VT SEVA DETROIT -2024 SERVICE AWARDS

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams and are willing to work for it."– Eleanor Roosevelt

On 19^th July 2025, VT SEVA Detroit celebrated 28 of our dedicated youth volunteers who were awarded with the Presidential Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) and Jeeyar Award for their self-services provided to the community for the year 2024.   The awards were presented by Mayor Theresa Rich as our Guest of Honor, who reminded us of the power of servant leadership and community impact. It was such a great honor to celebrate these youth and recognize them for their work.

The youth have provided their reflections in their own words on what it means for them to receive these awards.

           NAME: AANYA DAS

        AWARD: PVSA BRONZE

AANYA’s REFLECTION:

I am Aanya Das, a rising Junior at Northville High School. I was able to achieve my first goal in VTSEVA for 2024, earning a bronze medal for participating and demonstrating a commitment to strengthening our nation and communities through volunteer service. I am thrilled I was able to participate in such events as the Cappuccino Soup Kitchen, RAAS Volunteering, DAV event, etc, but the main part was that all these events were very intriguing to work together and help each other while volunteering to help others in our communities. I was also able to lead some events, such as the Plastic Grocery Bag Drive and the DAV Flower Activity. These leadership activities helped me understand how to effectively collaborate with others and communicate correctly to join as a group and work together to volunteer towards strengthening our communities. I am so glad I was able to achieve this bronze medal with the help of my VTSEVA youth board members and the help of the organization as a whole. Thank you!

NAME: ADITI JETRI KOMPALLY

AWARD: PVSA SILVER

ADITI’s REFLECTION: 

I’ve been part of VTSEVA Detroit for years, and it’s become one of the most meaningful parts of my life. When I first started, I wasn’t thinking about awards or hours. I just liked helping and being part of a community that cared for. Over time, the small things we did like serving food, organizing events, and running fundraisers, really shaped how I think about responsibility and showing up for others.

Getting the PVSA this year, along with the ones from previous years, is amazing, but the real value has been what I’ve learned. VTSEVA taught me to be patient, to help without being asked, and to pay attention to what people need. It’s the kind of experience that actually stays with you.

NAME: ADVITHI KOTHAPALLI

AWARD: PVSA GOLD

ADVITHI’s REFLECTION:  

Receiving the PVSA Award was a great milestone for me because it reflects the time and effort, I’ve put into serving my community. Through my volunteer work, I’ve worked with a lot of other people, learned how to communicate better, and gained confidence in reaching out to other people and working in groups. These experiences have helped me grow as a person and taught me the importance of giving back. This award motivates me to keep making a positive difference wherever I can

NAME: AKSHITH ASHWANTH

AWARD: PVSA GOLD

NAME: AMOGH MAVATOOR

AWARD: PVSA GOLD

AMOGH’s REFLECTION: Receiving the PVSA award felt both humbling and inspiring. It reminded me of how many meaningful experiences came from a year of consistent service. Through VT Seva, I discovered numerous opportunities to support my community, meet new people, and take on roles that challenged me to grow. Earning this award is something I never imagined when I first started volunteering, and it is humbling to receive it. What stands out the most to me isn’t the award itself, but the impact behind it. Every hour I volunteered represents the time that we spent helping someone and contributing to making our community a better place. Earning this award and gaining 100+ hours made me realize how much can happen when you commit yourself to serving others, and it has inspired me to continue serving others and trying to make a positive difference.

NAME: ARYA TARUN CHEEMALAMARRI

           AWARD: PVSA BRONZE

ARYA’s REFLECTION:

NAME: AVNI PATEL

AWARD: PVSA GOLD

AVNI’s REFLECTION:

The Gold PVSA Award celebration was such a special moment, I loved receiving the award, meeting the mayor, and congratulating my peers on their accomplishments. It was very inspiring to see everything VT Seva has achieved together. I’m grateful for the memories, friendships, and the chance to continue making a difference in my community.

