Seshadri
BALDWIN PLACE — Nitin Seshadri, son of CSEA Westchester County Unit member Priya Srinivasaraghavan, is one of 12 recent high school graduates across the country who received the 2021 AFSCME Family Scholarship.
The scholarship, awarded by AFSCME, CSEA’s International union, provides recipients with an initial $2,000 scholarship, which is renewable for up to four years for as long as the student remains in school full time.
“Having that support [from AFSCME]and knowing people are rooting for me, it’s really awesome,” said Seshadri.
Seshadri is a 2021 graduate of Somers High School in Westchester County, where he graduated as salutatorian. Srinivasaraghavan is a longtime CSEA member and software architect who works in the county’s Department of Information Technology, a position she took not long after immigrating to the United States from India.
Thanks to the stable employment and fair wages attained through his mother’s job, Seshadri said he grew up with many opportunities that have allowed him to expand his horizons academically and use skills he’s developed to help people in need.
Seshadri will be building on that passion for helping others as he enters the University of Pennsylvania this fall, where he’ll pursue a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry. His ultimate goal is to attend medical school.
“I want to be able to help a lot of people and work with patients in hospitals, nurses, and other doctors and specialists,” said Seshadri.
When he reaches that goal, Seshadri will be arriving with plenty of experience. He’s already gotten an introduction into patient care as a volunteer at Northern Westchester Hospital.
Seshadri has also helped people in a variety of other ways. He’s the founder of a group of students called D2NK, members of which work together to create sustainable solutions to problems in their communities.
After volunteering at a local food pantry, Seshadri worked with group members to develop an app called RestShare, which connects restaurants with volunteers and soup kitchens, allowing the restaurants to donate unused food.
Another app the group developed is called AI4VI, which detects obstacles and helps people with visual impairment prevent tripping and other injuries. Students at the New York Institute for Special Education tested the app and provided feedback, which Seshadri hopes to incorporate.
Outside that group, during seventh grade, Seshadri created Project: Math++, a mobile app and website connecting students with tutoring. Project: Math++ eventually grew into a nonprofit organization, allowing proceeds from tutoring to be used to educate underprivileged children in India via the Indian Council for Child Welfare, based in Tamil Nadu. Seshadri hopes to continue his work with Project: Math++ to continue to help children gain access to education.
Seshadri said he is not only grateful for the AFSCME Family Scholarship, but also the many union benefits that have allowed his parents a secure future.
“Being in a union, my mom has sick and vacation time, and retirement benefits,” said Seshadri. “Having those retirement benefits will allow my parents a better financial cushion. The union is
really important in keeping these things alive.”
— Jessica Ladlee
