Senior Spotlight: Glacier High School student looks to use science to help others

Knowing she wanted to help others, there was a time when Anitha Ravipati considered pursuing a career as a medical doctor. But applying her science acumen during an internship last summer opened the possibility of assisting through research.  

As a clinical research intern at Logan Health, she worked with a team responsible for managing patients participating in rheumatology and oncology trials. She assisted with data collection and shadowed research coordinators during patient visits. 

“I’m definitely on the research path of things,” she said. “I’m a naturally curious person and I feel like research is the best path for me so I can learn more about myself and learn more about others to help people in that way.”  

Ravipati graduates with the Glacier High School Class of 2026 on June 6. She is the daughter of Ramesh and Ramya Ravipati. 

She plans to attend The University of Texas at Austin to study neuroscience and psychology.  

Previous to her work as an intern, she spent time watching surgeons at Logan Health. She observed brain surgery and heart bypass surgery, which she says was an amazing experience to witness in real life.  

Though Ravipati says it doesn’t come easy, she enjoys science, which prompted the interest in interning at Logan Health.  

“Even though it’s hard for me, it’s something that makes me happy to do,” she said of science. “I don’t feel that with any other subjects in school. With science, I felt like I was learning something that I could apply in the future.” 

Ravipati has completed college courses at Flathead Valley Community College through the Running Start Program. She earned an AP Merit Distinction for her scores on Advanced Placement exams.  

In school, she has been part of the marching band playing the clarinet, been a member of the HOSA Club and is a member of the French Club. She participated in the Yale Young Global Scholar academic enrichment program, participated in the Ace Impact-American Council on Exercise dedicated to helping children with special needs in their fitness journey, was the winner of the 2024 Montana state Doodle for Google competition and was a Flathead Electric Co-op Youth Ambassador.  

Counselor Jen Kessler describes Ravipati as a bright, astute and insightful young woman. She’s watched Ravipati show perseverance and dedication as she’s challenged herself with the school’s most rigorous courses while maintaining a busy schedule of activities and family responsibilities. 

“I am excited to see what the future holds for Anitha,” Kessler said. “I see her doing something that’s really powerful.”  

At home, Ravipati assists in caring for her autistic brother. She takes pride in the relationship she has built with her brother, Kessler points out, helping him learn skills to be independent and serving as a homework tutor.  

Ravipati began publishing a personal website to share her experiences as a sibling of someone with autism. Through writing and illustrations, she shares the joys and struggles that come with having a sibling with special needs.  

“Art gives me a way to express my emotions and that medium is easy for me to convey those feelings because words are hard, but I can transfer my feelings into my drawings,” she said. “It’s a way for me to get stuff out of my system without the pressure of talking.” 

Sharing her feelings doesn’t come easily for Ravipati, but she does so to help others in a similar situation and to spread understanding of autism.  

“I feel like a lot of people might not realize the situations people are in, or the kind of same situation I am in, so I thought it would be a way to connect,” she said. “It could be a way for someone to feel like there’s someone out there who gets them, because I didn’t feel like anyone got me for a while, and that’s why I thought sharing my experience would be good.”  

Seemingly looking for ways to challenge herself, she recently began working on a fantasy story. 

“I’ve always been a creative person, but that’s drawing for me and telling stories that way, but I like reading and that has helped me to develop the skills needed to write,” she said.  

Glacier High School holds its 2026 graduation ceremony on June 6 at 10 a.m. at the Glacier High School gym. There are about 300 graduates.  

Deputy Editor Heidi Desch can be reached at 406-758-4421 or hdesch@dailyinterlake.com. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.