School senior class. (Photo by Rick Myers)
By Jessica Todd
With a combined GPA of 10.454, Darian and Kevin Rostam call themselves the smartest twins in Avon High School history.
The twins are the sons of Niusha and Leila Rostam, who both have doctorates — he in engineering and her in pharmacy. From a young age, the boys’ parents supported them academically, socially and athletically.
“We have always been competitive in the classroom and on the field,” said Darian. “Our parents have been a huge academic support for us since we were children.”
Throughout high school, Kevin has taken 13 AP classes and four college courses through IUPUI. Darian has taken 14 AP classes and is a varsity letter winner in three sports.
“I am ranked fifth in my class of almost 800,” said Kevin, who has an individual grade point average of 5.271.
Darian is not far behind, ranking seventh out of about 800 students in his class with a 5.183 GPA. Both boys will graduate May 28 as AP Scholars with academic honors.
“Darian and Kevin epitomize what it means to be a high-functioning, high-achieving student,” said AHS AP calculus teacher Anthony Record. “They have both reached remarkable heights not only in my classroom as members of AHS’s advanced calculus program, but in their extracurricular endeavors as well.”
The boys have big goals when it comes to their college and their future careers. Both will study at Big Ten schools in the fall. Darian will attend The Ohio State University, and Kevin will head south to Indiana University in the fall.
“We both have direct admission into the honor colleges at our future universities,” said Darian. “I also have early assurance into Ohio State’s doctoral program, which is ranked seventh in the United States.”
Kevin received direct admission into the neuroscience program at IU.
Each his own person
As twins, the two often get grouped together. Darian explained that while they are twins, they have never been too reliant or dependent on one another. Darian works as a manager at Burger King while participating in three sports, football defensive back, track (running the 200-, 400- and 800-meter races) and cross country and meanwhile maintaining his academic status.
“I have been working as a manager at Burger King since I was a minor. I enjoy managing my time with sports, academics and a job,” he said.
He was also named to Indiana Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches Academic All-State first team selection for track and field.
“As far as the future of my athletics career goes, I have thought about walking onto a team at Ohio State,” he said. “I am not sure if that will happen, but I will see how it goes while managing my coursework.”
Darian will major in pharmaceutical science and plans to do a summer undergraduate research fellowship in the area of pharmacognosy — medicine obtained from plants or other natural sources.
“I am still unsure of where I want to go with my goals. I am deciding between pharmacy and law,” said Damian who either will obtain a pharmaceutical doctorate to become a hospital pharmacist or attend law school to become a pharmaceutical litigation lawyer. While Kevin has not been too involved with sports in high school, he was named an Indiana Academic Super Bowl Academic Rising Star for the Class of 2021 and is a Indiana DECA state champion for his tech startup business plan. DECA students learn about leadership and entrepreneurship through their clubs and competitions.
Kevin plans to major in neuroscience.
“I was selected for IU’s IFLE (Integrated Freshman Learning Experience) program to do full time research alongside professors and graduate students for six weeks this summer while being housed on campus,” said Kevin. “Only 10-15 freshman admitted to the IU College of Arts and Sciences are selected each year.”
Kevin was also accepted into IU’s Hudson and Holland Scholars Program and the Arts + Sciences Undergraduate Research Experience (ASURE) program that works on research concerning bacteria, antibiotics and resistance.
“I plan to obtain a Ph.D. to become a researcher or attend medical school to become a physician,” Kevin said.
The boys have earned over $1 million in combined scholarship money. They are excited to head to college and plan to keep in touch and visit each other.
Get to know Darian Rostam:
- What is your favorite place in Hendricks County? I like going to the north track to exercise and get some fresh air.
- What is your favorite high school memory? My favorite high school memory was when Avon won state for track and field.
- What is your favorite color? Yellow
- If you could travel anywhere, where would you go? England
- What makes you happy? It makes me happy when I see that my parents are proud of everything I have and will accomplish.
Get to know Kevin:
- What is your favorite place in Hendricks County? Hummel Park
- What is your favorite high school memory? Becoming a state champion and winning a first place title
- What is your favorite color? Purple
- If you could travel anywhere, where would you go? Washington state
- What makes you happy? Setting and accomplishing goals is what makes me happy. Productive days are accomplished when you get up and start your day on a positive note. That sets the tone for my happiness.
