(August 27, 2024) It was in the fall of 2023 that Sravan Krishna Kodali found himself walking through the gates of Stanford University, where he enrolled himself in a bachelor’s degree. But with a Cameron Impact Scholar under his belt which was given to the 18-year-old teen from New York by the Bryan Cameron Foundation for his dedication to community service and exceptional academic achievements. “I am extremely honoured to be a Cameron Impact Scholar, but I owe all to people who have supported me throughout high school,” he had said.
Promoting educational equity
Born into a family hailing from Enikepadu in Vijayawada, his father is a businessman, and his mom is an anesthesiologist. Sravan was studying at the Christian Brother Academy in Syracuse when he found a way to make the most of his time during the Covid-19 lockdown. With the world locked in their homes, the Indian-American teen saw most of his peers engaging in unproductive activities which made him think of a solution. He started Empower CNY to offer online tutoring classes in Science and Math for lower-grade students.
Sravan Kodali
Empower CNY was created to promote educational equity in Central New York, addressing the issue of young students falling behind due to unequal resource distribution in our education system. To address this challenge, Empower CNY connects local students with high school volunteers. Tutors not only contribute to the community’s development but also gain the chance to enhance their interpersonal and leadership skills. With diverse student leadership, Empower CNY creates activities and programs tailored to the needs of all ambitious students. “At Empower CNY, our goal is to equip every student with the resources needed to achieve their full academic potential,” said Sravan.
The way this program works is that high school tutors from across Central New York register through their website and undergo an initial interview process. After the interview, tutors are paired with a student in need of tutoring. We hold weekly sessions on Saturday and Sunday, offering both morning and evening times. Parents and tutors can provide feedback through our optional session review forms. “We are currently operating at eight centers and providing virtual tutoring through video conferencing services to 50+ families,” states their website.
Empower CNY
What began as a small online initiative quickly expanded into a program that now supports nearly 200 students from local schools through both in-person and virtual tutoring. In a short span, they have created an impact. “Through partnerships with key community organizations, our volunteers connect with students in need, identify local problems in education, and help address them with activism, lobbying, and organising. Primarily, we coordinate free, weekly student-support locations in immigrant and refugee hubs and provide volunteer-run workshops at resettlement agencies.” So far, their team has collaborated with 12 partners across 4 cities. From refugee foundations to STEAM educational groups, these organizations have contributed to their impactful efforts.
Creating an impact
In 2022, as school shootings surged across the USA, Sravan demonstrated his dedication to tackling pressing societal challenges beyond his academic achievements. On May 26, 2022, he led a protest, supported by a local Senator, to advocate for stricter gun laws and raise awareness about the critical need for reform in response to the escalating gun violence.
His achievements, including his work as a genetic researcher and his co-founding of the youth educational organisation Empower CNY, were particularly notable to the Selection Committee, which reviewed 3,000 applications. This earned him the prestigious ‘Cameron Impact Scholar’ award in 2023 from the Bryan Cameron Foundation, earning a full scholarship for his college education. This honour, awarded to only 15 students nationwide, highlights Sravan’s remarkable community impact, exceptional self-motivation, and outstanding academic achievements.
He is the first student He is the first student from his school in the past 60 years to gain admission into Stanford University. Apart from being a top-performing student, Sravan is a skilled soccer player who actively contributes to societal improvement. In addition, Kodali has gained valuable experience through internships at SUNY Upstate Medical University, UMass Medical School, and Syracuse University, where he worked on various research projects. He also interned with the Village of Canastota, focusing on grant writing. Beyond these roles, Kodali serves as a Youth Policy Consultant with the American Youth Policy Forum, contributes to congressional campaigns, and works as an Immigration Team Intern for the Volunteer Lawyers Project of CNY.
His journey from launching Empower CNY during the pandemic to becoming a Cameron Impact Scholar underscores his dedication to academic excellence and community service. Sravan’s story highlights his perseverance, creativity, and significant impact, making him an inspiring role model for future generations.
- Follow Sravan Kodali on LinkedIn
