EDUCATION

Tamalpais High School, Mill Valley, CA – 2023-Present, Class of 2027 (Junior, current GPA weighted 4.71, Academic Weighted 4.71)

Mill Valley Middle School, Mill Valley, CA – 2020-2023 (Honor roll, Total GPA 4.0)

Edna Maguire Elementary School, Mill Valley, CA – 2014-2020

Kids Place Corte Madera, Corte Madera, CA Transitional-kindergarten – 2010-2014

INTERESTS

Astrophysics/Cosmology, Astrobiology, Life in Exoplanets, Math, Neuroscience, Photography, Classical Piano, Jazz and Concert Alto Saxophone, Tap and Jazz Dance, Movies, and Film Scores

LANGUAGES

TEST SCORES

SAT: Total Combined 1510 98^th percentile (Reading and Writing 730 > 96^th percentile, Math 780 > 98^th percentile)

PSAT: Total 1420 99^th percentile (Reading and Writing 740, > 99^th percentile, Math 680, 99^th percentile)

STATE TEST SCORES

CAASPP: 2023 – MATH Level 4 Standard Exceeded 2860/2860 (Highest Possible Score),     ELA Level 4 Standard Exceeded 2700/2850

CAST: 2023 – SCIENCE Level 4 Standard Exceeded 437/450

LEXILE and QUANTILE: 2023 –1455L/1600, 1450Q/1600

Previous Year Test Scores Available upon request

CURRENT LONG-TERM ACTIVITIES

Playing Classical Piano, currently under the teachings of Paul Agricola (2013-present)

Playing Alto Saxophone in School Concert Band and Jazz Band (2019-present)

Tap Dance and Jazz Dance at Happy Feet Dance School (2013-present)

FOUNDER & DIRECTOR, VOICES of the UNIVERSE (Non-Profit Organization)

Founded and lead a non-profit organization dedicated to expanding access to astronomy and space science education for underrepresented communities—especially young women in STEM. The organization develops and delivers innovative programs in astrophotography, astrobiology outreach, and universe sonification, aiming to bridge the digital divide and make the cosmos accessible to all.

Mission: To inspire and empower students by connecting them to the beauty, creativity, and scientific wonder of the universe.

Vision: A world where every student, regardless of background or resources, can explore and understand the cosmos.

BOOKS

“A Legend” by Lara Ertaul, Published by Amazon, ASIN: BOFN4MJKKL, 09/16/2025 https://a.co/d/iA0HjTO

RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS

Ertaul, L. S., “White Holes: From Quantum Remnants to Planck Stars — A Review”, The Columbia Junior Science Journal, submitted for publication, 2025 (selected as Semi-Finalist)(Waiting for Finalist announcement on December 27)

Ertaul, L. S., “Statistical Analysis of Stratospheric Ozone Trends Over The San Francisco Bay Area”, International Journal of High School Research (IJHSR), Vol 7, Issue 11, 2025. (IJHSR Certificate)

Ertaul, L. S, “3Body Problem: Can it be used for Cryptographically Secure Pseudorandom Number Generator (CSPRNG)?”, American Council on Science and Education, The 2025 World congress in Computer Science, Computer Engineering & Applied Computing (CSCE), SAM 25- The 2025 International Conference on Security and Management, July 21-24, Las Vegas, USA, 2025. (the conference proceedings currently in preparation for print by Springer Nature)

EXTRA COURSES TAKEN

Summer 25

Harvard University, Harvard Summer School, Secondary School Program:

ASTR S-80 Planets, Moons, and Their Stars: The Search for Life in the Cosmos, Prof. Dr. Alessandro Massarotti

ASTR S-30 A Short Tour of the Universe Guided by Einstein and Others, Prof. Dr. Arvind Borde

Columbia University, Pre-College program:

ASTOPS0101_D01_2025_2 – The Origin and Evolution of the Universe, Prof. Dr. Paul Sutter, CERT, REFFERENCE LETTER

Summer 24

CISCO Networking Academy Center, California State University, East Bay (CSUEB)

CS 441 (CCNAv7) Introduction to Computer Networks. (Badge)

AWARDS and CERTIFICATES

Eligible to Receive the Congressional Award  (in 6 month 100 hours Voluntary Public Service, 147 hours Personal Development, 118 hours Physical Fitness, 5 days Exploration)(Bronze Medal)

Received The President’s Volunteer Service Award (PSVA)(Bronze Medal)(72Hours of Volunteering Service)(Approved), 2025, LETTER, CERT, MEDALLION, 2025

Received College Board National Recognition Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement by College Board, 2025

Received a thank you letter from NASA Goddard Space flight Center for OMTO3d Global Ozone Data corrections, 2025

Received Music Teacher’s Association of California’s (MTAC) Certificate of Merit, Level 4 Piano and Awarded State Honors, 2025

Received Red Cross Certification (Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED), 2025

Received Outstanding Achievement Award from Stanford University Jazz workshop, 2024

Received CISCO Certificate and Badge for CISCO CCNAv7:Introduction to Computer Networks Class(8 weeks 4 hours/week), 2024

Tam High Concert Band and Jazz Band competed at Heritage Music Festival in New York City – 3^rd Silver (both)

Tam High Chorus competed at Heritage Music Festival in New York City – 2^nd Silver

Team Captain for Mathletes Competition (twice) – 3^rd, 2^nd in Marin County, CA, 2023

Concert Band and Jazz Band competed in the Forum Music Festival in Fairfield, CA – 2^nd Place (both), 2023

Received Certificate of Completion from code.org , 2018

Competed in Mill Valley Middle school dance competition – 1^st place, 2018

Received a Photography Award, 2017

Competed in Taekwondo competition at West America Taekwondo, Mill Valley CA– 3^rd place, 2017

