April 16, 2025 Indian River State College
Fort Pierce, FL (April 16, 2025) – The Indian River State College Brain Bowl Team delivered an outstanding performance at the Florida College System Activities Association (FCSAA) Brain Bowl State Tournament, securing sixth place overall in a field of strong competitors. The prestigious academic competition was held March 28-29, 2025, at Valencia College in Orlando, Florida.
The River’s Brain Bowl Team: Daniel Peralta, Athan Leal, Helen Navach, Cody Bevilacqua, and Aidan Ortado
The River’s team was represented by Cody Bevilacqua, Athan Leal, Helen Navach (Team Captain), Aidan Ortado, and Daniel Peralta. In individual achievements, Aidan Ortado distinguished himself by placing fifth among all competitors statewide, while Cody Bevilacqua earned an impressive 18th place ranking.
“This exceptional showing at the state level demonstrates the tremendous talent of our students,” said Indian River State College President Dr. Timothy E. Moore. “Our Brain Bowl competitors deserve heartfelt congratulations for their remarkable achievement. Their dedication, intellectual curiosity, and collaborative spirit have brought them well-deserved recognition. We’re immensely proud of what these outstanding scholars have accomplished and celebrate their success at The River.”
The College’s Brain Bowl team members bring diverse academic backgrounds and career aspirations:
- Cody Bevilacqua is completing his final semester at Indian River State College before pursuing a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. He is currently participating in NASA’s NCAS program while maintaining perfect academic scores. An accomplished tutor, Cody is also developing a Python-based data analysis tool for research applications.
- Athan Leal is majoring in Economics with plans to enter the legal profession as a family lawyer.
- Helen Navach, the team captain, is a student at The River who graduated from St. Lucie West Centennial High School. She plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering with aspirations of working at NASA. Helen serves as a co-tutor in the College’s Math Lab.
- Aidan Ortado is pursuing studies in Mathematics and Biological Engineering with the goal of becoming a professor. He aspires to teach and conduct research both domestically and internationally.
- Daniel Peralta is a dual enrollment student studying Political Science at Indian River State College.
Students interested in joining The River’s Brain Bowl team are encouraged to contact the Brain Bowl Committee Chair Dr. Samuel Mikhail at smikhail@irsc.edu.
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About Indian River State College: Indian River State College, serving Florida’s Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River, and Okeechobee counties, offers high-quality, affordable education to 23,000 students annually through traditional and online courses. The College provides more than 130 programs leading to bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees, technical certificates, and applied technology diplomas. For more information, visit irsc.edu.
