Story of Badavath Shiva Kumar - Cadence Scholarship Program

Shiva Kumar's journey from the rural village of Mandamaari in Telangana’s Mancherial district is one of grit and grace.

Shiva lost his father when he was just six months old. Raised by his mother—a daily wage laborer—and maternal grandparents, he grew up watching his mother work relentlessly to provide him with an education. She worked menial jobs to pay his school fees and was supported occasionally by Shiva’s uncles.

Even with help, the financial strain was real. As he moved into higher grades, Shiva started working part-time—tutoring children from neighboring states and taking factory shifts—to help his family stay afloat. He remained focused on academics despite juggling multiple responsibilities and never fell behind.

His hard work bore fruit when he scored 980 out of 1000 in his intermediate exams and an impressive 98% in the Joint Entrance Exam for aspiring engineering students, eventually securing a place at the prestigious National Institute of Technology (NIT), Suratkal. However, the tuition and academic expenses posed a challenge. Although the government reimbursed some of his fees, a significant portion remained unpaid until the Cadence Scholarship Program stepped in.

The Cadence Scholarship Program gave him stability, and its mentorship became a source of reassurance. “My mentor guided me during moments of doubt and uncertainty,” Shiva shares. “It wasn’t just about academic help—he helped me plan my future and stay grounded.” As Shiva continues his engineering journey, he remains focused on making his mother proud and giving back to his community.