ABOUT THE MILLENNIUM FELLOWSHIP - CLASS OF 2025
United Nations Academic Impact and MCN are proud to partner on the Millennium Fellowship. This year, 60,000+ young leaders applied to join the Class of 2025 on 7,000+ campuses across 170 nations. 290+ campuses worldwide (less than 5%) were selected to host the 4,500+ Millennium Fellows.

UNITED NATIONS ACADEMIC IMPACT AND MCN PROUDLY PRESENT NIKHITA VELANGI, A MILLENNIUM FELLOW FOR THE CLASS OF 2025.
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras | Chennai, India | Advancing SDG 1, SDG 1 & UNAI 3

" I am excited to be a Millennium Fellow because it offers a global platform to turn ideas into action, collaborate with change-makers, and design solutions that align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals—transforming vision into tangible impact for communities that need it most. "
Millennium Fellowship Project: Rise & Reach
Rise and Reach is an individual initiative aimed at supporting underprivileged students who face challenges in accessing quality education. The project focuses on providing free mentorship, academic guidance, and essential study resources to students from low-income backgrounds. Inspired by personal academic experiences, the initiative seeks to motivate students and help them believe in their ability to succeed despite obstacles.
Through regular one-on-one mentoring and small group interactions, the project offers practical study techniques, goal-setting support, and personalized guidance based on each student’s needs. Educational materials are shared to reduce resource gaps and ensure students can continue learning effectively. A key objective of Rise and Reach is to build confidence and resilience among students by showing them that consistent effort, proper direction, and encouragement can open doors to better opportunities.
Even as an independently managed project with limited resources, Rise and Reach prioritizes meaningful engagement and adaptability. By maintaining close connections with students and understanding their circumstances, the project works toward promoting educational equity and empowering students to aspire higher, work steadily, and reach their academic goals.
About the Millennium Fellow
Velangi Nikhita is a determined and high-achieving BTech student in Mechanical Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras. Born and raised in Rajahmundry, East Godavari, Andhra Pradesh, India, she has consistently excelled in academics, securing a State Rank in the Top 1.56% in AP EAMCET 2023 out of over 3 lakh candidates, an All India Rank within the Top 2.3% in JEE Mains 2023 amongst over 17 lakh candidates. Beyond academics, Nikhita serves as Project Manager at Nirmaan, a startup incubation cell at IIT Madras, and actively contributes to student organizations as a coordinator in Shaastra Finance and the Informals Club. Her leadership journey began early, having served as Head Girl in school, and continues to grow through managing large-scale events, handling finances, and collaborating across diverse teams. Passionate about problem-solving, design, and innovation, Nikhita aspires to be in a professional field where she can integrate her technical expertise with impactful leadership, cultivate initiatives aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and contribute meaningfully through opportunities such as international fellowships.











