The Best and The Brightest of 2023
Sthuthi
Das
Age 18 | Senior
Hamilton High School
Chandler
Hamilton High School
Chandler
Sthuthi Das is an entrepreneur who is using her creativity, leadership, and drive to help those in need. She has spearheaded several projects over the years, selling handmade goods and donating the proceeds to organizations like Phoenix Rescue Mission, Habitat for Humanity, Education Empowers, and Child Crisis of Arizona.
One of her biggest passions, however, is helping the homeless. As a little girl, Sthuthi would give away anything she had with her when she saw people living on street corners. Then, in 2022, she partnered with a mentor from Central Arizona Shelter System (CASS) to take her efforts further. Sthuthi and her friends collected dozens of clothing items and $450, all of which went to help the Valley’s homeless.
“Everyone has the ability to make a difference,” said Das. “It’s your willingness and drive to help relieve your community, and really better the lives of those around you.”
In addition to service projects, Stuthi is a STEM ambassador and enjoys teaching robotics to young children around the world. Her parents run a library in India and she spends many of her weekends on ZOOM teaching students there about robotics, with a special focus on attracting more women and girls to the field. She has also been doing ballet since she was just four years old and is a talented piano player. She says her mom is her biggest inspiration for “always pushing me past what I think I can do.”
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Stuthi has taken a keen interest in mental health, particularly among her peers. She developed specialized Google forms and surveyed her entire school to get a better idea of what young people find most helpful in dealing with mental health struggles like depression. The most popular answer: listening.
“Even if you’re scared to try new things, I think it can be one of the best decisions you’ll ever make,” said Das. “You never know what could be waiting for you.”
Sthuthi plans to study neuroscience and pursue a career as a neurosurgeon. She hopes to expand her work helping the homeless throughout Arizona and into neighboring states.
One of her biggest passions, however, is helping the homeless. As a little girl, Sthuthi would give away anything she had with her when she saw people living on street corners. Then, in 2022, she partnered with a mentor from Central Arizona Shelter System (CASS) to take her efforts further. Sthuthi and her friends collected dozens of clothing items and $450, all of which went to help the Valley’s homeless.
“Everyone has the ability to make a difference,” said Das. “It’s your willingness and drive to help relieve your community, and really better the lives of those around you.”
In addition to service projects, Stuthi is a STEM ambassador and enjoys teaching robotics to young children around the world. Her parents run a library in India and she spends many of her weekends on ZOOM teaching students there about robotics, with a special focus on attracting more women and girls to the field. She has also been doing ballet since she was just four years old and is a talented piano player. She says her mom is her biggest inspiration for “always pushing me past what I think I can do.”
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Stuthi has taken a keen interest in mental health, particularly among her peers. She developed specialized Google forms and surveyed her entire school to get a better idea of what young people find most helpful in dealing with mental health struggles like depression. The most popular answer: listening.
“Even if you’re scared to try new things, I think it can be one of the best decisions you’ll ever make,” said Das. “You never know what could be waiting for you.”
Sthuthi plans to study neuroscience and pursue a career as a neurosurgeon. She hopes to expand her work helping the homeless throughout Arizona and into neighboring states.
