AIA celebrates graduates, community achievers
By Heidi M. Pascual
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superintendent of schools to chief administrator of Cooperative Education Services to DPI Deputy Superintendent of Public
Instruction. His many years of experience in this field had exposed him to the evolution of challenges faced by the system and those
who are within it. His remarks pictured today's challenges that students should expect and be ready for.
Evers pointed out that the state of Wisconsin's history has been written in the hopes, dreams, and aspirations of students who
have graduated from our high schools and university, and that the state is committed to quality education and using that education to
serve others.
"The goal for the university, both for the common good and providing equal opportunities for all children of our diverse populations,
is to prepare people for citizenship in a democratic society and to become economically self sufficient while improving social
conditions," Evers said. "Each generation is defining what it means to live in a world today. Let us ensure that it is a definition that will
promote peace and prosperity and the common good of human dignity."
Taking note of increased globalization, Evers talked of the need to open our students and educators to a new world, new
experiences, and opportunities. "Quality education is one that extends beyond its reaches of one's own experiences and beyond
what is familiar," he said. "Every student needs to embark on an educational journey that is imbued with global understanding. Every
student needs to think, ask, and ask important questions that globalization requires. It's about the integrated critical thinking skills
that will require the challenges of an interconnected world." Examples of actual experiences beyond regular school activities
mentioned include: travel abroad, multicultural community skills in art, music instruction, etc.
Evers also emphasized that infusing international education perspectives throughout the curriculum and increasing world
language instruction are some of the best ways to raise achievement of all students, but more importantly, to close the achievement
gaps that exist between economically disadvantaged children, children of color, and their peers.
"In our nation and our state, we want our schools to instill and develop in our students a love for learning, the ability to think critically
and creatively, and to understand the right and responsibilities of citizenship in a democracy," he added. "Educating and developing
civically engaged youth prepared for a global society" would benefit not only Madison but the state, the nation, and the world.
The following 2007 graduating students of the Indian American community were honored:
1) Sadhana Murali- graduating from West High School. She plans to attend UW-Madison and go on to medical school. Her parents
are Jeyanthi and Murali.
2) Madhuri Setaluri - graduating from James Madison Memorial High School. She plans to major in biomedical engineering and
go on to graduate school. Some of her achievements include: opinion editor for the school's newspaper; member of the Science
Olympiad phase 2; recipient of the academic excellence award; a presidential scholar candidate; and a national merit finalist. Her
parents are Vijayasaradhi and Anuradha Setaluri.
3) Rucha Trivedi-graduating from Middleton High School. She plans to attend UW-Madison on a music scholarship; earned a 4-
year scholarship from the UW-Music Department. Some of her achievements: third-degree black belt in karate; singing with the
Madison Youth Choir for 8-9 years; with the Madison Symphony Orchestra for five years. Her parents are Parul and Amit Trivedi.
4) Sourabh Saluja-Graduated from UW-Madison in December 2006 with a B.A. in political science. He plans to go to medical
school. His parents are Neeta and Kewal Saluja.
5) Dhruv Sareen- earned a Ph.D in biomolecular chemistry from the UW-Madison; plans to work as a drug development scientist in
biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry. In his spare time, he enjoys playing competitive squash, likes to spend time with wife Jaya
at Lake Mendota, camping, and has a golden retriever.
AIA Awards:
Lifetime Achievement Awardee Dr. Gurdip Brar
Dr. Jiwan Palta described Dr. Gurdip Brar as a long time friend, AIA contributor and member, fellow scientist, and a great human
being. Brar has made outstanding contributions to his field of plant biology, one of which was when he developed a corn variety that
is resistant to corn root worm. Corn root worm is a major problem of corn crop in this country as well as in other parts of the world.
Once this worm attacks the corn, it kills the plant. It seems that it is now produced based on his research and distributed in the U.S.
alone covers 10 million acres of corn planted every year. He has been actively involved in the community service, both to the large
community and the schools. When their children were going to school, he was contributing to the school's board in many ways. He
was co-chair of many of the committees in the school, as I said the list is long. He was given the Good Neighbor award by the city of
Madison in 1995 -- the highest community award given to an individual by a city. In addition to all of the contributions he has made to
the community, he is a contributor not only by going and inspiringÂ… but financially supporting the school and the good work in his
village that count.
Life Achievement Awardee Rita Singh
AIA President Anu Paluparti presented the reasons why she nominated Rita Singh for the award. When Singh became a member
of the Board of AIA, many programs were initiated to introduce youth to Indian traditions, social service and environmental
awareness. Even after completing a term as the president of AIA, she was always around to offer advice and assistance to all the
presidents that followed. While being the President of AIA, Singh initiated programs to provide voluntary service to the elderly, which
was an instant success; as well as programs to help Dane County food pantries that distribute food to needy people in the Madison
area. She also arranged Math and Science classes for Dane County children from all age groups through various educational
programs. Singh has also been involved in fund-raising events for the tsunami victims and other causes to provide services to
disadvantaged people in India and other parts of the world. She went on to become the Vice President of National AIA which is fully
dedicated to advance the image of Indian Americans.
Entertainment was provided by Natalia Amanqui who danced kathak beautifully, and explained its movements through poetry that
she recited before her performance.
This annual recognition event will go on and on because of AIA's dedication to youth, families, the Indian American community, and
the nation.
(Clockwise from above)
AIA Pres. Anu Paluparti;
(l-r) Ghiw Singh, Anthony
Evers, Rita Singh, Anu;
Dorothy & Gurdip Brar
with Evers; AIA
student-graduates
For more than two decades, the Association of Indians in
America (AIA) in Greater Madison area has celebrated its
graduating students in high school and colleges/universities
through an annual banquet and a program that highlights
students' achievements. The gathering as a community has
also become a tradition to recognize parents and loved ones
of the students whose support and encouragement made all
the difference in the students' journey. Finally, outstanding
members of the community or AIA members are recognized
for their extraordinary contributions to the Indian American
community and the community at large.
This year's event was held on April 8 at the Madison West
Side Club, with State Deputy Superintendent of Public
Instruction Anthony Evers as guest speaker.
In her opening remarks, AIA President Anu Paluparti
highlighted the hard work of teachers and family members
who helped the
graduates accomplish their goal. Then she spoke directly to the graduates as a parent to
her children. "I hope that the success you are experiencing today is a stepping-stone to
many more to come," she said. "As Steve Jobs said in his commencement address, 'Your
time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma --
which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others'
opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow
your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become.
Everything else is secondary.'"
Paluparti emphasized the need to let self confidence and endurance grow with the many
challenges ahead. The audience reacted happily when she quoted John Travolta who said
'The thing you have to remember is that nobody else is paying as much attention to your
failures as you are. You're the only one who is obsessed with the importance of your own
life. To everyone else, it's just a blip on the radar screen, so just move on.'
Dr. Anthony Evers' career path has been in the education area, from being a teacher to
principal to