Consul General Pramathesh Rath presenting the Outstanding Academic
Achievement Scholarship Award ($2,000) 
to Sarika Bansal of Ramapo High School.



 

Awardees with organizers, Dr. Thomas Abraham, Lal Motwani,
Sejal Lakhani and E.M. Stephen.





GOPIO New York Chapter along with Professional Indian Networking 
Association(PRINA) and the Indian American Kerala Cultural and 
Civic Center ( The Kerala center ) gave away seven awards to the 
winners of the Indian American Youth Scholarship  Award -2002 
Competition on Saturday, June 29th at a banquet held at the Kerala
Center in Elmont, Long Island. 

The chief guest for the evening was Mr.Pramathesh Rath, India's new 
Consul General in New York.Consul General Rath spoke about the recent 
Indo-Pakistan issues and told the audience that 
India has done its utmost to avoid a war with Pakistan. Rath Complimented the
organizers for organizing the scholarship awards for the youth.

The keynote speakers for the evening were New Jersey Assemblyman 
Upendra Chivukula and Mr. Gopal Khanna who has just been appointed by President 
Bush as the Chief Information Officer for Peace Corps. Chivukula in his 
address urged the youngsters to take active part in the political process.
Recounting his own experience in doing grass root level works for the 
last 15 years, Chivukula said that achieving political success is a slow 
process and one has to have perseverance. Khanna spoke on what he learnt in 12 
days since joining the Peace Corps. "Working as a Peace Corps volunteer is 
one of the noblest thing one could do in life," Khanna said and urged the
youngsters to consider joining and supporting Peace Corps.

In the competition, of the two dozen applications received, seven were
invited to participate. The highest prize of $2,000 for Outstanding 
Academic Achievement sponsored by Columbia professors Jagdish Bhagwati and Padma
Desai went to Sarika Bansal, a student of Ramapo High School, who will 
join Harvard in the Fall. 

The second highest price of $1,000 for Outstanding
Performance in Extra-Curricular Activities, sponsored by Association of
Indians in Construction Industry was won by Princy Thottathil, 
a student New Hyde Park Memorial High School. 

Another contestant, Prem Trivedi of Freehold High School won two prices, $500
for Outstanding Application Essay and $300 for Short Answer Presentation. Second
place in Short Answer Presentation was won by Paras Shah of Stuyvesant High School.

Three awards were presented for India Quiz Challenge, Anusha George 
(Brentwood High School),Nupur Jhawar (The Loomie Chaffee School) and
Santosh Varghese (New Rochelle High 
School), with 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize respectively. 

Other award sponsors were Anil K. Roy of ANR Mechanical Corp., 
Vijay Desai of VJ Associates, Dharmatma Saran of Miss India Worldwide Pageant, 
Deo Gosine of Amatech Corp., Romesh Tewari in memory of his wife Late Saroj Tewari 
and G. Mathai of Hanover Mortage Bank.

The program was coordinated by GOPIO New York President Lal Motwani and
PRINA President Sejal Lakhani. Motwani in his welcome address said that 
the Youth Scholarship Award would be continued as an annual event. GOPIO
International president said that such programs will prepare Indian 
American youth to compete well in the American society and urged the sponsors to
continue their support in the future. Kerala Center President E.M. 
Stephen welcomed every one to the Center and said that the Kerala Center would
continue to do activities catered to the larger Indian community.