Association of Indians in America (AIA)-Madison Chapter
honors its 2008 graduates and lifetime achievers
by Heidi M. Pascual
honors its 2008 graduates and lifetime achievers
by Heidi M. Pascual
Every year, the Association of Indians in America (AIA)-Madison Chapter honors
their graduates, their parents, and “lifetime achievers” in the Indian community in the
Greater Madison area — a tradition that has continued for more than 20 years
regardless of change in leadership. Education has always been at the top of the list of
parents for their children; hence the importance of this annual event.
This year, AIA held this event March 30 at the Sheraton Hotel in Madison, with Dr.
Gordon Mitchell, chair of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Veterinary Medical
School, Department of Comparative Bioscience, as guest speaker. Considered one of
the top scientists in the field of neuroplasticity, Dr. Mitchell inspired the new
graduates and the audience with his PowerPoint presentation about how he became
what he is today. He talked about his “passion,” pursuing higher education,
developing special friendships in college, working in Germany (with a German
college friend) and finding his wife there as well. He came back to UW-Madison to
work and conduct further research in his chosen field. He told the new high school
graduates to seek their dream, whatever it is, and be in service to humanity.
Aruna Rajagopalan, founder and choreographer of Spandhan School of Dance
(and AIA’s president-elect-2009) opened the program with a Bharatanatyam number.
Rajagopalan has been training and practicing this classical dance form for almost 30
years. She danced “Sringara Lahari,” a creative expression of praising the Hindu
Goddess Parvati. The lyrics translate thus:
“Music brings joy and mirth to Parvathi who is sweet like honey, beautiful and
conqueror of Shiva’s heart. Even the moon is pale in comparison to her face.”
their graduates, their parents, and “lifetime achievers” in the Indian community in the
Greater Madison area — a tradition that has continued for more than 20 years
regardless of change in leadership. Education has always been at the top of the list of
parents for their children; hence the importance of this annual event.
This year, AIA held this event March 30 at the Sheraton Hotel in Madison, with Dr.
Gordon Mitchell, chair of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Veterinary Medical
School, Department of Comparative Bioscience, as guest speaker. Considered one of
the top scientists in the field of neuroplasticity, Dr. Mitchell inspired the new
graduates and the audience with his PowerPoint presentation about how he became
what he is today. He talked about his “passion,” pursuing higher education,
developing special friendships in college, working in Germany (with a German
college friend) and finding his wife there as well. He came back to UW-Madison to
work and conduct further research in his chosen field. He told the new high school
graduates to seek their dream, whatever it is, and be in service to humanity.
Aruna Rajagopalan, founder and choreographer of Spandhan School of Dance
(and AIA’s president-elect-2009) opened the program with a Bharatanatyam number.
Rajagopalan has been training and practicing this classical dance form for almost 30
years. She danced “Sringara Lahari,” a creative expression of praising the Hindu
Goddess Parvati. The lyrics translate thus:
“Music brings joy and mirth to Parvathi who is sweet like honey, beautiful and
conqueror of Shiva’s heart. Even the moon is pale in comparison to her face.”
(From Top) Some of the graduates with Prof. Gordon
Michell; Lifetime Achievement Awardees pose with Prof.
and Mrs Mitchell (center) and AIA Pres. Shyam Koppikar
(right)
Michell; Lifetime Achievement Awardees pose with Prof.
and Mrs Mitchell (center) and AIA Pres. Shyam Koppikar
(right)
This year’s graduates:
• Ashanee Singh-Ashanee is Rita and Shiv Singh’s daughter. She is graduating from Verona High School. Ashanee
is a very active student and served on the student council. Ashanee is a honor roll student and actively participated
in the science Olympiad and the UW Research Apprenticeship Program. She is an excellent dancer as well as a
lacrosse player. Ashanee will be attending the UW-Madison and planning to major in biology.
