The
recoginition and rewarding of Indian American meritorious high school graduating students was started in 1987 by Inder
Singh and Rajen Anand under the banner of Indian American Cultural and Educational Foundation. In 1998, the scope was expanded
to include students graduating from Junior High/Middle Schools
in Southern California. Currently, Indian American
Heritage Foundation sponsors the annual awards
function.
In
Southern California, the program has been nurtured by the successive teams which have been organizing the event. Besides
the founder, Inder Singh Ashok Madan and Mallappa Yerasi have been part of the organizing team for a long time.
The
current team includes Inder Singh,
Ashok Madan, Mallappa Yerasi, Abdulgani Shaikh, Deepi Singh, Ajoy Dube, Kewal Kanda, Amrit Bhandari, Dilip Butani and Ajmer Singh.
In
1989 India-West Publications joined hands with the
organization to start the program in Northern California.
In 1998, Niraj Baxi tookover the leadership of this
program. Two years later, the program was discontinued for lack of sponsorships.
The
Foundation raised funds from some
generous members from the Indian American community who ensure
the success and continuity of the annual program by providing
necessary financial support.
The
panel of judges, not part of the Foundation, ensures
impartiality in the selection process of the winning applicants.
Twelve scholarships for high school applicants and six for middle school graduating students are given annually to the winning applicants.
In
the high school category, the top award is given
by Sanjiv Chopra in memory of his father Kishan Gopal Chopra.
Award of excellence in Community Service has been instituted by Avadhesh and Uma Agarwal while in Sports by Jack Khangura in memory of his wife Rajinder Khangura.
In
the Middle school category, Visual & Performing Arts
award is instituted by Mollie Singh of Dance with Mollie.
Six trophies have been instituted by various individuals for honoring excellence and accomplishments of graduating students.
"Profiles
in Excellence" revolving
trophy was instituted in 1991 for the top awardee in the High
School category. This trophy is currently funded by Ashok
Madan & family in memory of
their parents Shri Thakar Singh Madan and Shrimati
Shanti Rani Madan. Prior to 2002, the Syal family
funded the trophy since inception in memory of Samitra Devi
Syal.
Visual
& Performing Arts by Kumar Jawa of India Sweets and Spices, in memory of his father, Jiwan
Dass Jawa
Community
Service by Dr. Rajesh Kadakia in memory of Maniben Manilal Kapadia
Sports revolving trophy is funded by by Dr. M.C Gupta in memory of his father Shri R B L Gupta. Earlier, it was funded by Uka Solanki in memory of his brother, Bhikhubhai G. Solanki
Science
& Technology by Dr. Mani Bhaumik in memory of the
invention of numeral ZERO in India
“Founders” perpetual trophy was instituted in 1998 for the top awardee in the Junior High
school category by Dr. Awtar Singh, a businessman
and formerly a UCLA professor, in memory of his late wife, Teji A Singh.
These
18 awards and 6 trophies continue the rich tradition of honoring excellence
and accomplishments of graduating students and, commemorate
success of the winners with their names engraved on the
trophies as a permanent record.
