Media Release
Mangaluru, Oct 9: St Joseph Engineering College (SJEC), Vamanjoor, celebrated its College Day 2026 with great enthusiasm on Thursday, October 8. The celebration brought together the management, faculty, staff, and students to commemorate the achievements of the institution and recognise excellence in academics, sports, cultural activities, and other fields.
Rajesh Mendonca, founder and chief architect, Almasons, was the chief guest, while Sheelam M Swamy, senior financial analyst, DXC Technology and MBA alumnus of the 2009 batch, was the guest of honour. Fr Kenneth R Crasta, in-charge director, SJEC, presided over the function.
The programme commenced with an invocation, followed by a traditional dance. Dr Rio D'Souza, principal, SJEC, presented the annual report, highlighting the significant achievements and milestones of the institution during the academic year. The report reflected the college's continued progress in academics, research, innovation, student development, sports, cultural activities, and other areas of institutional excellence.
A vibrant welcome dance was presented, following which Dr Jyothi Damodara, dean of student welfare, SJEC, welcomed the dignitaries and the gathering. The College Day celebration provided an opportunity to recognise the achievements of students in various fields. Sports achievers were felicitated for their outstanding performances and accomplishments at different levels. Students who excelled in cultural activities were also honoured for their achievements.
Addressing the gathering, guest of honour Sheelam M Swamy shared his experiences and reflections with the students. Emphasising the importance of values in achieving success, he highlighted hard work and honesty as two essential qualities that students should carry forward in their personal and professional lives. He stressed that hard work should always be accompanied by honesty and integrity.
The celebration continued with the felicitation of student and faculty achievers. The institution honoured the best outgoing student, academic achievers, and class toppers in recognition of their outstanding performance and contribution. Faculty members who had achieved excellence in their respective fields were also felicitated.
Addressing the students, chief guest Rajesh Mendonca spoke about the rapidly changing technological landscape and the growing influence of artificial intelligence. He emphasised the need for students to understand emerging technologies and develop the ability to effectively work with AI tools. One of the key messages from his address was, “Let AI do AI’s job; we need to learn how to manage AI.” He stressed that students should not fear the rapid advancement of AI but should instead learn to use and manage it effectively. He encouraged them to develop the skills, adaptability, and continuous-learning mindset required to remain relevant in a technology-driven world.
Following the address, Sheelam M Swamy was felicitated in recognition of his presence and contribution to the occasion. A special glimpse of his movie 'Moda Kavida Vatavarana' was also presented to the gathering.
Delivering the presidential address, Fr Kenneth R Crasta congratulated the students, faculty, and staff for their achievements. He highlighted the importance of holistic education and values in shaping young professionals and encouraged students to make meaningful use of the opportunities provided by the institution. He also appreciated the collective efforts of the management, faculty, and students in contributing to the continued growth and development of SJEC.
The formal programme concluded with the vote of thanks proposed by Franco A J Menezes, who expressed gratitude to the chief guest, guest of honour, management, dignitaries, co-convenor Rajesh Belchada, faculty, staff, students, and everyone who contributed to the successful conduct of the celebration. The celebrations continued with a vibrant cultural programme, where students showcased their talents through a variety of performances. The programme concluded with the National Anthem.
The evening provided a fitting conclusion to a day dedicated to celebrating the achievements, talents, and spirit of the SJEC community. The College Day 2026 served as a celebration of excellence and achievement, recognising the accomplishments of students and faculty while inspiring the SJEC community to pursue their goals with hard work, honesty, adaptability, and a commitment to lifelong learning.