Kids today are accomplishing more than ever before. And Kiran Karthik, a local Allen resident and senior at Greenhill School in Addison, is a perfect example.
For the past five years, Kiran has been a volunteer tutor for refugee students. In his words, “I’ve seen how important STEM education and access can be to those that are less fortunate. Many of the students that I’ve taught had outdated devices, or no devices, which made learning very difficult for them. So, I started an initiative where I take used devices, repair them if needed, and give them to these students so they have access to online learning.”
For Kiran, this isn’t just a casual after-school hobby. It's a full-fledged nonprofit organization he co-founded called Elevate Tomorrow. And his work helps both people and the planet. Kiran’s mom says, “Every laptop or tablet that gets refurbished instead of tossed is one less piece of toxic e-waste in our landfills, and one more child with a real shot at learning. In a small but meaningful way, he's teaching that protecting our neighbors and protecting our environment can be the very same act.”
In addition to his nonprofit and volunteer work, Kiran also designs STEM courses and kits, holds multiple Microsoft certifications focused on AI and technological security, and even makes time to read Stephen King novels.
As he looks forward to his future after high school, Kiran says, “I want to be able to use my knowledge of AI and my passion for engineering to create robotics that can be used in applications such as space travel and assistive technologies that improve the quality of life for individuals with disabilities.”
Do you know of a student, educator, or good human who should be featured? Send an email to Angi.Burns@citylifestyle.com to nominate them.