When students at Homestead High School launched Project Preserve through their school’s Future Business Leaders of America club last August, they never expected to be in conversations with state representatives or to help pass federal legislation.
Led by Arhan Chakravarthy and Samik Thakur, Project Preserve was created to address the impact of dementia in their community and drive meaningful change.
The initiative began with a simple observation: Despite affecting millions of Americans, dementia often remains in the shadows. Through interviews with over 80 families affected by Alzheimer’s Disease, the students uncovered a shared need for better support systems, increased research funding and stronger community awareness.
Working alongside the Alzheimer’s Association, Project Preserve transformed these stories into advocacy for the NAPA Reauthorization Act (HR 619) and the Alzheimer’s Accountability and Investment Act (HR 620). Their efforts contributed to the successful passage of both acts, securing continued federal funding for Alzheimer’s research and care programs.
“We wanted to make a real, lasting impact, not only increase awareness,” Chakravarthy says. “Advocating for these congressional acts ensured that dementia research and care would continue to receive the attention and funding it deserves.”
With that in mind, they created “The Mind Matters: Understanding Dementia,” a podcast dedicated to educating the public on cognitive health and dementia care. Featuring experts such as Vanessa Souza from the Alzheimer’s Association and Robin Shepherd from the Susan and Charles Berghoff Foundation, the podcast covered key topics including Lewy Body Dementia research and improvements in patient care.
They also built Brain Boggle, an interactive platform where people can exercise their cognitive skills through games and track their progress.
The podcast reached over 1,200 listeners, and Brain Boggle gained over 500 unique visitors.
In addition, the team connected their classmates with opportunities to volunteer at Crescent Oaks Memory Care in Sunnyvale, where students engaged seniors in memory games and social activities. The program has reached over 45 senior residents, with feedback indicating that many felt more mentally engaged and socially connected after participating.
In partnership with the Susan and Charles Berghoff Foundation (SCBF), the students also hosted Dr. Joseph Winer, a Stanford University sleep researcher, for a guest speaker event. Addressing nearly 60 community members, DWiner emphasized the role of sleep management in preventing neurodegenerative diseases, highlighting the connection between sleep patterns, cognitive function and long-term brain health.
“Project Preserve has demonstrated exceptional foresight and dedication in educating students about brain health and dementia,” said Robin Shepherd, co-founder of SCBF. “Arhan and Samik are tomorrow’s researchers and healthcare experts who will no doubt make substantial contributions to healthy lives and longevity.”
Their efforts have been recognized by U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff, Congressman Ro Khanna and state Sens. Josh Becker, Dave Cortese and Aisha Wahab, as well as Assemblymember Patrick Ahrens. Cupertino Mayor Liang-Fang Chao and Sunnyvale Mayor Larry Klein have also acknowledged Chakravarthy and Thakur’s work in community education and senior engagement.
While these commendations are encouraging, the students say witnessing a direct impact on families has been the most rewarding.
“People often ask us why high school students would take on such a complex healthcare issue,” said Thakur. “And the simple answer is, as our population ages, dementia will touch more families, including our own, and we can’t afford to wait.”
Tara Sreekrishnan is a member of the Santa Clara County Board of Education, representing Trustee Area 2.
