25 Under 25 Honoree Satwika Kota
Satwika Kota has been building her leadership and community service skills long before arriving at Stevens Institute of Technology. A 2/4 business and technology major with concentrations in quantitative finance and data analytics, she has consistently demonstrated academic excellence, earning a place on the Dean’s List every semester. Her rigorous coursework reflects both her intellectual discipline and her commitment to applying business and analytical skills in meaningful ways beyond the classroom.
That commitment is most evident in her role as co-founder of Hope4Spandana, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting underprivileged children diagnosed with autism and other neurological disorders in the United States and India. For more than 12 years, the organization has led transformative initiatives, including supporting four schools that collectively serve nearly 300 children through speech and physical therapy, nutritional support, and transportation services. The organization also funded the construction of a school building in India valued at $65,000 and has raised nearly a quarter of a million dollars through fundraising efforts driven entirely by young volunteers.
Under Kota’s leadership, Hope4Spandana has expanded to chapters across multiple states, including Connecticut, Georgia, Florida and Texas. She has organized more than 15 service and fundraising events, from 5K runs to large-scale awareness campaigns, all guided by the organization’s principles of zero administrative costs and complete transparency. Her leadership has also helped support more than 150 families through self-employment assistance initiatives and provided critical medical and COVID-19 relief resources to tens of thousands of underserved individuals.
On campus, Kota continues to champion service and student advocacy. As Vice President of Community Service for Stevens Future Business Leaders of America, she leads initiatives that encourage service-oriented leadership and strengthen ties with the Hoboken community. She has also served in Student Government as the School of Business Representative, advocating for student wellness and engagement.
