Bhaskar Vempati, President of Suvidha International Foundation (left) poses with all the participating students along with other program mentors. Photo by Rick Sloan

RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - Suvidha International Foundation, a California-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, successfully organized the After-School Industrial AI Agent Development Program at Cordova High School. The program offered 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 a $40,000 award from its Community Enhancement & Investment Funds (CEIF). Running from Sept. 24, 2025, through Jan. 30, the program was open to students in Grades 9–12. This five-month initiative was thoughtfully designed to introduce students 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.

Trophies were handed out to all participating students of both AI applications. One for the Customer Service AI Agent for the City of Rancho Cordova and one for an Energy Efficiency AI Agent for SMUD. Photo by Rick Sloan

The program benefited 32 students, who gained valuable hands-on experience in Generative AI, Python programming, machine learning and natural language processing (NLP). Weekly in-person sessions were held every Wednesday from 4 to 6 p.m. at Cordova High School, with Zoom access available for students who required remote participation. 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 led by Bhaskar Vempati, Founder and President of Suvidha International Foundation, who provided overall leadership, vision and coordination for the initiative. Instruction and technical mentorship were provided by Mr. Jothi Periyasamy, a Stanford graduate and AI expert affiliated with MIT and Harvard Innovation Labs. Along with his team, he offered students exposure to industry-level practices, real-world AI use cases and professional insights that bridged the gap between classroom learning and practical application.

A program demo was held on Jan. 9 and was attended by Rancho Cordova Council Members Siri Pulipati and Joe Little, Rita Gass, Chief Digital Transformation Officer for the City of Rancho Cordova, FCUSD Vice President YK Chalamcherla and SMUD Directors Michael Champ and Oliver Daniels, who provided valuable feedback to the student teams.

The program concluded with a Grand Final AI Showcasing on Friday, Jan. 30, from 5 to 7p.m. at the Cordova High School Multipurpose Hall. The event brought together a distinguished group of attendees, including City of Rancho Cordova Mayor Garrett Gatewood, an eight-member SMUD delegation led by Board President Dave Tamayo, SMUD Directors Michael Champ and Oliver Daniels, FCUSD Board President Jennifer Laret, Rick Sloan, Cordova Recreation & Park District Director, Cordova High School leadership, Golden 1 representatives, local IT professionals, parents, and community members. Golden 1 Credit Union partially sponsored four laptops for program students.

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. 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.