Our Team
Founder: Davita Verma
Davita started this initiative in 2018 when she was a freshman at Alpharetta High School. She started this initiative with the purpose of making a difference in the education of underprivileged students.
She observed that on the one hand, these young children are struggling to obtain these supplies while other students, like her, have these resources in surplus amounts. She realized that most of these supplies were forgotten about or misplaced; thus, they are wasted.
She is creating a balance between the two: by collecting unused and gently used supplies and delivering them to young students. In the end, she doesn't want any kid to be demotivated or lose enthusiasm just because of mere resources. Her motto, " Together we can make a difference one pencil at a time."
Chapter Liaison: Vedant Shah
Inducted in Summer 2026
Meet Vedant Shah, a motivated and ambitious individual with a strong passion for finance, leadership, and community service. As a Chapter Liaison, he serves as the key point of communication between local organizations and the leadership team, helping coordinate initiatives, donations, and community partnerships. His passion for helping children in underserved communities and promoting the importance of education makes him a valuable addition to the Pencils for Success team.
Executive Director: Siebel Olcal
Executive Director of Pencils for Success!
A few years ago, she had the opportunity to take a trip to Uganda and help out with the distribution of donated school supplies. After seeing how students in underprivileged communities lack the necessary supplies for their daily school lives, she realized the importance of education advocacy once again. When she met Davita during Giving Point's Social Innovators Academy, she was thrilled about Pencils for Success, and excited to join this cause!
Here are a few fun facts about her:
She has a cat named April!
She loves reading (especially dystopian), writing, and playing the violin.
She recently started doing archery and she’s loving it
Communications Director: Sweya Surapaneni
Communications Director of Pencils for Success!
Sweya Surapaneni! Her responsibilities include finding grants, communicating with various organizations and schools in need, and building connections in the community. She is passionate in what she believes in and loves giving back to the community, making her a perfect fit to this team:)
Marketing Director: Amna Ingham
Marketing Director of Pencils for Success!
Amna: She is in charge of our social media accounts, creates our flyers, and helps out wherever it is needed. Her creative mind and artistic abilities make her perfect for this role.
Webmaster: Rishi Magiawala
Our webmaster, Rishi Magiawala! His responsibilities include reaching out to businesses and grant writing. In addition, he also helps in maintaining and managing the website. He strives to be community minded and is always giving back to those in need.
Leader: Kansas Chapter : Sruthi Kode
Founder: Davita Verma
Davita started this initiative in 2018 when she was a freshman at Alpharetta High School. She started this initiative with the purpose of making a difference in the education of underprivileged students. She observed that on the one hand, these young children are struggling to obtain these supplies while other students, like her, have these resources in surplus amounts. She realized that most of these supplies were forgotten about or misplaced; thus, they are wasted. She is creating a balance between the two: by collecting unused and gently used supplies and delivering them to young students. In the end, she doesn't want any kid to be demotivated or lose enthusiasm just because of mere resources. Her motto, " Together we can make a difference one pencil at a time."
Chapter Liaison: Vedant Shah
Inducted in Summer 2026
Meet Vedant Shah, a motivated and ambitious individual with a strong passion for finance, leadership, and community service. As a Chapter Liaison, he serves as the key point of communication between local organizations and the leadership team, helping coordinate initiatives, donations, and community partnerships. His passion for helping children in underserved communities and promoting the importance of education makes him a valuable addition to the Pencils for Success team.
Executive Director: Siebel Olcal
Executive Director of Pencils for Success!
A few years ago, she had the opportunity to take a trip to Uganda and help out with the distribution of donated school supplies. After seeing how students in underprivileged communities lack the necessary supplies for their daily school lives, she realized the importance of education advocacy once again. When she met Davita during Giving Point's Social Innovators Academy, she was thrilled about Pencils for Success, and excited to join this cause!
Here are a few fun facts about her:
She has a cat named April!
She loves reading (especially dystopian), writing, and playing the violin.
She recently started doing archery and she’s loving it
Communications Director: Sweya Surapaneni
Communications Director of Pencils for Success! Sweya Surapaneni! Her responsibilities include finding grants, communicating with various organizations and schools in need, and building connections in the community. She is passionate in what she believes in and loves giving back to the community, making her a perfect fit to this team:)
Marketing Director: Amna Ingham
Marketing Director of Pencils for Success! Amna: She is in charge of our social media accounts, creates our flyers, and helps out wherever it is needed. Her creative mind and artistic abilities make her perfect for this role.
Webmaster: Rishi Magiawala
Our webmaster, Rishi Magiawala! His responsibilities include reaching out to businesses and grant writing. In addition, he also helps in maintaining and managing the website. He strives to be community minded and is always giving back to those in need.
Leader: Kansas Chapter : Sruthi Kode