Impact Award, Fall 2024
Vishnu Batla
Vishnu Batla has been fascinated by technology since he was a child. This interest blossomed as Batla became a computer science and engineering major for his undergraduate degree.
“Engineering is fun because it’s like solving a puzzle with limitless possibilities,” he says. “It combines creativity with logic, allowing you to innovate and turn abstract ideas into real-world solutions.”
After receiving his undergraduate degree, he chose to pursue his master’s degree in computer science in the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University.
“ASU’s strong emphasis on innovation and technology, combined with a vibrant academic community, made it the ideal place for me to advance my education and career aspirations,” Batla says.
He enjoys his field of computer science because of its ability to make a difference in the lives of others using technology. Batla confirmed his passionate pursuit of computer science was the right path when he interned at Microsoft in the summer of 2024.
He says the role combined his interests in managing projects and working with others with his strongest skills in computer science. Ultimately, the internship led to a full-time job offer as a technical program manager in Redmond, Washington, that he will start after graduation.
Batla’s accomplishments while at ASU also include maintaining a 4.00 GPA throughout his degree program while balancing multiple responsibilities, including student worker roles. He worked as a front desk assistant for ASU’s Dean of Students on the Downtown Phoenix campus and as a teaching assistant for CSE 520 Computer Architecture II and CSE 485 Computer Science Capstone Project I classes.
He says his experience as a teaching assistant taught him leadership skills. Beyond the grading aspect of the job standard in such positions, Batla took the initiative to help students by providing support with their capstone projects and advice on how to obtain internships and jobs.
“My goal has always been to be someone my team can rely on, going above and beyond to create a positive, supportive learning environment,” he says.
In the long term, Batla aims to make a significant impact working for a large corporation to create systems and processes that improve the quality of daily life. He also aims to start his own business that incorporates his interests to fulfill his passion for entrepreneurship.
Read about other exceptional graduates of the Fulton Schools’ fall 2024 class here.