Vedhsai Thiriveedi, a junior at Nashua High School South, was recently named a national STEM champion and will travel to Washington D.C. in June to participate in the third annual National STEM Festival. Courtesy photo

NASHUA – Vedhsai Thiriveedi, a junior at Nashua High School South, is one of just 55 students nationwide to be named a national STEM champion and will be recognized at the third annual National STEM Festival in Washington D.C. at the end of June.

Just being invited to the festival is an accomplishment as the event has an acceptance rate of less than five percent making it one of the world’s most competitive early talent platforms.

“The 2026 champions have raised the bar for what we thought was possible at this level. They’re already building the technologies, cures and systems America needs,” said Jennifer Buccos, the festival’s co-director. “The National STEM Festival exists to ensure those with the power to amplify their work know exactly where to look.”

This year’s students will represent 47 states and four U.S. territories and will showcase projects that will help shape the future of industries such as healthcare, energy and emerging technologies.

Thiriveedi punched his ticket to the festival with the development of PillPatrol, an app, powered by artificial intelligence, designed to identify counterfeit pills that may contain deadly amounts of fentanyl or other illegal drugs.

“It educates teens on proper pill usage,” said Thiriveedi.

In addition to the pill identifier, the app features a chatbot, a news feed and a community forum.

Thiriveedi said his idea for PillPatrol primarily stemmed from his experience serving on the Governor’s Youth Advisory Council for the past three years combined with a desire to educate his classmates.

“Many teens don’t understand how dangerous counterfeit pills can be,” he said.

According to the PillPatrol website, pillpatrol.net, each year, half of all opioid deaths are caused by counterfeit pills. In addition, 30 percent of the pills sold online are fake and 25 percent of teenagers have misused prescription pills at least once.

Looking ahead, Thiriveedi said he wants to pursue a career at the “intersection of medicine and computer science.”

“I want to continue building solutions that have impacts on other people’s lives,” he said.

Prior to being a national STEM champion, Thiriveedi was crowned the winner of the 2024 Congressional App Challenge in New Hampshire’s Second District by then-Congresswoman Annie Kuster (D-NH).