VALDOSTA — Lowndes High valedictorian Aarin Dave will attend Harvard College to study neuroscience this fall.
Release:
Lowndes High School is proud to announce that the Class of 2026 Valedictorian, Aarin Dave, has been admitted to and will be attending Harvard College this fall.
Throughout his time as a Viking, Aarin challenged himself with rigorous coursework, sought out opportunities beyond the classroom, and consistently pursued excellence. His acceptance to Harvard is the culmination of years of hard work, curiosity, and determination.
His accomplishments reflect that commitment. In addition to graduating as Valedictorian and being named the school’s STAR Student, Aarin earned a 1510 SAT score, won the Congressional App Challenge four times, served as president of the Future Business Leaders of America chapter, participated in Science Club and Math Team, and took part in NASA’s App Development Challenge.
Aarin plans to major in Neuroscience and is interested in pursuing Harvard’s Computational Neuroscience track with hopes of becoming a physician-scientist. This is a multidisciplinary field that combines neuroscience and computer science, allowing him to gain knowledge from several different areas of study.
“I could be a physician, but at the same time be a scientist or an engineer,” Aarin said. This opportunity could allow him to specialize in neurosurgery while also pursuing research and innovation at the intersection of medicine and technology.
The path to Harvard was a lengthy and extremely competitive process. With an overall undergraduate acceptance rate that has hovered around just 4% according to Harvard Magazine, admission to Harvard is among the most selective in the nation. Aarin began his college applications in August of 2025 and chose to apply through the early action program in November. In December, he was deferred and later placed on the waitlist during the regular decision time. On May 29th, less than one week after graduation, Aarin received his official acceptance letter to Harvard University.
“I received an email saying there was an update to my application portal,” said Aarin. “For some reason, when I saw that email, I immediately thought, “This is it, I’m getting in, even though I then second-guessed myself, thinking there was really no reason to think that.”
When opening the email, there it was: “ACCEPTED.”
When his acceptance became official, Aarin said that it took some time to really sink in.
“You see it in movies and history books. You see it everywhere on social media. Then you have to consciously remember that’s the school you’re going to,” he said. “It took a few days to get used to that, but after about a week it became the new normal.”
Aarin explained that he was drawn to Harvard more than any other college he had applied to because of their liberal arts and sciences approach and their extensive academic opportunities.
“The vast resources at the college that allow you to pursue any career from any angle has definitely been a big draw,” he explained. “The way I view this Harvard admission is that it’s opening up a lifelong partnership that you hope to foster.”
His interest in technology and medicine developed through the coursework and extracurricular experiences at Lowndes High School. Aarin gives credit to classes such as Introduction to Software Technology and AP Computer Science for helping shape his academic interests and preparing him for success in the future.
As Lowndes High School’s STAR Student, Aarin chose Business and Computer Science instructor Gina Tindell as his STAR Teacher. He recognizes her for helping launch his interest in computer science and encouraging him to pursue increasingly challenging opportunities.
“Mrs. Tindell has been a huge part of my journey throughout high school,” Aarin said. “I met her my first semester of ninth grade in Introduction to Software Technology, and that class really opened my eyes to what was possible.”
In addition to Mrs. Tindell’s influence, Aarin credits numerous educators throughout Lowndes County Schools for helping shape his academic journey, such as retired gifted teacher Cynthia Flowers. He also recognizes former Hahira Middle School TSA advisor Curt Johnson, whom Aarin describes as one of the most influential educators in his life, who taught him to problem-solve in a whole new way.
“Mr. Johnson probably changed the way I think the most,” said Aarin. “That foundational knowledge has carried me everywhere else.”
As he prepares to begin his journey at Harvard, Aarin remains grateful for the opportunities and support he received throughout his time in Lowndes County Schools.
“I don’t think I would have even had the chance to fight for this position if it weren’t for the support they have given,” he said. “I will continue doing my best to represent Lowndes at Harvard and beyond”.
Lowndes High School congratulates Aarin Dave on his extraordinary achievement and looks forward to following his continued success in the years ahead.
