Ponte Vedra High School’s biotechnology program continues to produce some of the brightest minds not just in the county but in the country, and the latest example of that is Mira Bhutani, a senior who was chosen as this year’s Career and Technical Education U.S. Presidential Scholar representing St. Johns County.
According to PVHS biotechnology teacher Kathryn Kehoe, it is Bhutani’s unique combination of character and endless pursuit of knowledge that allows her to achieve so much.
“Mira is one of the top academic students in our program and has been for all years of study,” Kehoe said. “Mira is a student who is always looking for ways to learn new material and to attend enriching experiences.”
As the nominee from St. Johns County, the next step in the process is that Bhutani will have the chance to go even further and represent the Ponte Vedra High at the national level.
“I have no doubt that Mira’s going to fare very well, and we are so incredibly proud of you and all that you’ve accomplished,” said Marisa Leonard, career academy program specialist at Ponte Vedra High.
Being chosen to receive the award was a complete surprise for Bhutani, but to be recognized for all her hard work is something she takes a deep amount of pride in.
“I was surprised to see my parents standing here when I walked in and I just had a physics test, so my mind is also kind of all over the place after that,” Bhutani chuckled. “Knowing all the support I’ve had and how much everything everyone has done for me along the way, I’m just so grateful.”
Although she has put in a lot of work throughout her four years of high school, so much of it has been driven by her curiosity to learn more and the ability of the biotech program to present seemingly endless new challenges for its students.
Being part of the biotech program at PVHS has been such a major part for her the past four years that she cannot imagine her high school experience without it and her fellow classmates.
“I want to be doctor or a physician one day, and I did my research this summer at Mayo, which really just furthered my passion for the field,” Bhutani said. “Being part of the biotech academy has definitely opened up the window to research, and it’s definitely a path I want to take in accordance with being a physician.”
By the time Bhutani graduates high school in 2024, she will have taken 11 AP classes.
Last year, she also passed the industry certification exam that accompanies the biotech career program, which is awarded by the University of Florida.
The Biotechnician Assistant Credentialing Exam is an industry recognized credential earned by passing both portions of the written and lab-based practical exams.
According to Kehoe, many students do not take this exam until their senior year, but Bhutani was prepared and passed the exam at the conclusion of her junior year.
“This class is so different than anything I’ve done before, because there is so much hands-on learning, which I think is amazing, as well as the fact that even though we’re in high school, we’re getting a taste of what life is like outside of it once we graduate,” Bhutani said. “I love how biotech is such a new way to help patients and you’re using what already exists in nature to help find a cure.”