NAME: HIBA ZYNA

AWARD: PVSA BRONZE

HIBA’s REFLECTION: 

Volunteering has given me a sense of purpose that goes beyond the usual rhythm of school and personal life. There’s a unique fulfillment that comes from dedicating your time to a cause larger than yourself, a feeling that is both grounding and uplifting. Stepping into my volunteer role, I am reminded that my efforts are a small but vital part of a supportive community, creating a powerful connection to the people around me. This service provides a profound sense of perspective, shifting my focus from my own worries to the tangible difference we can make collectively. It’s in these moments that I feel most connected and truly fulfilled, realizing that the greatest personal rewards often come from the simple, selfless act of showing up for others. I am extremely grateful for having the opportunity to create tangible impacts on other people’s lives and volunteering is something that I will continue to do throughout my life!

NAME: JISHNU KANDALAM 

AWARD: PVSA GOLD

JISHNU’s REFLECTION: 

Through earning the PVSA, VT Seva has taught me how meaningful volunteering has been in shaping my perspective. Through different service opportunities, I’ve learned to appreciate the challenges others face and the impact even small acts of support can have. Volunteering has also helped me build valuable skills—like communication, teamwork, and adaptability—that extend into every part of my life. Most importantly, it has shown me the fulfillment that comes from contributing to something larger than myself. As I move forward, I hope to continue serving with the same dedication and sense of purpose that this journey has inspired.

 NAME: KALKI RENGA ANANDNARAYAN

     AWARD: JEEYAR BRONZE

KALKI’s REFELECTION: My name is Kalki Renga Anandanarayan, I have been a youth volunteer with VT SEVA for the past 6 years. This year I received the JEEYAR Award in recognition of my services. 

I am proud of myself for this and the services I was able to provide for those in need, like DRAW when I helped pack care packages with supplies for those affected by natural disasters and being part of countless more events supported by VT SEVA and their annual events. I would like to thank VT SEVA for giving such wonderful opportunities to serve and achieve this award. I would also like to thank my family for supporting me in this rigorous path.

NAME: KAUSTUBH DINGARI

AWARD: PVSA GOLD

KAUSTHUBH’s REFLECTION: 

The PVSA awards were an amazing experience as I got to celebrate my achievement along with my friends, as well as celebrate my hard work from the past year. As for volunteering, it will forever be one of my favorite things to do, and I am so grateful to be a part of volunteering with VTSEVA.

NAME: KAVI RENGA ANAND

AWARD: PVSA SILVER

KAVI’s REFLECTION:  

My name is Kavi Renga Anand. I am in 5th grade. I have been volunteering for VT Seva for about 3 years. I got a PVSA award this year in recognition of my volunteering service. I am happy to help others in need like visually challenged kids' education, Tribal kids, underprivileged kids, and Cancer affected families through VT Seva. I would like to thank VT Seva for giving me these wonderful opportunities and for my parents who supported me. Thank you.

NAME: KUSHAL DURGA

AWARD: PVSA SILVER

KUSHAL’s REFLECTION: 

Community service means giving my time and effort to help others and improve our community where we live, without expecting anything in return. As part of VTSeva, we volunteered at local shelters, organized events, and supported neighbors and made a positive difference.   Receiving a Presidential Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) for me is a special honor that recognized my commitment to serving others. It shows that I have made a difference and that my service was recognized. This award not only celebrated my impact but also encouraged me to continue service and inspires others to get involved in their communities.

NAME: KUSHI KANUMURI

AWARD: PVSA GOLD

KUSHI’s REFLECTION:

The year 2024 was filled with meaningful events and projects, and I’m so grateful I got to be a part of them. Through VT SEVA, I helped in many ways, from restocking shelves to folding clothes and packaging boxes, and was glad to support different communities. One of my favorite projects was the Outreach Project, where I talked to people about donations and spread awareness for a good cause. I also enjoyed the Netra ESL program, which I’m continuing. I got to teach visually challenged students at the Netra Vidyalaya school and see their English improve. Even though the classes were late at night, their joy made it all worth it. I’m thankful for everything I experienced in 2024 and hope to keep making a difference.

