BY A STAFF REPORTER
SAN DIEGO, CA - The San Diego Indian American Society on August 19 honored bright and brilliant minds at the 34th Annual Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Lectures and Scholarship awards ceremony at the University of California, San Diego to a packed auditorium. This year, nearly $63,000 was awarded in the form of scholarships by SDIAS...
SAN DIEGO, CA - The San Diego Indian American Society on August 19 honored bright and brilliant minds at the 34th Annual Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Lectures and Scholarship awards ceremony at the University of California, San Diego to a packed auditorium. This year, nearly $63,000 was awarded in the form of scholarships by SDIAS...
and the Congressional certificates were provided by members of the Congressional delegation. Among the many students were some India-Americans who received felicitation for their hard work and promising future including Anugraha Panneerselvam from UCLA, Ashwath Radha Chandran and Sai Yandapalli from UC Berkeley. Though others were not present in the auditorium but Sai attended the award function and duly thanked his mentors, seniors and family for the grand appreciation.
The ceremony began with a welcome speech by Dr MC Madhavan, SDIAS Founder and Executive Director, who said, “So far to date the society has recognized over 600 outstanding high school graduates irrespective of national origin who have been awarded over $650,000 and earned US congressional certificates. And, today we have gathered here to witness another generation of change.”
Lama Tenzin Dhonden, Peace Emissary of the 14th Dalai Lama, shared his generous experiences and exhorted students to put into their daily lives the principles of nonviolence just like Mahatma Gandhi. “Use social media to globalize compassion to create harmonious living.” Later, Ambassador Jamal Khokhar, who is also the President and CEO of Institute of the Americas, took centerstage and deliberated on the importance of higher education in changing diplomatic times.
He also laid emphasis on the need of more research in today’s toiling times and how more scholarships can lead to a guided future both in America and other parts of world.
Dr Ramesh Rao, Chair, Mahatma Gandhi Scholarship Committee presented awards to the winners.
Another set of AVID Scholarship awards were presented by Hema Lall, Co-Chair, AVID Scholars Selection Committee.
Sai Yandapalli read out an essay on non-violence and credited Gandhi with his effective ways thus asking people to follow on the path of the great leader. Another highlight of the evening was the presentation of award to a transgender scholar Shelby Spillers from San Diego State for his outstanding contribution. Closing remarks were made by Ramesh Rao, who asked students to involve their passion and skills to create enormous opportunities for themselves and the world. Later, in the evening, a delectable Indian vegetarian dinner in honor of Khokhar and Lama Tenzin was hosted by Chandra and Nirmala Matha in their beautiful residence.
Talking to IJ, Dr. Madhavan pointed out, “This year SDIAS is granting $63,000 and we hope to to increase it to $100,000 in the near future. It is also our aim to persuade Indian American families to support at least one student from a family without college education. This was all possible because of the support received from Indian Americans in San Diego region.”
The ceremony began with a welcome speech by Dr MC Madhavan, SDIAS Founder and Executive Director, who said, “So far to date the society has recognized over 600 outstanding high school graduates irrespective of national origin who have been awarded over $650,000 and earned US congressional certificates. And, today we have gathered here to witness another generation of change.”
Lama Tenzin Dhonden, Peace Emissary of the 14th Dalai Lama, shared his generous experiences and exhorted students to put into their daily lives the principles of nonviolence just like Mahatma Gandhi. “Use social media to globalize compassion to create harmonious living.” Later, Ambassador Jamal Khokhar, who is also the President and CEO of Institute of the Americas, took centerstage and deliberated on the importance of higher education in changing diplomatic times.
He also laid emphasis on the need of more research in today’s toiling times and how more scholarships can lead to a guided future both in America and other parts of world.
Dr Ramesh Rao, Chair, Mahatma Gandhi Scholarship Committee presented awards to the winners.
Another set of AVID Scholarship awards were presented by Hema Lall, Co-Chair, AVID Scholars Selection Committee.
Sai Yandapalli read out an essay on non-violence and credited Gandhi with his effective ways thus asking people to follow on the path of the great leader. Another highlight of the evening was the presentation of award to a transgender scholar Shelby Spillers from San Diego State for his outstanding contribution. Closing remarks were made by Ramesh Rao, who asked students to involve their passion and skills to create enormous opportunities for themselves and the world. Later, in the evening, a delectable Indian vegetarian dinner in honor of Khokhar and Lama Tenzin was hosted by Chandra and Nirmala Matha in their beautiful residence.
Talking to IJ, Dr. Madhavan pointed out, “This year SDIAS is granting $63,000 and we hope to to increase it to $100,000 in the near future. It is also our aim to persuade Indian American families to support at least one student from a family without college education. This was all possible because of the support received from Indian Americans in San Diego region.”