San Ramon, CA, Students Awarded $5,000 For Creative Community Event Ideas
India-West Staff Reporter
SAN RAMON, CA — The winners of Discover San Ramon’s first-ever Event Innovator Competition were celebrated at a ceremony during the San Ramon City Council meeting on September 23.
Shiven Balaji from Dougherty Valley High School won for the Lantern and Drones Festival: San Ramon Festival of the Lights. Shiven said the process allowed him to “explore multiple parks and facilities in San Ramon and truly appreciate all the city has to offer.”
Samhita and Akshita Chikoti, also from Dougherty Valley High School, were recognized for their San Ramon Summer Olympiad. Samhita described the experience as “exciting to share creative ideas and help plan an event that will bring the community together for fun and lasting memories,” while Akshita called it “inspiring, as it brought our community’s creativity and energy to life.”
Dhyan Shetty, Pranav Raghunath, and Sohan Babu, again from Dougherty Valley High School, were honored for their San Ramon Scavenger Stroll concept. Sohan Babu said the competition was “an inspiring way to connect with my community and design an event that everyone can enjoy,” and Pranav Raghunath encouraged other students to participate, calling it “an amazing chance to think creatively about ways to improve our city.”
Each winning team received a $5,000 cash prize for their creativity and vision. The competition invited 9th–11th graders living in San Ramon or attending a local high school to submit original event ideas, which were reviewed by the Discover San Ramon board and a judging panel. The initiative aimed to empower students to envision events that reflect the city’s vibrant community spirit.
Mayor Mark Armstrong praised the young innovators, saying, “San Ramon is a city built on the energy, engagement, and creativity of its people — especially our youth. This competition demonstrates how next-generation leaders can help us create events that reflect who we are, bring us together, and make our city stronger.”