Received IXL Certificate of Achievement for outstanding completion of 100 math questions, 2016

Received IXL Certificate of Achievement for outstanding completion of 200 math questions, 2016

Participated in a drawing competition in the Sausalito, CA, Art Festival – 3^rd place, 2016

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

2025

Tap Dance Holiday Hoofers Performance for the public in Larkspur, CA

Jazz Band (Saxophone) Holiday at the Seahorse Concert, Sausalito, CA

Jazz Band (Saxophone) Holiday Concert in the Mill Valley Community Center

Concert Band (Saxophone) Holiday Concert in the Mill Valley Community Center

Concert Choir Holiday Concert in the Mill Valley Community Center

Tap Dance Holiday Hoofers Performance for the public in Mill Valley

Sacramento State Winter Jazz Festival, Jazz Band (played Alto-Saxophone)

Astrophotography Workshop; Unveiling Our Place in the Universe, Chabot Space and Science Center, Nov 18^th, 6pm-10:30pm,.

Played Piano and volunteered to raise money for the Marin Food Bank (Play4Food)

Volunteered at Cazadero Music Camp

Member of Honor T at Tamalpais High School for Volunteer Service.

Jazz Band Spring Concert (Played Alto-Saxophone), Mill Valley Community Center, Mill Valley

Concert Band Spring Concert (Played Alto-Saxophone), Mill Valley Community Center, Mill Valley

Played Spring Piano Recital for Music Teachers’ Association of California.

Singing Club activity: Played piano for Elderly in The Redwoods – Retirement, Assisted Living and Skilled Nursing Home, Mill Valley, CA

An evening of Jazz, Tam High Jazz band (Played Alto-Saxophone) at Sausalito, Seahorse Bar/Restaurant,

Received a thank you letter from NASA Goddard Space flight Center for OMTO3d Global Ozone Data corrections

Submitted Honor T Membership at Tamalpais High School for 17.25 hours of volunteer service

Jazz Solo, Strawberry, Mill Valley

Jazz Band Valentines Concer, Strawberry, Mill Valley

Concert Band Valentines Concert, Strawberry, Mill Valley.

Played Teen Piano Recital for Music Teachers’ Association of California

Admitted to Harvard University Summer Program

Admitted to Columbia University, Summer Precollege Program

Admitted COSMOS (California State Summer School For Mathematics and Science), UC Davis, Cluster 4: Introduction to Astrophysics

Admitted UC Berkeley Summer Springboard Program-Quantum Computing

Admitted Oxford Summer Courses-Cambridge University, UK, Physics Course

2024:

Volunteered in CSU East Bay Science in the Park Event (computer science booth)

Concert Band (Saxophone) Christmas Carols Performance in Mill Valley

Jazz Band (Saxophone) Winter Concert in the Mill Valley Community Center

Concert Band (Saxophone) Winter Concert in the Mill Valley Community Center

Tap Dance Holiday Hoofers Performance for the public in Larkspur

Tap Dance Holiday Hoofers Performance for the public in Mill Valley

Member of Chabot Space & Science Center

Member of SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) Institute Community

Personal Science Website – https://laraertaul.com/

Completed Perimeter Institute Quantum to Cosmos Workshop

Member of Cosmos Club at Tamalpais High School

Volunteered at Mill Valley Arts Festival

Completed Stanford University Jazz Workshop

Completed Cazadero Music Camp for Concert and Jazz Band

Completed CISCO CCNAv7, Introduction to Computer Networks class (8 weeks 4 hours/week), received CISCO Certificate and Badge

Planning to take IBM Quantum Computing class

Volunteered with Find Your Way to clean the environment

Played Piano to raise money for the Marin Food Bank (Play4Food)
Played Spring Piano Recital for Music Teachers’ Association of California
Played Winter Piano Recital for Music Teachers’ Association of California

Played Teen Piano Recital for Music Teachers’ Association of California

Concert Band, Jazz Band, and Chorus Spring Concert at Mill Valley Community Center

Jazz Band Concert at the Seahorse, Sausalito

Concert Band, Jazz Band, and Chorus Valentines Concert and Fundraiser at Mill Valley Community Center

Tap Dance and Jazz Dance Performance at Marin School of the Arts, Novato

2023:

Team Captain for Mathletes Competition (twice) – 3^rd, 2^nd in Marin County

Volunteered at Mill Valley Arts Festival

Tap Dance Holiday Hoofers Performance for the public in Larkspur and Mill Valley

Concert Band Christmas Carols Performance in Mill Valley

Jazz Band Concert at the Seahorse, Sausalito

Completed Cazadero Music Camp for Concert Band

Concert Band and Jazz Band Spring Concert at College of Marin in Kentfield

Tap Dance and Jazz Dance Performance at Dominican University, San Rafael

Played Spring Piano Recital for Music Teachers’ Association of California

Played Winter Piano Recital for Music Teachers’ Association of California

Concert Band and Jazz Band Winter Concert at College of Marin in Kentfield

Concert Band and Jazz Band competed in the Forum Music Festival in Fairfield – 2^nd Place (both)

Played Piano to raise money for the Marin Food Bank (Play4Food)

Others:

Joined a Brain Research and Neurology Camp at the BUCK Institute, Novato (2017)

Joined a camp about Costal Ecosystems in Clearwater, FL (2022)

Joined a camp about Marine Biology in Clearwater, FL (2022)

Took a Jazz Class from Wynton Marsalis

Took a Jazz Class from Arturo Sandoval

Played Piano for Seniors at Aldersly Retirement Community in San Rafael every Christmas (2013-2020)

Performed Piano Recitals twice a year (since 2013)

Performed Dance Performances twice a year (since 2013)

Joined a summer camp for singing (2015 and 2016)

Joined a camp about nature at Walker Creek, CA (2019)