Hamdan awards for top achievers from Indian schools
To be shortlisted, a student must do well in academics and extracurricular activities
Of the 20 Indian students honoured with the Hamdan Award for Excellence, 13 belong to Delhi Private School, Sharjah.
Vandana Marwaha, Principal of DPS Sharjah, is jubilant. “It is a unique achievement by our students as the criteria for the awards are very tough,” she said.
“These students have had a consistently high academic performance and, besides, are multifaceted. They do community work and are ecology lovers. As a principal, the one thing I tell my students is that it is important to participate, winning is not everything. Even if one loses, there is always a learning experience. So my students entered this contest without any fears.”
The winners
Rohan Kapur, 15, Grade 11, dreams of being a software engineer and also entering the Indian Administrative Service (IAS). This the second time he has been conferred the Hamdan Award. “I won the honour in Grade 8 and, as per rules, could apply again only after three years and here I am [for a second time],” a thrilled Kapur told Gulf News.
To be shortlisted for the award, a student must do exceedingly well in academics and extra-curricular activities as well as extend selfless support to community and environment programmes.
Kapur, an accomplished elocutionist, chess champion and community journalist, has also worked on eco-projects and helped labourers through his initiatives, Serve the Earth and Serve the Heroes. He credits his parents and teachers for supporting his endeavours.
Sidharth Sankar, Grade 5 student, Delhi Private School, Sharjah, started young on the trajectory of excellence. He grossed 99.6 per cent in Grade 4.
“I have done a lot of charity work in my hometown in Kerala, donating my savings and feeding the poor,” he says thanking his teachers and parents for guiding him well.
Nandini Mehrotra, 13, Delhi Private School, Sharjah, besides being bright in academics, is an exponent of Indian classical music and dance and loves mathematics. “I want to study hard and return to India to join the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) to help the country,” says Mehrotra.
Indian High School had sent five applications for the award and four of its students were honoured. Ashok Kumar, CEO, Indian High School, is proud that 90 per cent of his applicants were selected.
“From Dubai, Indian schools had a ceiling of five applications per school and we are happy that four of our students got this award,” Kumar said. “We open the award to all students and, after we receive the applications, our shortlist committee selects the nominees based on the Award Committee criteria. I would like to thank the parents and winners and the school, as this is a joint effort to groom them for the awards.”
Saatvik Vashisth, Grade 5 student, Indian High School, has been holding an excellent academic record since Grade 1. Vashisth is a black belt in karate. “I love sports, especially football, and hope to be an accomplished footballer one day like my heroes Lionel Messi and Ronaldo,” said Vashisth.