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The
Youth Awards Night was started in 1987 by Inder
Singh and Rajen Anand under the banner of Indian American Cultural and Educational Foundation
which was formed to recognize the achievements of the Indian American Youth,
graduating from High School. 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, besides
the two founders, Inder Singh and Rajen Anand, by Dr. Parvin
Syal, Ashok Madan, Mallappa Yerasi, Dr. Chanderkant Khetani,
Usha Raja, and others.
The
current team includes Inder Singh, Rajen Anand,
Ashok Madan, Mallappa Yerasi, Abdulgani Shaikh, Deepi Singh, Ajoy Dube, Dr. Pammi Bevli, Kewal Kanda, Amrit Bhandari, Gurdip Singh and others.
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 has a board of trustees, who along with some
generous members from the Indian American community, 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.
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"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.
“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.
Four
perpetual trophies have also been instituted:
- 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
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
These
six 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.
Awards
In
the high school category, the second place award is given
by Sanjiv Chopra in memory of his father Kishan Gopal Chopra.
In
the Middle school category, Visual & Performing Arts
award is instituted by Rachna Singh.
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