Small Acts, Big Impact
Honoring the quiet legacy of CSM alumna Nikita Ogireddy through a memorial blood drive and scholarship fund
August 28th, 2025
Written by Mila Yoch
“Nikita showed up, yes. But there were layers to it,” said her friend Alka Chaudhary, her close friend and fellow science major at the College of San Mateo (CSM). “She met you wherever you were. She paid such close attention to the little things that it was easy for things to just click between her and other people.”
During her time at CSM from 2018 to 2020, Nikita became the quiet center of a vibrant circle of students—tutoring in the STEM center, leading the Medical Scholars Club, and organizing events such as blood drives and Family Science Day. She moved softly, inspiring quiet passion in her peers—not just by recommending programs she believed they could thrive in, but also through the way she listened with care and prompting thoughtful, intentional action.
Those little things became the foundation of deep friendships that carried through the COVID-19 pandemic, new colleges, and cross-continental moves, including Nikita’s move to South Korea to teach English. “We checked in on her weekly because that’s who we were,” Alka explained.
When Nikita passed away unexpectedly in August 2023, just months before her friends were set to visit her in Korea, the loss was staggering as the news rippled through her circle of friends, many of whom had spoken to her just days before. In the months that followed, Alka and her friends channeled their grief into action, responding the way Nikita would have—with action, compassion, and a sense of community.
They organized a memorial blood drive; an echo of the events Nikita once led as president of the Medical Scholars Club. Held one year after her passing, the drive has brought together former classmates, professors, and community members to honor her, many of whom were unaware of her passing until that day. “They made eye contact with us and said, ‘We knew her. She was special,’” Alka recalled.
The blood drive is more than a tribute—it was a reflection of Nikita’s philosophy: that small acts matter. “There was a quote we loved: ‘Never underestimate the big importance of small things.’ That’s what Nikita taught us.”
In addition to the blood drive, a scholarship fund was created in Nikita’s name, supporting students who embody her spirit of quiet leadership and service. Alka hopes recipients walk away with more than financial aid, rather an understanding of how she lived. “She used to say, ‘If you can’t do something today, do it tomorrow. Forgive yourself. Try again until time runs out.’ That’s what she did. She tried every day.”
As the community continues to honor her through service and storytelling, Nikita’s presence remains small but mighty in every act of kindness that carries her name forward. In your own small act, contribute to the Nikita Ogireddy Scholarship Fund, which was created to support students who embody her spirit: those pursuing Nursing, Medical Assisting, or Early Childhood Education / Child and Adolescent Development at Cañada College, College of San Mateo, or Skyline College.
Link to Scholarship Fund: https://smcccd-sandbox.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=2455
Or honor her legacy by donating blood at the at the upcoming Stanford Blood Center 2nd Annual Memorial Blood Drive on Friday, September 26, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the College of San Mateo campus – Lot Q. Her life will be celebrated with snacks, meaningful connections, and a raffle with prizes Nikita would have enjoyed.
Link to donate blood: https://events.collegeofsanmateo.edu/event/103630-nikita-ogireddy-2nd-annual-memorial-blood-drive
“She was a small but mighty force,” said Alka, “She wasn’t loud or flashy, but she had this way of making you feel like you mattered.” We invite you to do the same and join us by donating blood or contributing to her scholarship, a tribute to Nikita as we enter the fall semester.
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