Avanthika Ramesh, a high school senior at Milton High School in Milton, Georgia and the 2016-2017 Virtual Business Scholarship winner from Knowledge Matters, is already running her own business while still in high school.
Avanthika started an academic tutoring business to tutor students from kindergarten - 12th grade in a wide variety of subject areas.
But Avanthika’s tutoring business isn’t just marketed via word-of-mouth between parents. Avanthika built a fully-functioning, interactive websites that includes a chat tool.
“I get a notification if someone is browsing my website. I learned to be proactive in communicating with my potential customers,”Avanthika said.
In the fall of 2017, Avanthika will start college at University of California, Berkeley where she’ll be the founding class of the college’s Management, Entrepreneurship, and Technology (M.E.T) program. Avanthika will be aided by the $2,000 annual Virtual Business Scholarship. Before college begins for her in the fall, Avanthika plans to spend the summer continuing to run her tutoring company while also interning at Digital Scientists, a mobile and web design firm in Georgia.
Avanthika has also been actively involved in her school’s Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) chapter for the past four years, and she’s currently serving as the chapter’s Vice President.
In addition to competing in FBLA events where she learned how to present on business topics in front of a large crowd, Avanthika has overseen the work of all committees and managed assignments and lead community service efforts. She also used an online platform to design T-Shirts, created an online voting poll, and assisted in the creation of a promotional video for a community service effort.
In addition to her interest in business, Avanthika’s knowledge is grounded in science and technology too. She published a Multivariable Calculus book for college-level Calculus students, and she used the Apple iBook Author software to create the eBook.
Given her success to date and her selection as 2016-2017 Virtual Business Scholarship winner, Avanthika has one word of advice for other students - organization. She’s figured this out from her own success, as well as tutoring many students.
“Organization is a big thing many students are lacking. If they’re not organized, they can’t understand the material,” she said.
