JACKSON, MI -- Sikander "Sonny" Khan's penchant for altruism and community service has been well-known in the Jackson community for years. Now, others nationwide are taking notice. Khan, 25, was named in December as one of 2024's nominees for the Forbes "30 Under 30'' list in the category of "marketing and advertising." The Jackson High School and University of Michigan graduate was recognized by Forbes for his role in creating and executing marketing strategies for Microsoft's Bing search engine -- particularly the engine's AI-powered chatbot "Copilot." Khan's work has been instrumental in helping the search engine reach up to 100 million daily active users, officials said. "As the technology landscape evolves, being at the forefront of developments in AI -- particularly with the rise of ChatGPT -- has been both exciting and rewarding," Khan said. "I find genuine fulfillment in working on projects like Copilot -- where the potential for generational change is tangible. The ability to play a part in shaping tools that make the world more productive fuels my passion for this field." Khan joined Microsoft shortly after he graduated from the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business in 2020, where he earned a bachelor's degree in business administration. While at college, Khan founded the Paani Project, a nonprofit committed to addressing the critical need for clean water in underserved communities across rural Pakistan -- the home-country of Khan's parents before they immigrated to the U.S. The name "Paani" translates to "water" in Urdu -- symbolizing the nonprofit's mission, Khan said. Since its founding in 2017, the nonprofit has completed more than 20,000 projects -- including the construction of more than 15,000 wells -- benefiting more than 1 million disadvantaged people in Pakistan, Khan said. "The impact extends beyond water, encompassing initiatives like aiding local clinics, building schools for refugees and empowering women and children through improved sanitation and educational support," Khan said. "With over $6 million raised, the Paani Project stands as a testament to the collective power of community-driven initiatives." The project had humble beginnings, with early projects including bake sales on the University of Michigan campus with the aim of raising money to fund the building of wells in Pakistan. What started as a simple initiative has since evolved into a global organization, Khan said. Khan said his experiences growing up in poverty and engaging in volunteer projects while attending Jackson High laid the groundwork for many of his personal values, and instilled in him a commitment to use any privilege or platform he had to create positive change. "During that time, the intention for my service became clear -- to go beyond short-term impact and work on projects with lasting, generational significance," Khan said. "This mindset carried forward as I entered college and still exists. But it was in my young experiences volunteering across Jackson that I learned the importance of driving impact, and those lessons continue to guide my endeavors." Khan's community service started in 2014 with the Allegiance Health Summer Youth Program. Throughout his time in high school, Khan served in several volunteer positions at the hospital his father was taken to after he suffered a stroke. He also spent several hours ever week at Jackson's RidgeCrest Health Campus setting up technology for senior citizen residents to use, and was a peer mentor for Jackson Public Schools students making the transition from middle to high school. Khan -- the son of Murad and Mujahida Khan of Jackson -- has been recognized on several occasions for his drive to help those around him. In 2016, Khan was named the MLive/Jackson Citizen Patriot 2016 "Youth Citizen of the Year" for the persistence and strength he demonstrated through his volunteer service. Youth Citizen of the Year: 'His desire to help comes directly from his heart' Later that year, Khan was the recipient of the "good-through-graduation" Gates Millennium Scholarship, as well as the prestigious Horatio Alger National Scholarship. His philanthropic activities also earned him the title of "2019 Student of the Year" from The Michigan Daily, the University of Michigan's student newspaper.