VIJAYAWADA: 18-year-old NRI’s commitment towards social service gets scholarship
Vijayawada: Recognizing his dedication to community service and exceptional academic achievements including excellent GPA and near-perfect scores in SAT, the Brian Cameron Foundation honored an 18-year-old NRI as the ‘Cameron Impact Scholar’.
Shravan Krishna Kodali, whose family roots trace back to Enikepadu, Vijayawada, was born in Canastota, New York and completed his high school from Christian Brother Academy in Syracuse, New York. Currently, Shravan is pursuing his graduation at Stanford University.
During the global disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Shravan found a unique way to utilize his time creatively. Seeing peers engaged in unproductive activities, he started online tuition classes for science and mathematics for lower-class students through his platform ‘Empower CNY’. What started as a small online initiative quickly grew into a program and nearly 200 students from local schools benefited from in-person and virtual learning.
His efforts demonstrated not only his academic prowess but also his commitment to addressing important social issues. In 2022, amid an alarming increase in school shootings across the United States, Shravan took a stand against gun violence. Leading a protest on May 26, 2022, with the support of a local senator, he advocated for stricter gun laws and drew attention to the urgent need for change.
The year 2023 brought even more accolades for Shravan as he was recognized as a ‘Cameron Impact Scholar’ by the Brian Cameron Foundation, giving him a full scholarship for his college education. This exclusive award is presented to only 15 students across the country, underscoring Shravan’s extraordinary impact on the community coupled with his self-motivation and stellar academic record.
With an acceptance letter from Stanford University, Shravan is all set to create history as the first student from his school to attend this prestigious institution in the last 60 years. Shravan also received the ‘Bright and Brightest Award’, an honor given to only 20 local high school students for their outstanding academic achievements and contributions to their schools and communities.
Shravan lives with his parents Vijay Kumar, a businessman, and Dr. Lavanya, an anesthesiologist. His elder sister Shruti is currently pursuing her career in medicine. Speaking about Shravan’s achievements, his uncle, K Rajasekhar Rao, director of Usha Ram College of Engineering and Technology in Vijayawada, said, “Shravan, a top performing student and skilled football player, has consistently been in the top 5 of his class. Ranks. Beyond education and sports, he actively contributes to social reform. Shravan’s remarkable achievements and deep love for India and its culture are commendable.
