Meet the 2016 Team!!!
Our Story:
Craft Connections, still maintaining its goal of using crafts to benefit global society, has been passed on to the capable hands of these eleven high school juniors and seniors. Through their mix of artistic talents and business skills, they hope to continue developing this organization and to be able to reach out to more people. They are so excited that you've decided to visit the website and thank you for all the support!
Craft Connections, still maintaining its goal of using crafts to benefit global society, has been passed on to the capable hands of these eleven high school juniors and seniors. Through their mix of artistic talents and business skills, they hope to continue developing this organization and to be able to reach out to more people. They are so excited that you've decided to visit the website and thank you for all the support!
Julia Read
President
Julia is a senior and an enthusiastic leader who is so delighted to have your support in making this organization possible! She enjoys making a variety of crafts (felt plushies, origami kusudamas, nylon flowers, and more!) as well as working with children, from tutoring them in academic subjects to teaching them how to swim. At school, Julia loves studying computer science and chemistry. She also swims year-round in DACA's National Development team and is the Team Captain of her high school swim team after having been a member of the Varsity swim team for four years. In addition, she loves drawing and animation and hopes to one day combine her interests in art, science, and engineering.
President
Julia is a senior and an enthusiastic leader who is so delighted to have your support in making this organization possible! She enjoys making a variety of crafts (felt plushies, origami kusudamas, nylon flowers, and more!) as well as working with children, from tutoring them in academic subjects to teaching them how to swim. At school, Julia loves studying computer science and chemistry. She also swims year-round in DACA's National Development team and is the Team Captain of her high school swim team after having been a member of the Varsity swim team for four years. In addition, she loves drawing and animation and hopes to one day combine her interests in art, science, and engineering.
Irene Pham
Product Design Team
Irene loves to create art using a variety of mediums including pencil, acrylic paint, and spray paint. She is also the co founder of Jiska Arts and Crafts where she sews and sells painted messenger and shoulder bags. During her free time she enjoys coaching gymnastics for the California Sports Center, teaching at St. Justin's Parish, volunteering at Good Samaritan Hospital, and playing with animals at the Humane Society of Silicon Valley.
Product Design Team
Irene loves to create art using a variety of mediums including pencil, acrylic paint, and spray paint. She is also the co founder of Jiska Arts and Crafts where she sews and sells painted messenger and shoulder bags. During her free time she enjoys coaching gymnastics for the California Sports Center, teaching at St. Justin's Parish, volunteering at Good Samaritan Hospital, and playing with animals at the Humane Society of Silicon Valley.
Lindsey Archer
Product Design Team
Lindsey Archer loves art, baking, animals and service. She is a face painter and loves doing acrylic paintings and other crafts. Her cookies are well known, and on holidays she gives them out at school in exchange for smiles. Lindsey is the secretary of her school’s Acts of Random Kindness club, and she also volunteers at a wildlife hospital where her favorite animal is the opossum. Her goal is to be a veterinarian.
Product Design Team
Lindsey Archer loves art, baking, animals and service. She is a face painter and loves doing acrylic paintings and other crafts. Her cookies are well known, and on holidays she gives them out at school in exchange for smiles. Lindsey is the secretary of her school’s Acts of Random Kindness club, and she also volunteers at a wildlife hospital where her favorite animal is the opossum. Her goal is to be a veterinarian.
Noah Kane Manuel
Product Design Team
Noah Kane Manuel is first and foremost, someone who creates things. Although relatively new to the world of arts and crafts and he is hoping to continue pursuing this new found hobby. From wood etching to folding origami to the mechanical parts he makes as part of his school’s robotics team, Noah has always love to build and shape. In his spare time, Noah enjoys folding origami whales, listening to whalesong, and generally appreciating whale culture.
Product Design Team
Noah Kane Manuel is first and foremost, someone who creates things. Although relatively new to the world of arts and crafts and he is hoping to continue pursuing this new found hobby. From wood etching to folding origami to the mechanical parts he makes as part of his school’s robotics team, Noah has always love to build and shape. In his spare time, Noah enjoys folding origami whales, listening to whalesong, and generally appreciating whale culture.
Alejandra Alonso
Product Design Team
Alejandra Alonso has a heart of gold. She loves to help people as well as making them laugh and smile whenever she can. She can be often found singing, reading, taking pictures, and writing poetry and stories. At school, she is part of concert choir and yearbook. She speaks fluent Spanish.
Product Design Team
Alejandra Alonso has a heart of gold. She loves to help people as well as making them laugh and smile whenever she can. She can be often found singing, reading, taking pictures, and writing poetry and stories. At school, she is part of concert choir and yearbook. She speaks fluent Spanish.