• Himanshu Sharma-Himanshu is Manju and Harish Sharma’s son. He is graduating from Memorial High School and
going to the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. Himanshu is the president of the Future Business Leaders of
America at his school and is planning to go into business management after college. Himanshu is an avid baseball
and Ultimate Frisbee player.
• Sowmya Adibhatla-Sowmya is Mani and Murali Adibhatla’s daughter. Sowmya is graduating from West High
School. She is a very dynamic and pleasant young woman. She is a member of National Honor Society and played
tennis for West high school. Somya is planning to major in biology in college.
• Mela Shah -Mela Shah is graduating from West High School where she has been on the Honor Roll. Mela is going
to attend Gustavus Adolphus, a private liberal arts college in Minnesota, and plans to major in religion and
philosophy. Mela is interested in the issues of social justice and social equality. She is learning Indian classical
dance and also interested in other cultures and languages.
• Swarna Mogallapu-Swarna is the daughter of Jamuna and Srinivas. Swarna is graduating from West High School.
She likes to play violin and enjoys painting and reading. She is planning to major in biology in college.
• Paresh Agarwal-Paresh is Poonal and Umesh Agarwal’s younger son. Paresh is graduating from MIT with a
chemistry major. Paresh is continuing his research at MIT on metal anti-cancer drugs and planning to go to graduate
school in 2009.
• Anusha Ramaswami-Anusha is the daughter of Aparna and Karthik Ramaswami. Anusha is currently attending the
Kromery Middle School where she is an honor student. Anusha graduated last year from her Indian Classical Dance
School. Anusha is also learning Indian and Western Classical Music and a member of the Wisconsin Youth
Symphony. Anusha also enjoys playing tennis, skiing and hiking.
AIA Pres. Shyam Koppikar congratulated the graduates and credited the parents, the teachers and the family for
their support. “You all have achieved a distinction and we are very proud of you,” Koppikar said. “I am sure that the
success you are experiencing today is a stepping-stone to the future. I am also confident you and your parents will
take active interest in AIA activities and make it grow from strength to strength. We need your energy, drive and talent
to take AIA to the next level.”
2008 Lifetime Achievement Awardees
After recognizing four former AIA Lifetime Achievement awardees in the audience, Koppikar presented two of the
three 2008 honorees, namely Sushil Bansal and Naren Sharma; while former AIA Pres. Anuradha Palaparti presented
the third honoree, Usha Nielsson.
These awards expressed AIA’s gratitude for the tireless support, commitment and inspiration awardees provided to AIA
and the community in general.
Narendra Sharma: a life member of AIA since 1997; AIA treasurer in 1998; and AIA president in 2000. He built a
community consensus to start celebrating Diwali as AIA’s flagship event, attracting some of the largest AIA gatherings
and providing a platform for Indian and American community interactions and cross cultural learning. Aside from his
profession as Information Systems Manager of Datacenters and Operations for over 20 years at the Meriter Hospital in
Madison, Naren is active in a lot ofcommunity volunteer work.
Sushil Bansal: AIA volunteer auditor in 2004 and helped AIA set up a sound accounting and control system;
developed and managed AIA’s web site; organized a group of Indian seniors in 2006 named Indian Social Groups for
Asian Seniors. Sushil also audited the accounts of the American Hindu Association ( A.H.A.) for the last two years
and actively participates in the Hindu Dharma Circle. He also has numerous volunteer community activities.
Dr. Usha Nielsson: a dedicated member who helped establish AIA through its infancy and provided support and
contributions as needed. Dr. Nielsson is currently serving as professor emeritus at UW-Madison College of Letters and
Science; has written five novels and six volumes of short stories in Hindi; and has guided many Ph.D. students in her
career.
For more information about the AIA, visit http://www.aiamadison.com
• Ashanee Singh-Ashanee is Rita and Shiv Singh’s daughter. She is graduating from Verona High School. Ashanee
is a very active student and served on the student council. Ashanee is a honor roll student and actively participated
in the science Olympiad and the UW Research Apprenticeship Program. She is an excellent dancer as well as a
lacrosse player. Ashanee will be attending the UW-Madison and planning to major in biology.