NAME: OVIYA JAISANKAR

AWARD: PVSA GOLD

OVIYA’s REFLECTION:

I am so grateful to have received the Gold PVSA Award for 2024. VT Seva has been part of my life for so long that it feels like I grew up with it; from meetings with barely ten kids to now a community of more than 200 youth, the hours spent volunteering, planning, and fundraising have shaped me in ways I never expected. My first towel drive at age 11, inspired only by a simple love for animals, taught me that impact starts small, while hosting bonfires at the Manoogian Manor Senior center showed me how even one hour of conversation can mean everything to someone who rarely gets visitors. These experiences have led me to continue these projects and many others in 2024. Leading such events has been a huge part of making me a better communicator and leader and I am forever thankful for these experiences.

NAME: RACHANA RAGHUNATHAN

AWARD: PVSA BRONZE

RACHNA’s REFLECTION:

As a member of the VT Seva Youth Board, I’m grateful for the chance to give back and grow through service. This experience has shown me the power of compassion and the impact of even small acts. I’m honored to receive this award, and it inspires me to stay committed to making a positive difference.

NAME:  RISHABH MAVATOOR

AWARD: PVSA SILVER

RISHABH’s REFLECTION:

I felt really happy and rewarded when receiving the PVSA award. It was a great feeling as I was being recognized for the many hours and time that I put in for a whole entire year. The event ran really smoothly, and it was a great experience for me.

NAME: SAI SAHASRA NAMUDURI

AWARD: PVSA GOLD

SAHASRA’s REFLECTION:

Getting the PVSA award was a surreal experience. I am very happy to have such a great opportunity through my volunteer organization, VT Seva, and to be recognized by the president for the volunteering I've done. But more than that, I was content that through my journey of trying to earn this award, I was able to help so many people. 100+ hours of volunteering is not just a number - it's a testament to how many people I've helped over the year, and how much of an impact I was able to make in my community. The PVSA award is a representation of how valuable helping each other is, and I couldn't be more glad to receive this award.

NAME: SAI SRI RAM KARNATI

AWARD: JEEYAR GOLD

SAI’s REFLECTION:

One of the most satisfying and humbling experience was participating in the VT Seva annual Walkathon to raise funds for families impacted by cancer. Another highlight was my involvement in the VT Seva Outreach Project, where I helped raise funds to support free, quality education for underprivileged and visually challenged students in India. Through community outreach and spreading awareness about Netra Vidyalaya, a school for visually challenged children, I was able to make a small but meaningful impact.

NAME: SAICHAKRIKA YADALI

AWARD: PVSA BRONZE

SAICHAKRIKA’s REFLECTION:

Receiving the PVSA medal is an incredible honor, and I feel so blessed to have been recognized at the award ceremony for my service. But I believe the reward of positively impacting others is much more valuable. Over the past year, I worked extensively with VT SEVA’s Accessible Digital Library Program to proofread and validate digital books that Nethra Vidyalaya’s blind students use in vocational training. Although it is difficult to find time for longitudinal volunteerism in medical school, the successes of these children inspire me to continue. Their stories are proof that our volunteerism creates a lasting, meaningful impact.

NAME: SHRAYA VED

AWARD: PVSA GOLD

SHRAYA’s REFLECTION:

Receiving the PVSA award has been an honor and milestone in my volunteer journey. I am grateful for being recognized for my service to the community. This award has reminded me how much impact my actions have had on the community. I have had the opportunity to work with my fellow VT Seva members to serve the community.

