Meet the Team
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Jake Friedman
FOUNDER
I’m Jake Friedman, a student at UVA. Throughout my high school journey, I’ve been dedicated to helping others succeed. From becoming a lead tutor in my school’s Writing and Mentor Centers to tutoring students globally through a non-profit, I’ve gained valuable experience in mentorship and teaching. BC Mentors, co-founded by myself and Arav, started as a small idea, but it has grown into an organization focused on mentorship. We’ve expanded our services to students around Bucks County and even to senior citizens through technology workshops. Arav and I are passionate about continuing this initiative beyond graduation, ensuring that BC Mentors keeps fostering learning and growth for all ages.
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Arav Puthraya
FOUNDER
I am Arav Puthraya, a student at the University of Pittsburgh. Throughout high school, I have always been passionate about helping others succeed academically, whether through mentoring classmates, tutoring younger students, or supporting students globally through a nonprofit organization. Those experiences taught me that every student learns differently, and they helped me develop a more adaptable and personalized approach to mentorship and teaching.
BC Mentors, co-founded by Jake and me, began as a simple idea driven by our shared passion for education and mentorship. Since then, it has grown into a community-focused organization dedicated to helping students build confidence, strengthen academic skills, and reach their full potential throughout Bucks County.
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Yash Rajpathak
Head Manager/Tutor
Hello my name is Yash Rajpathak, an incoming student at The Ohio State University. I assist BC Mentors and their students with academic help as well as providing the students with a enjoyable and communicative understanding of the academic topic they may need help in. At CB South High School I am very involved and I am the class of 2026 fundraising officer in student council, as well as part of numerous clubs. My strong suits in my academics are mainly Math, Spanish, History, and Science. I am so thankful for BC Mentors and our local families!
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Abhi Kaakarla
Head Academic Coordinator/Tutor
Hi, I’m Abhi Kaakarla, a rising senior at Central Bucks High School South, and I’m looking forward to serving as Head Academic Coordinator for BC Mentors. I’ve developed a strong interest in academic support and STEM education through experiences such as Kumon Warrington, where I assisted students in math and English, and as a lead math/computer science tutor with North South Foundation, where I taught weekly online sessions for middle school students.
At school, I’ve been involved in DECA, TSA, and STEM research club, where I’ve had the opportunity to qualify for national and international-level competitions. I’ve also led computer science workshops for local middle school students, introducing foundational coding and computational thinking concepts. These experiences have strengthened my ability to explain concepts clearly, adapt to different learning styles, and support student growth. I hope to make a meaningful impact in the community through BC Mentors by helping expand academic opportunities for students and senior citizens alike! -

Seb Pedrosa
Head of Marketing/Tutor
Hi, my name is Seb Pedrosa and I am a rising senior at CB South High School. I am always looking for ways to improve myself and the organizations I'm part of. I have taken AP Macroeconomics and AP Lang, and have experience in DECA and SSELF as well. I enjoy mentoring because it allows me to pass on knowledge in a meaningful way.
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Satvik Mankar
Tutor
Hi! I am Satvik Mankar, a sophomore at Central Bucks High School South. I am excited to take part in the BC Mentors Program as a tutor. I have always had a desire to teach other people in need of support, and I strive to ensure students fully grasp concepts without remaining questions after a session. Over the past year, I have developed my tutoring skills at the NorthSouth Foundation, instructing advanced and foundational math and science classes to students in need of enrichment or assistance. Additionally, I partake in STEM Club, DECA, and serve as the Vice President for the Alliance of Youth Leaders in the United States Warrington Branch. These activities have significantly matured me in leadership, public speaking, analytical reasoning, and more. As part of BC Mentors, I aim to create a fun and engaging learning community in which students are eager to learn and apply information. I look forward to helping others through BC Mentors!
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Saisanthosh Krishnamoorthy
Tutor
Hi, I’m Saisanthosh Krishnamoorthy, a student at Central Bucks High School South, and I’m excited to join BC Mentors as a tutor. I’ve always enjoyed teaching and helping others learn, and my friends often tell me I explain things clearly and make learning easier. I’ve gained valuable experience by volunteering at Bharatiya Temple, where I’ve developed strong communication and organizational skills. I’ve also been recognized for my academic efforts, earning 1st place in both the Bucks County Science Research Competition and the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science Regional and State conferences. Recently, I was honored to be accepted into the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center program, which has further fueled my passion for science and education. At South, I’m active in clubs like STEM Research, FBLA, and Coding Club, and I’m also a varsity tennis player, which has taught me the importance of discipline, teamwork, and perseverance. I look forward to contributing to BC Mentors by helping students succeed and making a positive impact in the community.
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Grace Piro
Tutor
Hi! I’m Grace Piro and I’m a Chancellor Scholar at the University of Pittsburgh. Ever since I can remember, I’ve done whatever I can to learn from those around me and do the same for others. From tutoring in South’s Mentor Center to tutoring in an international non-profit, I’ve gained experience and skills that I hope can benefit the students of CB. Throughout my time in CB, I’ve been involved in music, sports, and countless clubs, and I can’t wait to get started with BC Mentors!
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Nilesh Pothirajan
Tutor
Hi, I’m Nilesh Pothirajan, a sophomore at Central Bucks High School South, and I’m excited to join BC Mentors as a tutor. I’ve always enjoyed helping others learn and have experience tutoring students in math and science, helping them build confidence and strengthen their problem-solving skills.
At South, I’m involved in Student Council, DECA, and STEM research, which have helped me develop leadership, communication, and teamwork skills. I look forward to working with BC Mentors to support students academically, give back to the community, and continue growing as a mentor. Subject: Math up to AP Calc AB, Spanish, AP Environmental Science, Biology -

