Felicitation of young science achievers

“We must think of sustainable development, make use of renewable energy and leave something good for the future generations,” stated S R Kale, a renowned technocrat with over 25 years of experience. Kale was the guest of honour during the felicitation ceremony held at Cheddanagar Education Society’s Modern English school by Intel company on Saturday, June 11.

Modern School students discussed their experiences on the occasion

As the subject on conservation of resources was vast, Kale promised to come back to deliver a special lecture for the benefit of the students. Interestingly, the students of this school seem to be scientifically inclined because for the last four consecutive years, they have participated and won laurels both at the national and international levels during the annual science fairs conducted by Intel namely the IRIS (Initiative for Research and Innovation in Science) and ISEF (International Science and Engineering Fair).

“ISEF is an international science fair which attracts participants from various countries. This year our school was the only one to qualify from the city. Our winners this year were Ritika Sangameshwaran and Divya Kohtari. They presented their project from May 8-16 at Reno in Nevada,” informed Sitalaxmi Parameshwaran, the school principal while speaking to CG Plus after the felicitation ceremony.

Impressed with the school’s consistent efforts and innovative experiments, Intel representatives decided to felicitate all the Intel winners of this school. Speaking on the occasion, Anand Nair, Intel representative stated, “We have received entries from many reputed schools spread across the city but Modern English school in spite of their limited resources and facilities have excelled at the national and international science fair.

” Dr Arnab Bhattachrjee, Programme Head of Intel also sent across a message praising the efforts of the science teacher Sitalaxmi for her dedication and tireless efforts towards various science projects. “Teachers like her are like gems — very rare to find,” said the message read out on the occasion.

All the past Intel winners like Sriram Jayram, Divya V who are now ex-students of the school, when called on stage to share their experience, gave full credit to their teacher and mentor Sitalaxmi.

Rajiv Chougale, the local corporator who was present on the occasion stated, “Long before I became the corporator, I was associated with this school as a parent. I know the kind of education and discipline in this school. The students have made not only Chembur but the whole country proud with their achievement.”

Kalyana Sundaram, trustee of Shanmugapriya Trust from the Cheddanagar temple announced a cash prize of Rs 1,000 for this year’s Intel winners Ritika Sangameshwaran and Divya Kothari. The girls presented their project on ‘Solanum nigrum and Psidium guajana as a bio-pesticide for cockroaches’ at the ISEF held at Reno in Nevada, USA.

Addressing the gathering Kalyana Sundaram announced, “Normally we award SSC toppers and meritorious students but this year our trust decided to felicitate these science achievers for bringing glory to our suburb and nation. A formal function will be held for the same in the month of August.”