NAME: SHREYA SHETTY

AWARD: PVSA GOLD

SHREYA’s REFLECTION:

This past year in VT Seva was one to remember. I was able to participate and lead several service events such as volunteering at food banks, raising funds for cancer patients, and more to support worthy causes. Last summer, I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to visit one of the beneficiaries of VT Seva’s efforts: the Nethra Vidyalaya schools. Visiting this school and seeing the smile on the children’s faces truly inspired me to do more in my efforts. Since then, I have founded a VT Seva club at my high school (Washtenaw International High School) in order to inspire others to volunteer. Receiving the PVSA Gold award served as a reminder on the importance of giving back to my community and I am so grateful to be able to share my privilege in order to help others.

NAME: SHREYA SRIVATSAN

AWARD: PVSA BRONZE

SHREYA’s REFLECTION:

Receiving the PVSA medal is an incredible honor, and I feel so blessed to have been recognized at the award ceremony for my service. But, I believe the reward of positively impacting others is much more valuable. Over the past year, I worked extensively with VT SEVA’s Accessible Digital Library Program to proofread and validate digital books that Nethra Vidyalaya’s blind students use in vocational training. Although it is difficult to find time for longitudinal volunteerism in medical school, the successes of these children inspire me to continue. Their stories are proof that our volunteerism creates a lasting, meaningful impact.

 NAME: SHRUTHI CHAKRIKA ADDURI

      AWARD: PVSA GOLD

SHRUTHI’s REFLECTION:

This year, receiving the gold PVSA award was such an honor. The past year of service was very impactful and taught me a lot on how to give back to my community and how to grow as a person! The event to celebrate all of the PVSA winners was very nice and put together well, I loved being awarded my medal by such an important person and it was nice to see the work that we have done the past year get recognized and celebrated.

NAME: SREENIKA PERUMALLA

AWARD: PVSA BRONZE

SREENIKA’s REFLECTION:

Hello! My name is Sreenika Perumalla and I am currently a senior at IA East. I am so grateful to be able to receive the PVSA through VT-Seva this year, as this year was full of growth and many new experiences. As my first year of president of the VTS Club at IA East I was able to learn more about coordination and leadership. Through this I was also given more opportunity to learn about how much work it takes to create, host, and implement an event. This year was full of its own challenges, but also full of great fun! Some of my favorite events included the leaf raking event because I got to work with friends on a task that was harder than we actually expected, but with teamwork things went smoothly. Another event that I really enjoyed was the rock painting event that we did at our school which had kind, positive comments written on the rocks. During this event, the whole school came to help make such a positive impact and it was such a nice view to see everyone come together and have fun. Overall, I am so glad to have given the opportunity to be a president this year, meet new people, develop new skills, and support VT-Seva.

NAME: SWARA REGE

AWARD: PVSA GOLD

SWARA’s REFLECTION:

Looking back on 2024, I feel incredibly grateful for the meaningful experiences I had as a VT Seva Youth Board Member. Volunteering at various nonprofit organizations gave me the chance to connect with my community and contribute to the causes I truly care about. Each effort reminded me of the importance of dignity, nutrition security, access to education, and quality healthcare for all.

NAME: TEJA TANUSH CHEEMALAMARRI

AWARD: PVSA BRONZE

TEJA’s REFLECTION:

Hi, my name is Teja Cheemalamarri and I've been a youth board volunteer for 7 years. Receiving the presidential award from the mayor was a big honor to me. I am very grateful to VT Seva for the opportunity to serve the underprivileged and receive an award that recognizes my efforts. I plan to continue dedicating my time towards VT Seva and help support local and global causes.

NAME: TEJAS RAJA

AWARD: PVSA SILVER

TEJAS’s REFLECTION:

Winning the PVSA Silver Award through the VTSEVA nonprofit organization means a lot to me because it recognizes the time and effort, I put into helping my community. Throughout the year, I volunteered at a variety of events, from organizing food at local food pantries to spending time at senior shelter homes and supporting the people there. Each experience taught me responsibility, compassion, and the impact small actions can have on others. Earning this award shows my commitment to        giving back and motivates me to continue serving my community in even bigger ways.