We are thrilled to announce the winners of the 2025 Spark Scholarships, Code Savvy’s eighth annual celebration of young technologists and entrepreneurs. These outstanding students have shown remarkable dedication, creativity, and passion for technology, entrepreneurship, and making a positive impact in their communities.
The Spark Scholarships were created to 🔥 spark the technologist within 🔥, and this year’s recipients have truly ignited that flame. Each of these students has participated in a Code Savvy program and demonstrated how education, mentorship, and curiosity can shape their future.
At this year’s Code Savvy Celebrate Event on May 18 at Hyland Hills in Bloomington, Minnesota, we proudly awarded 14 scholarships across four age categories:
- Ages 8–11: $500 scholarships
- Ages 12–14: $750 scholarships
- Ages 15–18: $1,000 scholarships
- Ages 19–26: $1,250 scholarships
In addition to our core Spark Scholarships, we recognized three students with the prestigious Rebecca Award. This award honors students who enthusiastically embrace coding and technology in the spirit of Code Savvy’s founder, Rebecca Schatz. One student also received the Spark Spirit Award, which honors someone who promotes inclusion, learning, and a passion for technology.
Each applicant answered five reflective questions, sharing their unique experiences and goals. Their stories are inspiring examples of what is possible when we support young people in their journeys with technology and entrepreneurship.
These scholarships represent more than financial assistance. They are a recognition of creativity, resilience, and the bright futures we are building together.
To all who applied, we are cheering for you. Your spark has already lit the way for others, and we cannot wait to see where your journey takes you next.
Congratulations to the 2025 Spark Scholarship winners! 🔥
Please join us in celebrating our 14 2025 Spark Scholarship winners:
Ages 8-11
Hannah Tian
“My participation with Code Savvy programs made me more excited about technology by encouraging me to learn and do more coding, and expanding my coding knowledge too. One example of a game I made is a rock paper scissors game.”
Ages 12-14
Bhavagna Thumbeti
“Exploring technology, coding, and design has taught me a great deal about myself. I’ve discovered that I have a strong curiosity and a willingness to learn, which has driven me to tackle challenges I once thought were beyond my capabilities. When faced with coding problems or design obstacles, I’ve learned to approach them with a problem-solving mindset, breaking them down into smaller, manageable parts.”
Lila Foster
“Last year, my team of five girls worked on an app called DrinkBuddy. Every part of this process was fun, educational, and inspiring. I came home every day overflowing with excitement about my project. I enjoyed working on the coding aspects, and especially learning how to code both software and hardware.”
Ruthvika Aadhya Gandi
“Being part of Code Savvy has also inspired my interest in entrepreneurship. I’ve learned that technology isn’t just about coding—it’s also a powerful tool for creating real-world solutions and starting something of your own. This has motivated me to think beyond just learning for myself.”
Afsa Shaik
“ I am truly passionate about learning, especially in coding and programming, and I see this opportunity as a valuable step toward achieving my dreams.
Alek Kokotovich
“Thanks to seeing what was possible for me to do at Code Explorers, I was able to program a touchscreen with a map and GPS integrated showing divers and their location.”
Grace Kaspar
“Code Savvy not only grew my technical skills but it also helped me grow as a person. After building my first app, I got the confidence I needed to dream bigger.”
Faheema Mohamed Prem Navaz
“Being part of Code Savvy programs has sparked my interest in technology by showing me how creative, collaborative, and impactful coding can be. Before joining, I saw tech as something mostly technical or behind-the-scenes—but through Code Savvy, I discovered that it’s a powerful way to solve real-world problems and bring meaningful ideas to life.”
Ages 15-18
Shreya Sekar
“Technovation has been a vital part of my life, it has helped me gain new connections and learn countless new ideas. Technovation taught me how to find the answers to my questions and the joy of seeking out and fixing problems.”
Ananya Murugavel
“My participation in Code Savvy programs have influenced me to keep working to help my community become stronger and healthier.”
Ages 19-26
Elise Buzzell
“Beyond my own career, I want to give back to the programs that helped me get here. Whether through mentorship, volunteering, or launching initiatives of my own, I’m committed to encouraging young girls to explore STEM.”
Jasmine Garry
“A key takeaway is that leadership doesn’t always mean having the loudest voice; it often means being the most adaptable and observant.”
Clare Dixon
“I believe that my key takeaway from my experiences in software development is that every person can take up a new role based on the environment and group. I found this especially with my own Technovation team where even with the same people from one app to the next, learning new skills they wanted to practice.”
Naimah Muhammad
“Learning to code with Scratch taught me how to break ideas into steps and bring them to life through interactive design. That early exposure helped shape how I think today as both a college student and entrepreneur.”