Their student-run organization, Drive Education, hopes to raise $50,000 by April 13. The money will be used to help students in Wake and Durham public schools have access to technology and advanced educational opportunities.

Drive Education was founded in 2011 by Sairam Yeruva, owner of Raleigh IT staffing company Cygtec Inc.

Yeruva started a fund to build the first public high school in his hometown in India and later saw a need for money-raising efforts in the Triangle. Drive Education raised $26,000 in the 2011-12 school year, which nine area schools used to buy science equipment, laptops Nook e-readers and more.

Panther Creek High School junior Ankita Mishra serves as the public relations lead for Drive Education. She has been working with the group since August to spread the word about school grants and the group’s fundraising efforts.

Q: Why did you apply for a volunteer role that takes up a lot of your valuable out-of-school time?

Many of the students in the group are from Green Hope and Panther Creek high schools. After last year, I heard about Drive Education from two of my friends, and I thought what the organization was doing was amazing.

We call Sairam Yeruva “Uncle” and want to carry out his vision for improving the education of students all over our area.

Q: How do schools get money raised by Drive Education?

Any school wanting to use the money for technology must go through a grant application process explaining what they hope to do with the money. A committee goes through the applications and awards the funds.

Q: What is the Talent for Education night on April 13?

We invite all of the people who have donated money and the schools who have submitted applications. By that date, we hope to have raised $50,000.

That evening, we will have a diverse group of acts who will compete for a prize of between $1,500 and $2,000.

Q: Do you want to eventually have a career in public relations?

I don’t plan a career in PR; I want to be in the medical field.

But this cause is so intriguing to me. It’s been a challenge to find ways to raise the money, but I’m gaining some valuable skills that will help me in my career.

Q: What else do you have planned to raise money?

We plan to meet with the Cary Chamber of Commerce to get word out to its members about our organization and our goal.

We are also planning a special event for physicians so we can share our vision.