Michelle You
Product Design Team
Michelle enjoys sharing her passion for art and music with others through service. She was the Treasurer of her high school's community service club, Generation On, for which she designed and taught arts and crafts to children with autism. She can be seen in Wind Ensemble as the Clarinet Section Leader, and performs music at senior centers
and charity concerts as a volunteer in Bay Area Youth Music Society. She was also a member of the varsity tennis team, speaks fluent Mandarin, and is interested in studying business.
Product Design Team
Michelle enjoys sharing her passion for art and music with others through service. She was the Treasurer of her high school's community service club, Generation On, for which she designed and taught arts and crafts to children with autism. She can be seen in Wind Ensemble as the Clarinet Section Leader, and performs music at senior centers
and charity concerts as a volunteer in Bay Area Youth Music Society. She was also a member of the varsity tennis team, speaks fluent Mandarin, and is interested in studying business.
Giulia Travostino
Business Team
Giulia Travostino is a senior involved in Speech and Debate and Newspaper. In Speech, she coaches novice speakers and competes in Oratory and Advocacy. In Newspaper, she edits the Justice section. She loves writing and politics, as she hopes to one day work in policy. When she has free time, Giulia reads and cooks. She has been cooking since she was four and she sees it as a way to connect with and understand other cultures. She loves to read as well, and her favorite book is Les Miserables.
Business Team
Giulia Travostino is a senior involved in Speech and Debate and Newspaper. In Speech, she coaches novice speakers and competes in Oratory and Advocacy. In Newspaper, she edits the Justice section. She loves writing and politics, as she hopes to one day work in policy. When she has free time, Giulia reads and cooks. She has been cooking since she was four and she sees it as a way to connect with and understand other cultures. She loves to read as well, and her favorite book is Les Miserables.
Samee Mohan
Business Team
Samee loves the world of business, and helps manage the business side of Craft Connections. She is also involved with the Future Business Leaders of America as the co-president. Samee loves volunteering and has worked as a teacher's assistant, camp volunteer, and music and art teacher with various organizations that serve the special needs community. Samee plays flute in the Wind Ensemble at her school. In her free time, Samee loves dancing (Bharatanatyam-Indian classical dance).
Business Team
Samee loves the world of business, and helps manage the business side of Craft Connections. She is also involved with the Future Business Leaders of America as the co-president. Samee loves volunteering and has worked as a teacher's assistant, camp volunteer, and music and art teacher with various organizations that serve the special needs community. Samee plays flute in the Wind Ensemble at her school. In her free time, Samee loves dancing (Bharatanatyam-Indian classical dance).
Yoshmar Pinal
Business Team
Yoshmar is a junior at Archbishop Mitty. He loves family, freinds, and fun. His favorite fruit is the strawberry. He is on the track team and the cross country team at his high school. He loves running, especially away from his responsibilities. However, he will try his hardest and work with everybody to make this a swaggin' club! He's looking forward to the semester ahead!
Business Team
Yoshmar is a junior at Archbishop Mitty. He loves family, freinds, and fun. His favorite fruit is the strawberry. He is on the track team and the cross country team at his high school. He loves running, especially away from his responsibilities. However, he will try his hardest and work with everybody to make this a swaggin' club! He's looking forward to the semester ahead!
Parth Doshi
Business Team
Parth has a passion for technology and helping others; Parth can often be found at the Tech Desk where he loves to use his knowledge to assist others. His creativity and amiable nature allow him to easily create connections with anyone and everyone. In addition, he is proficient with using Photoshop and Illustrator. Outside of school, he likes to attend Hackathons and just be with friends!
Business Team
Parth has a passion for technology and helping others; Parth can often be found at the Tech Desk where he loves to use his knowledge to assist others. His creativity and amiable nature allow him to easily create connections with anyone and everyone. In addition, he is proficient with using Photoshop and Illustrator. Outside of school, he likes to attend Hackathons and just be with friends!
Saaketh Rayaprolu
Business Team
Saaketh loves helping and encouraging people. He started doing origami in the second grade and joined Craft Connections to utilize his hobby for the benefit of others. Additionally, he has been playing cricket for over ten years and is on the school Varsity Badminton team. Saaketh has been part of the Speech and Debate Team for four years because of his interest in public speaking. He also sings South Indian Classical Music and speaks fluent Telugu, having graduated from SiliconAndhra Manabadi. He also has a passion for math, which led him to the Math Team, and he hopes to one day put his skills to use in the field of cryptography.
Business Team
Saaketh loves helping and encouraging people. He started doing origami in the second grade and joined Craft Connections to utilize his hobby for the benefit of others. Additionally, he has been playing cricket for over ten years and is on the school Varsity Badminton team. Saaketh has been part of the Speech and Debate Team for four years because of his interest in public speaking. He also sings South Indian Classical Music and speaks fluent Telugu, having graduated from SiliconAndhra Manabadi. He also has a passion for math, which led him to the Math Team, and he hopes to one day put his skills to use in the field of cryptography.