Rahul Rao, a senior at Downingtown STEM Academy in Chester County, Pennsylvania, is the recipient of the Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association’s DECA Scholarship, the organization announced this week.
Rao, 17, of Chester Springs, will receive $1,000 to use toward his continuing studies. The Eagle Scout
and Pennsylvania DECA Student of the Year plans to double major in biomedical engineering and
economics with a career goal of practicing medicine.
Among Rao’s achievements are the formation of the organization H2O for Everyone, which aims to shine
a light on the world’s water crisis through education of America’s youth population. Rao is also the
founder, president, and event services organizer for Rao Event Services, which offers local functions
such as concerts, large fundraisers, and cultural event services including parking and hosting.
“At a young age, Rahul is already bringing about change in the world by educating hundreds of students
about the importance of water and spearheading funding for well development in water scarce nations
across the globe,” PFMA President & CEO Alex Baloga said. “We are proud to award this scholarship to
someone with Rao’s entrepreneurial spirit, work ethic, and desire to help others.”
DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality and management
in high schools and colleges around the globe.
Rao spends hours each week in the summer speaking at camps and on weekends during the year for
youth groups. The idea for the organization, which he is working on establishing as a nonprofit with
501(c)(3) status, came to Rao after he returned from a trip to China in 2017. He was walking his dog
following a rainstorm and was shocked to see neighbors running sprinklers at full blast despite the earlier
deluge.
“I developed a real perspective of significant global water inaccessibility after traveling to India and
China,” Rao said. “The reality is 2.4 billion people worldwide do not have access to clean drinking water.
“My first-hand experiences assimilating with those societies and speaking to people in those countries
was a strong period of realization, especially after seeing people my own age struggling.”
