Veda Bodhanampati '28: Empowering Youth via Virtual Tutoring Partnership
September 8, 2026
High school students often look for ways to earn community service hours, but Veda Bodhanampati ‘28 turns those hours into a nationwide educational lifeline. Partnering with Learn To Be, a national nonprofit organization, Veda and other volunteers are providing free, one-on-one online tutoring to under-resourced Pre-K through twelfth-grade students across the United States. Veda’s partnership with Learn To Be bridges the academic gap for low-income families by offering personalized online instruction in core subjects, including math, science, history, and English.
The nonprofit offers a robust curriculum, including more than 1,500 math courses from Pre-K to Algebra I, over 2,000 reading courses, and hundreds of writing modules. To enrich learning, tutors utilize IXL Learning accounts, placement tests, interactive whiteboards, Google Docs, and an online library via Epic Books. Biliteracy support is also available for Spanish-speaking students.
For high school tutors like Veda, the commitment goes well beyond a typical service project. Veda works with matched students anywhere from a few times a week to once a month, with mentorships lasting anywhere from six months to six years.
Safety and session quality remain top priorities as well. All virtual sessions are conducted through recorded, monitored video conferencing platforms, where personal contact information is protected using masked intermediary phone numbers. Additionally, tutors undergo a rigorous application process, including video essays on their core values.
“Tutoring has changed my life. Every kid I take on has felt defeated or that they ‘can’t do it.’ Being a tutor for five different kids has not only built their confidence and supported their educational development, but has also given me the fulfillment of making an exceptional difference in each kid’s life,” shared Veda. “No matter where anyone comes from, children should have the opportunities to succeed and feel confident in their academic abilities. Being a tutor has shown me that I cannot take away every struggle a kid goes through, but I can make a difference. Minuscule or grand, I am minimizing educational anxiety, one kid at a time.”