• Himanshu Sharma-Himanshu is Manju and Harish Sharma’s son. He is graduating from Memorial High School and
going to the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. Himanshu is the president of the Future Business Leaders of
America at his school and is planning to go into business management after college. Himanshu is an avid baseball
and Ultimate Frisbee player.
• Sowmya Adibhatla-Sowmya is Mani and Murali Adibhatla’s daughter. Sowmya is graduating from West High
School. She is a very dynamic and pleasant young woman. She is a member of National Honor Society and played
tennis for West high school. Somya is planning to major in biology in college.
• Mela Shah -Mela Shah is graduating from West High School where she has been on the Honor Roll. Mela is going
to attend Gustavus Adolphus, a private liberal arts college in Minnesota, and plans to major in religion and
philosophy. Mela is interested in the issues of social justice and social equality. She is learning Indian classical
dance and also interested in other cultures and languages.
• Swarna Mogallapu-Swarna is the daughter of Jamuna and Srinivas. Swarna is graduating from West High School.
She likes to play violin and enjoys painting and reading. She is planning to major in biology in college.
• Paresh Agarwal-Paresh is Poonal and Umesh Agarwal’s younger son. Paresh is graduating from MIT with a
chemistry major. Paresh is continuing his research at MIT on metal anti-cancer drugs and planning to go to graduate
school in 2009.
• Anusha Ramaswami-Anusha is the daughter of Aparna and Karthik Ramaswami. Anusha is currently attending the
Kromery Middle School where she is an honor student. Anusha graduated last year from her Indian Classical Dance
School. Anusha is also learning Indian and Western Classical Music and a member of the Wisconsin Youth
Symphony. Anusha also enjoys playing tennis, skiing and hiking.
AIA Pres. Shyam Koppikar congratulated the graduates and credited the parents, the teachers and the family for
their support. “You all have achieved a distinction and we are very proud of you,” Koppikar said. “I am sure that the
success you are experiencing today is a stepping-stone to the future. I am also confident you and your parents will
take active interest in AIA activities and make it grow from strength to strength. We need your energy, drive and talent
to take AIA to the next level.”
2008 Lifetime Achievement Awardees
After recognizing four former AIA Lifetime Achievement awardees in the audience, Koppikar presented two of the
three 2008 honorees, namely Sushil Bansal and Naren Sharma; while former AIA Pres. Anuradha Palaparti presented
the third honoree, Usha Nielsson.
These awards expressed AIA’s gratitude for the tireless support, commitment and inspiration awardees provided to AIA
and the community in general.
Narendra Sharma: a life member of AIA since 1997; AIA treasurer in 1998; and AIA president in 2000. He built a
community consensus to start celebrating Diwali as AIA’s flagship event, attracting some of the largest AIA gatherings
and providing a platform for Indian and American community interactions and cross cultural learning. Aside from his
profession as Information Systems Manager of Datacenters and Operations for over 20 years at the Meriter Hospital in
Madison, Naren is active in a lot ofcommunity volunteer work.
Sushil Bansal: AIA volunteer auditor in 2004 and helped AIA set up a sound accounting and control system;
developed and managed AIA’s web site; organized a group of Indian seniors in 2006 named Indian Social Groups for
Asian Seniors. Sushil also audited the accounts of the American Hindu Association ( A.H.A.) for the last two years
and actively participates in the Hindu Dharma Circle. He also has numerous volunteer community activities.
Dr. Usha Nielsson: a dedicated member who helped establish AIA through its infancy and provided support and
contributions as needed. Dr. Nielsson is currently serving as professor emeritus at UW-Madison College of Letters and
Science; has written five novels and six volumes of short stories in Hindi; and has guided many Ph.D. students in her
career.
For more information about the AIA, visit http://www.aiamadison.com