Sophie Hyon
Tutor
Hi! I’m Sophie Hyon and I am a student at Boston College. I love learning, and I hope to use the things that I learn to help others. Through tutoring at South’s Writing Center, coaching in an intramural soccer league, and teaching children how to swim at a summer camp, I have found a passion for teaching others and watching them grow, and I am excited to continue to do so with BC Mentors!
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Atharva Patel
Tutor
Hello, my name is Atharva Patel, and I am a rising junior at Central Bucks High School South. I am very excited to join BC Mentors as a tutor. I have always enjoyed mentoring my fellow classmates in topics they may not fully understand, and I strive to ensure that students feel confident in what they are learning. Additionally, I am a member of the Science Olympiad Club. In my free time, I enjoy playing sports and spending time outdoors. I look forward to helping others through BC Mentors! Subjects: Math up to Pre-calclulus, AP Bio, AP CSP, Cybersecurity, and basic English.
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Nick Baeta
Tutor
Hello! I am a Schreyer and Millenium Scholar at Penn State. I've tried my best to absorb knowledge from those around me and apply it to help others whenever I can. I think that the expertise and abilities I've obtained from managing a rigorous courseload and running an international non-profit will be useful to CB kids. I've participated in a lot of clubs, sports, and high-level classes during my time in CB, and I'm excited to start working with BC Mentors!
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Shreyas Boddu
Tutor
Hello! My name is Shreyas Boddu, and I am a rising junior at Central Bucks High School South, excited to be a tutor with BC Mentors. I am passionate about helping students succeed academically and strive to make complex topics easier to understand. Through my experiences in leadership, research, and community involvement, I have developed strong communication, problem-solving, and mentorship skills. I serve as the Assistant Business Operations Manager of my school’s Writing Center and am involved in the STEM Research Club, DECA, National History Day (NHD), and as an intern at the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center. I look forward to contributing to BC Mentors by helping students reach their goals, build confidence, and overall enjoy learning. Subjects: Math up to AP Calculus AB, AP Biology, AP Statistics, English, Basic Spanish, Basic History.
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Zak Robson
Tutor
Hi, my name is Zak Robson. I am an incoming student at Duke, and I am so excited to be able to help students towards educational success through BC Mentors. I strive to teach students not to just be robots repeating information but instead understand concepts on a level that makes the actual testing part easy, while the knowledge and growth is permanent.
At CB South, I am president of FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) where I help lead our members to competition success. Outside of school, I am an entrepreneur and philanthropist, working on my business as well as promoting change in the community. My strongest subjects are Math courses up to Calculus, Economics, and English, as well as SAT preparation. I can’t wait to start working with you! -

Samantha Levin
Tutor
Hi! I’m Samantha Levin and I’m an incoming student at the University of Wisconsin. I strive to help others in any ways I can, whether through my participation in several nonprofits, planning fundraisers for organizations I am passionate about, and being a part of many clubs at my school. I am excited to work with BC Mentors
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Lakshay Naresh
Tutor
Hi! I’m Lakshay Naresh, an incoming student at Maryland, and I’m excited to join BC Mentors as a tutor. I’ve always had a passion for teaching, and I’ve built valuable experience through my work at Mathnasium, where I helped children improve their math skills. Additionally, I serve as the Lead STEM Instructor at Metro Esports, leading programs like coding in Minecraft and Python for younger students. These experiences have sharpened my teaching skills and deepened my commitment to helping students succeed. At school, I’m involved in clubs like FBLA and DECA, which have further enhanced my leadership and teamwork abilities. In my free time, I enjoy watching football and playing basketball. I look forward to bringing my knowledge and enthusiasm to BC Mentors to ensure that all students grow, learn, and have fun in the process.
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Sayoko Nishiyama
Tutor
Hi! I’m Sayoko Nishiyama, a rising junior at CB South. I’m excited to give back to the community through BC Mentors. I’ve been passionate about teaching since I began working at Kumon at age 14, and I’m always striving to help as many people as I can!

