Raphael Azerad, 16, a student at Fort Worth ISD's I.M. Terrell Academy for STEM and VPA, was named to 18 Under 18, an honor from Junior Achievement of the Chisholm Trail. The Fort Worth chapter recognized his leadership, community involvement and appetite for learning.
Raphael is team captain and head notebooker for the school's VEX robotics team. He handles daily operations, outreach and sponsorships, and he created a 550-page engineering notebook. He helped lead the team to qualify for regional and UIL state competitions. Jesse Borries, a volunteer with the team, said Raphael is comfortable asking adults for support. "He has the confidence to ask, the humility to learn and the initiative to follow through," Borries said.
Raphael has also studied taekwondo since he was 3. He is a third-degree black belt, a state and national champion, and a referee at the Amateur Athletic Union Taekwondo Nationals. His instructor, Erik Farfan, said Raphael shows intelligence and resilience in class and at tournaments. Raphael's other interests include investment competitions and the Cowtown Marathon.