BY A STAFF REPORTER
CERRITOS, CA - In the packed Crystal Ballroom at the Sheraton Hotel here, Rishi Desai won the top India Heritage award of $2500 and revolving trophy in the high school category at the 33rd annual awards function on April 7. The scholarship award was instituted by Sanjiv & Rajesh Chopra in memory of their parents...
CERRITOS, CA - In the packed Crystal Ballroom at the Sheraton Hotel here, Rishi Desai won the top India Heritage award of $2500 and revolving trophy in the high school category at the 33rd annual awards function on April 7. The scholarship award was instituted by Sanjiv & Rajesh Chopra in memory of their parents...
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Sarla & Kishan Gopal Chopra. Ashok Madan and his wife Manju presented the revolving trophy “Profiles in Excellence” instituted in memory of Ashok’s parents, Thakar Singh and Shanti Rani Madan. Anika Kasula won the top award in the Middle school category. The award and revolving trophy has been instituted in memory of long time event sponsor Dr. Awtar Singh by his niece, Sonia Batra of Spice Affair, Beverly Hills.
The second-place winner in the high school category was Anjali Thakrar while the third-place winner was Saisaran Kidambi. The next ten winners were Rutvi Ray, Aayush Somani, Rithik Jain, Rajiv Bhattacharya,
The second-place winner in the high school category was Anjali Thakrar while the third-place winner was Saisaran Kidambi. The next ten winners were Rutvi Ray, Aayush Somani, Rithik Jain, Rajiv Bhattacharya,
Avinash Gala, Rasjot Singh, Kanu Grover, Sunay Dagli, Cynthia Sridhar, and Brijal Shah.
In addition to the academic awards at high school level, four Outstanding Achievement Awards in science, sports, community service, and visual and performing arts were also given. The science award was shared by three winners namely, Rishi Desai, Shreyas Hukkeri and Saisaran Kidambi. All the three names were engraved on the revolving trophy which each of the winners will keep for about four months. The award and trophy has been instituted by eminent scientist Dr. Mani Bhaumik in recognition of the “most important numeral ZERO invented in India.” The award and revolving trophy in sports is funded by Jack Khangura in memory of his wife Rajinder Khangura and was won by Sindhu Srivats. Ananth Mysore won the award and revolving trophy for Visual & Performing Arts while Hansika Sundaresan won the community service award and revolving trophy.
The second-place winner in the middle school category was Arushi Bagchi, while the third-place winner was Akshay Balaji. The next seven winners in the middle school category were Aminah Shaikh, Arushi Somani, Neil Pal, Neha Nair, Sriya Kalyan, Sanjana Shah, and Anjana Korisal. Arushi Bagchi and Sahana Anand won the Visual and Performing Arts awards instituted in honor of “teachers, parents and family.”
The keynote speaker was Bhupesh Parikh, philanthropist and businessman. He donated $1 million for Glendale Community College building which bears his name. He spoke about his struggles and successes and his passion to share his wealth for educational causes in the US and India.
The Foundation started with eight scholarship awards in 1987. Over the years, the amount for scholarship and the number of awards have been increased. The annual event has been made possible with the support of some well-meaning sponsors. All the sponsors were introduced through a power point presentation by Simi Singh. Some of the sponsors present at the event included Ashok Madan, Sonia Batra, Bhupesh Parikh, Bob Bawa and V. J Singh. Some donors, Dr. Mahesh and Usha Gupta, Dr. Asmath Noor, Kewal Kanda, Aarti Garg, Charu Shivakumar, Nalini Solanki and Harbhajan Samra were also recognized. One by one, the sponsors and donors were called upon to present the award checks to the young winners.
The scholarship winners who applied for the Visual and Performing Arts Category, Neil Pal and Monica, Akshay Balaji, Arushi Bagchi, Anika Kasula, Arushi Somani, Hansika Sundaresan, Sahana Anand, and Ananth Mysore presented a very entertaining program. Guest artist Paramita’s Kathak performance was highly appreciated and received sustained applause. The cultural program was emceed by Dilip Butani and Charu Shivakumar.
Inder Singh, in welcoming the attendees, appreciated the support by the sponsors who provided necessary funding for the continuity of the awards program. He also thanked the judges who undertook the grueling task of evaluating the applicants, and praised his “working crew”, his team of volunteers, who worked hard to make the event a success. He said, “An individual, howsoever brilliant, intelligent and smart, would find it difficult, if not impossible to match the collaborative efforts of an effective team and he is blessed with a team which has been providing selfless service for the cause of our youth.”
In addition to the academic awards at high school level, four Outstanding Achievement Awards in science, sports, community service, and visual and performing arts were also given. The science award was shared by three winners namely, Rishi Desai, Shreyas Hukkeri and Saisaran Kidambi. All the three names were engraved on the revolving trophy which each of the winners will keep for about four months. The award and trophy has been instituted by eminent scientist Dr. Mani Bhaumik in recognition of the “most important numeral ZERO invented in India.” The award and revolving trophy in sports is funded by Jack Khangura in memory of his wife Rajinder Khangura and was won by Sindhu Srivats. Ananth Mysore won the award and revolving trophy for Visual & Performing Arts while Hansika Sundaresan won the community service award and revolving trophy.
The second-place winner in the middle school category was Arushi Bagchi, while the third-place winner was Akshay Balaji. The next seven winners in the middle school category were Aminah Shaikh, Arushi Somani, Neil Pal, Neha Nair, Sriya Kalyan, Sanjana Shah, and Anjana Korisal. Arushi Bagchi and Sahana Anand won the Visual and Performing Arts awards instituted in honor of “teachers, parents and family.”
The keynote speaker was Bhupesh Parikh, philanthropist and businessman. He donated $1 million for Glendale Community College building which bears his name. He spoke about his struggles and successes and his passion to share his wealth for educational causes in the US and India.
The Foundation started with eight scholarship awards in 1987. Over the years, the amount for scholarship and the number of awards have been increased. The annual event has been made possible with the support of some well-meaning sponsors. All the sponsors were introduced through a power point presentation by Simi Singh. Some of the sponsors present at the event included Ashok Madan, Sonia Batra, Bhupesh Parikh, Bob Bawa and V. J Singh. Some donors, Dr. Mahesh and Usha Gupta, Dr. Asmath Noor, Kewal Kanda, Aarti Garg, Charu Shivakumar, Nalini Solanki and Harbhajan Samra were also recognized. One by one, the sponsors and donors were called upon to present the award checks to the young winners.
The scholarship winners who applied for the Visual and Performing Arts Category, Neil Pal and Monica, Akshay Balaji, Arushi Bagchi, Anika Kasula, Arushi Somani, Hansika Sundaresan, Sahana Anand, and Ananth Mysore presented a very entertaining program. Guest artist Paramita’s Kathak performance was highly appreciated and received sustained applause. The cultural program was emceed by Dilip Butani and Charu Shivakumar.
Inder Singh, in welcoming the attendees, appreciated the support by the sponsors who provided necessary funding for the continuity of the awards program. He also thanked the judges who undertook the grueling task of evaluating the applicants, and praised his “working crew”, his team of volunteers, who worked hard to make the event a success. He said, “An individual, howsoever brilliant, intelligent and smart, would find it difficult, if not impossible to match the collaborative efforts of an effective team and he is blessed with a team which has been providing selfless service for the cause of our youth.”
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