From Classroom to Community: Students Build Real-World AI Solutions at Cordova High School through Suvidha International Afterschool AI Program

Suvidha International Foundation (https://suvidhainternational.org/), a California-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, successfully organized the After-School Industrial AI Agent Development Program at Cordova High School, offering students a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in artificial intelligence while solving real-world problems that directly impact their community. The program was supported by the City of Rancho Cordova through its Community Enhancement & Investment Funds (CEIF). The five-month initiative started in September 2025 was thoughtfully designed to introduce high school students, grades 9 to 12, to AI and AI agent development without requiring prior experience. The curriculum progressed from foundational concepts to more advanced applications, enabling both beginners and experienced learners to steadily build confidence, technical skills, and problem-solving abilities.

As part of the program, students collaborated in teams to design and develop two impactful AI applications focused on addressing real community needs. The first project was a Customer Service AI Agent developed for the City of Rancho Cordova, created to help residents and local businesses quickly and easily find answers to common city service questions. This AI agent addressed challenges such as identifying the correct department to contact, navigating city resources, and understanding permits, trash services, billing, and other frequently asked questions providing accessible, 24/7 support beyond regular office hours.The second project was an Energy Efficiency AI Agent, developed in collaboration with SMUD, focused on helping Rancho Cordova homeowners, renters, and small businesses better understand and manage their energy usage. The AI agent offers around-the-clock guidance on energy-saving practices, local utility programs, and practical steps to reduce utility bills. Beyond individual cost savings, this project supports broader sustainability and environmental goals by encouraging energy efficiency and reducing overall demand on the power grid.

The program benefited 32 students, who gained valuable hands-on experience in Generative AI, Python programming, machine learning, and natural language processing (NLP). To ensure inclusivity and flexibility, additional Sunday evening make-up sessions were conducted to accommodate academic, athletic, and personal schedules. The curriculum was intentionally structured to evolve over time, helping students understand how AI is applied in industries such as customer service and energy efficiency while preparing them for future STEM education and career pathways.

The program was initiated and coordinated by Bhaskar Vempati, Founder and President of Suvidha International Foundation, with the support of the Suvidha team, including Vandna Sharma, Avinash Maddy, Padmapriya Maddy, Balu Kodavatikanti, and Praveen Vempati. Instruction and technical mentorship were provided by Jothi Periyasamy, a Stanford alumnus and AI expert, along with his team, including Sathvika from Deep Science AI Foundation and team members from LLM at Scale.AI, giving students valuable exposure to real-world AI practices and industry insights.

A program demo was held on January 9, 2026, and was attended by Rancho Cordova Council Members Siri Pulipati and Joe Little, City of Rancho Cordova Chief Digital Transformation Officer Rita, City AI staff Laura, City CEIF staff Randi Kay, FCUSD Vice President Chalamcherla, and SMUD Directors Michael and Oliver, who provided valuable feedback to the student teams. The program concluded with a Grand Final AI Showcasing on Friday, January 30, 2026 at the Cordova High School Multipurpose Hall. The event brought together a distinguished group of attendees, including City of Rancho Cordova Mayor Gatewood, a nine-member SMUD delegation led by Board President Dave Tamayo, SMUD Directors Michael Champ and Oliver Daniels, FCUSD Board President Jennifer Laret, Cordova Recreation & Parks District Director Eric Sloan, Cordova High School administration including Principal Amy, Golden 1 representatives, local IT professionals, parents, and community members. Golden 1 Credit Union and Tech Yantra partially sponsored program laptops while the SMUD partially helped the showcasing event. The final showcasing celebrated student innovation highlighted the tangible impact of their AI solutions, and demonstrated the power of strong partnerships among schools, nonprofits, local government, and industry in advancing AI and STEM education for the next generation. 

Mayor Garett Gatewood, Council Member Siri Pulipati, and Council Member Joe Little commended Suvidha International Foundation and Jothi for organizing a high-quality After-School AI Program that empowered students with real-world AI skills and community-focused solutions. CEIF team members Randi Kay, Lindsay and Laura, Rick, Dave, YK Chalamcherla, Jennifer and Amy congratulated the students for their innovation and highlighted the value of strong partnerships in preparing students for future careers.The guests include Venu, Ramraj, Anupriya, Manish, Jagan, JP, Prasad, Syam, Siva, Prashanth, Srinadh, Ranga and Vashist. 

Bhaskar Vempati and Jothi Periasamy expressed gratitude to the City of Rancho Cordova, SMUD, FCUSD, partners, mentors, and volunteers for their support and congratulated students for their dedication and perseverance. Bhaskar also thanked Padmapriya and Manish for capturing the event pictures. A parent, Tripti, also thanked Suvidha, noting the program significantly increased her child’s confidence, problem-solving skills, and interest in STEM. SMUD presented the Best in Energy Award to the Energy Efficiency team, while all participants were presented with trophies.Suvidha International Foundation plans to organize two additional AI programs at Cordova High School in 2026, continuing our partnership to expand AI education opportunities for students.

Brief Description of Suvidha International Foundation:
Suvidha International Foundation (https://suvidhainternational.org) is a California-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to advancing education, empowerment, and community service in the United States and India. In the United States, Suvidha delivers impactful educational programs in speech and debate, robotics, AI, coding, and summer enrichment, while engaging youth in meaningful community service activities including tutoring, clean-ups, and clothing drives, fostering leadership, skills development, and social responsibility.

In India, the foundation supports 106 underprivileged students, with a strong focus on girls pursuing higher education and professional degrees, while also providing school supplies, specialized training, career mentorship, women’s self-employment programs, and community initiatives such as food distribution and environmental projects.