidge community, including both mentors and students my age.”
During his time at the Academy, Akilan says he’s been inspired by Alan Vraspir and David Metzler, math faculty members. “Both teachers have been fantastic mentors and my greatest advocates,” he says. “Dr. Metzler possesses an astounding ability to explain abstract, absurdly complex ideas in relatable, intuitive analogies, and the sheer amount of time and effort he has contributed to further my own learning has been unparalleled.
“Dr. Vraspir contributes a similar level of intent, rigor, and precision.” Akilan says he’s enjoyed their many conversations about shared interests – “everything from running to logic, from mathematics contests to piano performances.”
Akilan has not yet settled on what he’d like to study when he graduates from the Academy. “It would be interesting to be able to pursue research in applied mathematics or biochemistry in college,” he says. “Specifically, I would like to be able to conduct interdisciplinary research that allows me to establish novel connections between seemingly unrelated concepts. I would also like to potentially pursue a minor, double major, or dual-degree enrollment credit in piano performance – preferably at a music conservatory.”
