Report: Dr Rathnakar Sherigar, Virginia, USA
Mangaluru, Dec 29: The second season of the AATA BEE International Youth Quiz for 2024 concluded successfully during the last two weeks of December. Tuluva children from over 80 schools across the United States and Canada participated enthusiastically. The competition, held online, tested critical thinking across diverse subjects, including science, mathematics, history, sports, and general knowledge.
The All America Tulu Association (AATA) was established to unite people of Tulu Nadu origin residing in the United States and Canada. The AATA BEE International Youth Quiz serves as a platform to foster connections among Tuluva youth.
Shreevalli Rai Martell, president of AATA, inaugurated the event, highlighting its significance as part of the Youth Enrichment Program and Student Scholarship Award initiative. She commended the participants for their enthusiasm and reminded them that their determination made them winners.
Winners and achievements
AATA had announced attractive cash prizes: $1000 for the high school category winner, $500 for middle school, and $250 for elementary school, along with trophies and certificates.
- High School category:
- Winner: Raghav Shetty, Flower Mound High School, Texas, USA ($1000).
- Runners-up: Riaan Shetty, Silicon Valley International School, California, and Claire D'Souza, Panther Creek High School, North Carolina.
- Top 10 Rank Holders: Nikheel Sherigar, Aniketh Sherigar, Aadhya Anand, Neeshma Shetty, Arvil Mathias, Tanish Shetty, Samyak Acharya, Sahasi Udupa.
- Middle School category:
- Winner: Hridhaan Gautham, Grafton Middle School, Massachusetts, USA.
- Runners-up: Arnav Shetty, Carnage Magnet Middle School, North Carolina, and Atman Koorse, Mills Park Middle School, North Carolina.
- Top 10 Rank Holders: Nathan D'Souza, Anjana Upadhya, Krithik Puttur, Pradyumna Bhat, Daelyn Rego, Hridhaan Shetty, Samvith Shanbhag.
- Elementary School category:
- Winner: Akshaj Chidananda, Hopewell Elementary School, Iowa, USA.
- Runners-up: Heeral Moolya, Chester M. Stephens Elementary School, New Jersey, and Anarghya Abhiram, Posts Corners Public School, California.
- Top 10 Rank Holders: Aadhi Bangera, Rishaan Shetty, Nirvi Shetty, Kavin Acharya, Ishan Shetty, Inika Acharya, Ansika Sherigar.
The elementary school competition concluded with a thrilling tiebreaker round.
Execution and support
The quiz was conducted on a secure, user-friendly online platform. The team behind the event included:
- Quizmasters:
- Dr Roshan Pais (AATA Director, Kentucky, USA).
- Sindhu Kulal (Toronto, Canada).
- Ranjani Asaigoli (Joint Secretary, North Carolina, USA).
- Dr Rathnakar Sherigar (Director, Virginia, USA).
- Compliance and monitoring:
- Santosh Shetty (Treasurer, Atlanta, USA).
- Prasanna Lakshman (Director, Massachusetts, USA).
AATA’s leadership, including founder president Bhaskar Sherigar (Boston), vice presidents Shirish Shetty (Atlanta) and Sudarshan Shetty (Toronto), and board chairperson Dr Mohana Chandra KP (California), provided essential guidance.
Future plans
AATA, a non-profit organization, aims to host the AATA BEE International Quiz annually every December, promoting educational excellence and cultural bonding among Tuluva youth.