By Alphonse Mendonsa
Udupi/Spura: On the occasion of the installation ceremony of St John’s School's old students association, new office bearers of the organisation on January 9 felicitated two gold medallists of BPharma graduates, Reanal S Alva and Nikitha A Gaga.
The felicitation of Reenal and Nikitha along with many other school/college achievers was held during the installation ceremony of the new office bearers of the Old Students Association for the year 2021-22 namely Rayan Fernandes (president) and Pratam D’Souza (secretary).
The new president, Rayan Fernandes accorded a warm welcome to the guests on the dais namely Fr Ferdinand Gonsalves (correspondent), Vishal Shetty (chief guest), Priya D’Sa (principal, PU Composite College), Ashwin Rodrigues (HM, High School-Kannada medium), Sr Juliana Lasrado (HM High School-English Medium), Irine D’Souza (HM, primary) and Veena D’Souza (former secretary OSA).
The programme began with a prayer and lighting of the traditional lamp by the guests on the dais followed by the introduction of guests by Jeevan Pereira and the annual report by Veena D’Souza.
The committee members of OSA were felicitated by Fr Ferdinand Gonsalves (Pratam D’Souza, Domian Noronha, Juliet D’Souza, Anitha Mathias, Sameera Rebello, Sharan D’Souza, Nikhil Castelino and Vinesh D’Souza).
The highlight of the event was the felicitation of Reenal Swetha Alva and Nikitha Alisha Gaga both winners of gold medals in BPharma Degree. Reenal won in 2018-19 batch from NGSM Institute of Pharmaceuticals, Deralakatte)) and Nikitha Gaga also from NGSM Institute of Pharmaceuticals, Deralakatte). They were felicitated with shawls, citation, flower garlands and fruit basketes by Fr Ferdinand Gonsalves, Vishal Shetty, Rayan Fernandes and other guests on the dais.
After the felicitation, Nikitha Gaga thanked the organizers for the honour bestowed upon her and Reenal and also thanked their parents and teachers who inspired them throughout their lives to achieve their various goals and especially in achieving gold medals in BPharma.
All the former presidents of the Old Students Association who were also felicitated with a shawl and rose each on the occasion were Peter Martis, Naveen Amen, Anil D’Sa, Victor Mendonsa and Ragupathi Acharya.
On the occasion, Naveen Amin thanked Rayan for the honour and requested all the old students to respect their teachers and highlighted the importance of honouring old teachers as equal to honouring their parents at home.
The chief guest of the day, Vishal Shetty spoke on the occasion. He said that St John’s School started 100 years ago and showed the right path to thousands of students from the beginning as they have reached all over the globe and achieved various positions in life. He also said that the old students must respect their teachers who have taught them and requested them to try to meet all those teachers who are alive and who taught at St John’s Schools ad that will be the greatest gift they could give their teachers.
The new president, Rayan Fernandes also spoke on the occasion saying, "I will organise some programmes which will be very beneficial to the students as well as the old students of St John’s School/College. We will also identify the needs of the students and try to fulfil them."
Fr Ferdinand also spoke on the occasion and requested the students not to forget their teachers who have taught them and pay respect once in a while by meeting them.
Various achievers of St John’s PU College and SSLC distinct holders were felicitated on the occasion and also the winners of the online quiz competition.
The felicitation programme concluded with the vote of thanks by the new secretary Pratam D’Souza. Domian Noronha (PT-St Johns) conducted the programme.