San Ramon Star Student Fights Hunger, Mentors Others In STEM

SAN RAMON, CA —Star Students are found in classrooms, on concert and theater stages and at debate lecterns, and out in the community doing good things to make life better for all of us.

Here at Patch, we've launched an initiative to help recognize Star Students, and we’re working to tell the stories of these outstanding kids to their neighbors.

This submission comes from Vidhya Govindan who nominated Sudharsan, a high school senior of San Ramon.

Star local student’s name

Sudharsan

Star local student’s home state

California

How do you know the star local student?

I am the parent

Why do you believe the star local student should be recognized?

His contributions to Community via 4-H as a Teen STEM project Leader: First ever to initiate and bring Computer Science project to Contra Costa County 4-H in 2019 for the benefit of 4-H Youth members to bridge the technology gap and this was very much welcomed county wide as 4-H’ers have mostly livestock and agriculture based projects and thru word of mouth extended to multi-count project within a span of 5 months. Received "GOLDEN CLOVER AWARD" the most prestigious award for bridging the technology gap during COVID-19. Lead multi-county projects in Computer Programming, Robotics, Biodiversity, Hands on STEM, Mobile app Development for California State 4-H clubs since 2019 for youth members and adult project leaders. Conceptualized, planned and implemented a massive workshop and crash course (Jan 2021 – June 2021) “Python for Educators” to 23 4-H adult Staff/Educators and 19 teen leaders to bring computer science to their clubs. Post my workshop this project is implemented among 11 counties benefiting 270 youth project members learning python programming. Designed, prototyped and created a plan to promote, identify and develop a marketing and outreach plan for the "Where's The Food?" initiative. In partnership with National 4-H Council and 4-H Programs across the United States, this project presented a unique component as it melds technology, GIS with 4-H's traditional youth governance and healthy nutrition programs. Since summer of 2021, he led a mission driven outreach campaigns to create healthy, food secure communities and strong, equitable regional food systems and mapping the data using the GIS technology. Presented his Food Insecurity Map at the International Map Gallery to a wider audience of 15000+ ESRI experts through which I obtained a NSF grant collaboration opportunity with Professor Ilya Zaslavsky - Director of Spatial Information Systems Laboratory at the University of California San Diego, to continue my efforts to the national level. Invited to attend and participate at the "White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health" as a changemaker in my community for his efforts to the "Where's the food?" project initiative - September 28, 2022. Recognized by the CDC on their website as a Changemaker fighting Hunger Nationwide post the White House Conference. Link Invited to present about "Where's the food? initiative" at the UC ANR California 4-H Statewide Town Hall Meeting (Oct 2022) to 200+ State 4-H Leaders across California. Since 2019 to till date he has crossed 1000+ mark educating Computer Science to 4-H and in his community. Awarded the prestigions 4-H Robert Brownlee Golden Clover Award for fighting food insecurity in his community and county.

What's one thing you want everyone to know about the star local student?

Sudharsan decided to combine his strengths — STEM, mentorship, and education — in a variety of service programs and volunteer opportunities throughout San Ramon. One of the biggest organizations he’s involved in, 4-H, has helped Sudharsan use GIS mapping technology to bring awareness to how vast and pervasive food insecurity is and has spent over 500 hours mentoring and teaching others.

Congratulations on your achievements, and all of our best wishes to you in the future, Sudharsan!

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