Story of Sumit Kolpe - Cadence Scholarship Program

In the heart of the Maharashtrian countryside, where dreams often remain dreams, Sumit dared to aim higher.

Raised by a single father who worked as a farm laborer, Sumit’s childhood was shaped by hardship. His mother passed away when he was very young, and his elder brother is unable to work due to a physical disability. These personal challenges could have easily held him back, but instead, they shaped him into someone with deep empathy and an unwavering resolve.

Sumit’s brilliance began to shine early. The Cadence Scholarship Program helped him study engineering and work toward his goals. Now in the final year of his B. Tech in artificial intelligence and data science at Marathwada Mitra Mandal College of Engineering, Pune, he has consistently ranked at the top of his batch, with very high GPAs in his first two years.

His achievements go beyond academics. He has represented India in an international hackathon in Slovakia and won accolades in national competitions in Pune, Bengaluru, and Barshi (Maharashtra). His internships include roles at IBM, Infosys, Sponserlytix (UK), and a research stint in machine learning at Avignon University, France. These efforts earned him the prestigious Aegis Graham Bell Award, supported by the Government of India.

Despite his modest living conditions, Sumit remains grounded. “Opportunities like these don’t just give us financial help—they give us belief,” he says. “They remind us that someone is watching, someone is rooting for us. That makes all the difference.” His story proves that even in adversity, excellence can thrive when nurtured with the right mix of support, guidance, and grit.

Cadence Scholarship Program

Introduced eight years ago in India, the Cadence Scholarship Program aims to address the issue of retaining students from underprivileged backgrounds in the academic cycle through funding and support to undertake graduation and professional courses for their livelihoods. Over the years, it has benefited more than 700 students across Delhi/NCR, Bangalore, Pune, Hyderabad, and Ahmedabad.

The execution and administration of the program are managed by our NGO partners, Concern India Foundation (CIF) and Joining Hands. The students are selected through a rigorous process of due diligence carried out by Joining Hands. Concern India Foundation oversees the students' performance throughout their coursework. Cadence employees in each of these locations volunteer as mentors to help them with their studies, develop their personalities, and improve their communication and employability skills.