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Chicago’s Tenth Annual “Punjabi Youth Graduation & Scholarship
Awards Night 2010”
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· Ryan Preet Singh and Gagandeep Singh Sandhu win PCS Chicago Scholarships
· Dr. Sunil Chopra an inspiring Keynote speaker
Chicago, June 19, 2010
PCS
R. Mago
Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago (PCS) organized its tenth annual “Punjabi Youth Graduation and Scholarship Awards Night” on Sunday, June 13, 2010, at Viceroy of India Banquet Hall in Lombard, Illinois. More than 250 attended. The guests of honor were the class of 2010 graduates from the community.
The celebration included recognition awards, scholarships, keynote address, cake cutting ceremony, DJ music, dancing, networking, and delicious Indian cuisine. The participants of “Rangla Punjab 2010” the PCS Annual Vaisakhi cultural program were also awarded. The party was free to the graduates and Rangla Punjab participants.
"The purpose of this program is to promote higher education among our next generation in a fun environment," said Mohina Ahluwalia P.C.S. Chairperson.
P.C.S. $1000 scholarship this year was awarded to Ryan Preet Singh of Stevenson High School. Ryan won for his high scholastic achievements and also participation in Punjabi cultural activities including Bhangra dance and playing Punjabi dhol drum.
The second scholarship $750 award went to Gagandeep Singh Sandhu of Michigan High School for his high scholastic grades and participation in cultural activities and volunteering for community service.
The scholarship winners among the applicants were determined by an independent panel of judges according to the marking criteria established by P.C.S.
The scholarships were presented by Diljit Singh Ahluwalia, and Harinder Singh, President of Management and Information Technology Solutions, Inc. (M.I.T.S.).
The scholarship event was co-sponsored by Dr. Surjit Singh Patheja and Dr. Robert Singh. Dr. Diljeet Kaur Singh and Karamjit Kaur Singh also co-sponsored the event and established a PCS scholarship in fond memory of their father Dr. Pritam Singh, a scholar, educationist, and a freedom fighter with deep love for his community, who passed away on June 3, 2010.
The Keynote Speaker for the evening was Dr. Sunil Chopra, Interim Dean, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL.
Dr. Chopra made an inspiring keynote address to the young graduates and remarked, “Times of greatest change are also times of greatest opportunity. The graduates should view this time as one where the fundamental models of how many things are done are changing. This makes it a time to innovate and come up with new ideas.
In order to succeed, there are some key points that the graduates should keep in mind:
Firstly, “The environment” - A supportive environment that allows an individual to recover from any setback is critical. The family and friends in the PCS offer an ideal environment that the graduates can use as a foundation to build from.
Secondly, “Openness to other ways of thinking” - All innovation occurs at the interface of different ideas and ways of thinking. As the graduates go off to college, they should embrace other ideas allowing them to expand their horizons.
Thirdly, “Stay positive during a setback” - All individuals react well (and largely alike) when things are going well. A key differentiator is how people react to a setback. The graduates have a very supportive set of family and friends that can help them look forward whenever a setback arises.
Fourthly, “Hard work” - There is absolutely no substitute for hard work. As many, including Edison and Einstein, have said, “Genius is 1 % inspiration and 99% perspiration.” “
To be successful you simply need ten thousand hours of practice!!!
Dr. Sunil Chopra was honored with a plaque presented to him by the PCS Chairperson Mohina Ahluwalia with all the PCS officials standing by her side.
Both Dr. and Mrs. Chopra got pulled into the Bhangra jam session by the jubilant dancing party crowd.
“It is such a warm gathering, my wife Cristina and I are delighted to be here,” said Dr. Sunil Chopra.
The scholarship donors and event sponsors were honored with plaques presented to them by Dr. Sunil Chopra.
The PCS Chicago recognition certificates were presented to all the graduates by Dr. Surjit Singh Patheja a retired radiologist, past president of India Medical Association N.W. Indiana, and a longtime supporter of PCS.
“You are our treasure, your family and we as a community are proud of you,” said, Rajinder Singh Mago the PCS President, to the graduates.
All the performing artists of "Rangla Punjab 2010" the PCS Vaisakhi cultural show were given trophies and certificates for their hard work, participation, and excellent performances. The awards were presented by Kalyan Singh Bagga, Mrs. Mindi Patheja, Mrs. Serbjeet Kaur Singh, Mrs. Cristina Chopra, Mr. Jassi Dhaliwal, Dr. Jaswinder Singh Sandhu, and Mrs. Jaswinder Kaur Bhattal.
The retired PCS official Baljeet Kaur Randhawa and volunteer Surinder Singh Bhatia were honored with plaques, and Navrang Singh Bajwa and Sukhwinder Kaur were awarded certificates for excellence in volunteer work by the PCS Chairperson Mohina Ahluwalia.
The graduates relished a special cake cutting ceremony for them and an exclusive invitation for the first dance at the celebration party. All of the attendees enjoyed the party with delicious food, DJ music and dance. The dance floor was jam packed with young Bhangra lovers till late into the evening.
PCS Scholarships and the Graduation Night celebration was Sponsored by Diljit and Mohina Ahluwalia, Harinder Singh – MITS, Dr. Robert Singh, Dr. Surjit S. Patheja, Dr. Diljeet Kaur Singh, Karamjit Kaur Singh, Taranpaul Singh Chawla of the Chawla Group Ltd., Viceroy of India Banquets, and many other community supporters.
The program was organized by Pardeep Singh Deol, Kevindeep Singh Atwal, Sunny Kular, Ronny Kular, Baljit Singh Sidhu, Balwinder Singh Girn, Surinder Singh Sangha, Parminder Ghotra, Onkar Singh Sangha, Amarjit Kaur Atwal, Sukhmel Singh Atwal, Bhinder Singh Pamma, Mohinderjit Singh Saini, Yadwinder Singh Grewal, Jasbir Singh Palia, Surinder Singh Bhatia, and Rajinder Singh Mago.
The photos were taken by Gurmit Singh Dhillon and Surinder Singh Bhatia. The DJ music was provided by Rishpal Singh of Sunshine DJ.
The upcoming PCS events are a two days “Punjabi Sports Festival 2010,” comprising of an all day basket ball tournament on Saturday July 17 and the community sports day including Kabaddi on Sunday July 18, 2010, both at the Addison Park District Community Park at 120 E. Oak Street in Addison, IL.
The Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago is a not-for-profit community service organization devoted to promoting Punjabi culture, language, performing arts, healthy life style and sports, education, and good citizenship in the metropolitan Chicago area
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