Fort Worth – Raphael Azerad, 16, is a standout student at Fort Worth ISD’s I.M. Terrell Academy for STEM and Visual & Performing Arts. He was recently selected for Junior Achievement’s 18 Under 18 honor, recognizing his leadership, community involvement and relentless curiosity.
Robotics captain and engineering scholar
Raphael serves as team captain and head notebooker for Terrell’s VEX robotics team. He manages daily operations, outreach and sponsorships, and compiled a 550‑page engineering notebook that helped the team qualify for regional and UIL state competitions. Volunteer mentor Jesse Borries praised his ability to speak confidently with adults, noting, “He has the confidence to ask, the humility to learn and the initiative to follow through.”
Martial‑arts champion
Beyond the lab, Raphael is a third‑degree black belt in taekwondo, a state and national champion, and a referee for the Amateur Athletic Union Taekwondo Nationals. Instructor Erik Farfan said Raphael’s early years often placed him in third‑place finishes, but his determination turned him into a district champion and eventually a national titleholder.
Family support and personal drive
Raphael’s parents, Elizabeth and Robert Azerad, say the pandemic sparked a surge of new interests, from chess to advanced math tutoring. Elizabeth described her son as “self‑motivated, thoughtful and academically talented,” crediting both his hard work and the positive role models in his life, including his three older siblings and late mentor, engineer Estevan “Steve” De Leon.
He also showed compassion early on, caring for a sick duck during a family stay in East Texas, an act his mother called “profound” for a middle‑schooler.
Balanced life and future outlook
A typical day begins at 5 a.m. and ends at 9 p.m., with time for multivariable calculus, chores, and caring for four cats and three dogs, including a 7‑pound xoloitzcuintle named Lily who has a heart condition. Raphael likens decision‑making to a chess game, saying, “Every single moment of my life I’ve had many choices. I think about the move that will get me to the end result I want.”
When reflecting on setbacks, he emphasizes forward focus: “Maybe I made a decision in the past that hasn’t benefited me as I wished. I can’t change it, so there’s no reason to be angry. I just think about how I can do better in the future.”
Community recognition
The Fort Worth chapter of Junior Achievement highlighted Raphael’s achievements as an example of how strong family values, faith in hard work and a supportive community can nurture the next generation of innovators and leaders.
Original reporting: Fort Worth Report — read the source article.
