Indian American philanthropist Sarva Rajendra has been named in Loudoun Business Journal’s ‘20 Women to Watch in 2015’ list, and was chosen as one of four women on the cover of their 100 Women issue.

A Virginia resident, Rajendra is President of Sahasra Deepika Foundation for Education, a non-profit foundation that houses and educates underprivileged girls in Bangalore, India. The students at Sahasra Deepika, which means a thousand lights, are encouraged to develop their intellectual, social and academic potential so that they can feel self-empowered and contribute to the community at large.

“I’m honored to be featured in Loudoun Business Journal’s 100 Women issue, and on their ’20 Women to Watch in 2015′ list. This is a recognition of Sahasra Deepika’s 17 years of educating and encouraging girls to become the next generation of women leaders in their families, communities and professions. It inspires me, and everyone associated with Sahasra Deepika, to continue to light the way forward for more children in need,” Rajendra said.

The coveted ‘20 Women to Watch’ list is just the latest accomplishment for Rajendra in 2015. In the past three months, she’s been featured in Washington FAMILY Magazine, in the Loudoun Times-Mirror, and on WUSA9-TV, the CBS station in Washington, D.C.

Sahasra Deepika Institute will be releasing a documentary in the fall of 2015. The film is an inspirational success story of one of the institute’s original students who was abandoned at the school at age four. She’s now an adult, empowered with an education and life-long career skills.