Desi Talk

www.desitalk.com – that’s all you need to know 6 CITY VIEWS June 27, 2025 Jericho Student Sahana Sundar Honored With Congressional Gold Medal And STEM Distinction S ahana Sundar, a sophomore at Jericho High School in NewYork, is one of the recipients of this year’s prestigious Congressional Gold Medal Award, one of the high- est honors conferred upon youth in the United States for achievement in volun- tary public service, personal development, physical fitness, and expedition or explo- ration. The award was presented during the Congressional Gold Medal Summit, held inWashington, D.C., from June 11 to 13, 2025. The event brought together ac- complished young Americans from across the country and offered them the oppor- tunity to engage with professionals from various fields and meet national leaders, including Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Congressman Thomas Suozzi at the U.S. Capitol. In addition to receiving the Congres- sional Gold Medal, Sahana Sundar was named a STEM Star in recognition of her contributions to community service in the fields of science, technology, engineer- ing, and mathematics. She is currently a science research student at Jericho High School and interns with Dr. Nathan Cohen, a postdoctoral research fellow at Mount Sinai’s Icahn School of Medicine in the Department of Environmental Medi- cine and Public Health. Her dedication to research and education extends beyond the classroom, as she has previously interned with the Business & Leader- ship Academy, supported social media initiatives for Global United Planet and International Cultural Youth Exchange Tanzania, and contributed to her school’s theater program. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Sahana Sundar took on a leadership role in the Girls Computing League, a national nonprofit promoting STEM education in underrepresented communities. She served as the NewYork Chapter Leader and National Director ofWorkshops, helping organize outreach initiatives to expand access to computer science and technology education. Her efforts in service and advocacy are matched by her involvement in the Girl Scouts, where she earned the Silver Award, and by her long- term pursuit of Indian classical dance. She has completed Level 3 of the RSL Awards certification through Griffin College in London. Sahana Sundar’s academic achieve- ments include contributing a chapter to the book “Path to Nobel,” which was published and released at the New Delhi World Book Fair in 2023 under the guid- ance of Dr. Srinivas Rao. Her research focused on the work of Nobel laureates Dr. John O’Keefe, Dr. May-Britt Moser, and Dr. Edvard Moser. She also presented a com- munity-based tech employment project called “Diamond Finders” to Microsoft’s New England Research and Development team in 2021. The project aimed to bridge gaps in employment access for under- represented tech talent in the Boston area by utilizing existing infrastructure and networks. Her leadership and public speaking abilities have been recognized through her involvement with OneWorld Girl’s Ju- nior Youth Advisory Council and Change- makers Council, both platforms for youth leadership development. In 2023, she placed first in the NewYork State History Day competition in the performance cat- egory and went on to become a national finalist at National History Day, finishing in the Top 10 runoff round. Most recently, she won first place at the Future Business Leaders of America NewYork State Lead- ership Conference in the Introduction to Public Speaking category and will advance to compete at the National Leadership Conference in Anaheim, California, later this summer. In addition to her academic and extra- curricular accomplishments, Sahana Sun- dar is also an athlete, having participated in her school’s varsity softball team as well as the junior varsity soccer and badmin- ton teams. Her multifaceted achievements reflect a commitment to excellence across academic, artistic, service, and athletic domains. By a StaffWriter PHOTO:SundarVenugopalan Sahana Sundar with the US Congressman from NY-03 Rep. Mr. Thomas Suozzi at the US Capitol. IADA India Day Celebrations In Virginia Highlight US-India Partnership And Diaspora Contributions political candidates. Chair of the Virginia Asian Advisory Board and a host of the event, Srilekha Palle, led a moment of silence in re- membrance of two recent tragedies: the Pahalgam terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed 26 lives, and an Air India crash in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, which resulted in more than 290 deaths. Echoing her sentiments, Loudoun County Delegate JJ Singh offered condo- lences but reminded attendees that the gathering was a celebration of U.S.-India partnership. He noted the increasing presence of Indian American CEOs in top American companies and spoke about the convergence of Bollywood and Hol- lywood, calling the two film industries “somewhat indistinguishable” today. Singh also praised Virginia Congress- man Suhas Subramanyam and State Senator Kannan Srinivasan, both from Loudoun County, as impactful leaders and personal inspirations. He referre to Srinivasan as “one of the smartest, and most hardest working people we have in the state legislature.” Singh further mentioned that he takes pride in his Indian heritage and reflected on his parents’ immigration journey in 1970, underscoring the values they instilled in him: hard work, service, and faith. Virginia’s Assistant Secretary of Com- merce and Trade, Louis Lopez, acknowl- edged the significant contributions of In- dian Americans to the state’s civil society, education, industry, and culture. He credited the diaspora with help- ing drive the Commonwealth’s ongoing economic success, describing them as entrepreneurs, academics, and leaders across sectors who have made Virginia a better place to call home. Will Archer, Campaign Manager for Virginia Lieutenant GovernorWinsome Sears, who is running for Governor, praised Prime Minister Modi’s reference to “AI” as “American Indian.” “I love the commitment to the Ameri- can Indian partnership,” he said, noting Virginia’s top ranking for business and highlighting Sears’ commitment to sup- porting Indian American businesses of all sizes. He added that the administration is focused on continuing the policies cham- pioned by Governor Glenn Youngkin. Archer also revealed that Srilekha Palle has been working with the Youngkin ad- ministration to coordinate a trade delega- tion to India. Michael Sobolik, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, issued a warning about the ongoing geopolitical struggle. “We are in a new ColdWar we did not seek, but there will be a winner and there will be a loser,” he said, referring to rising tensions with China. While acknowledging America’s in- novation and military strength, Sobolik stressed that the United States cannot face these challenges alone. “The U.S. needs friends like India, South Korea, Japan,” he said, noting that economic fortitude and cooperation are essential to successfully counter China’s ambitions. Sobolik also commended Prime Min- ister Modi for making bold policy deci- sions, including the banning of nearly 40 Chinese apps, such as TikTok, to protect India’s national security and sovereignty from external influence. The event also featured remarks by Sunny Reddy, an at-large member of the Wayne State University Board of Gover- nors, Jag Mohan, Minister (Community Affairs) at the Embassy of India, and Nissim Reuben of the American Jewish Committee. Several cultural performances were also presented as part of the celebra- tion. -(Used under special arrangement with SAH) PHOTO:T.Vishnudatta Jayaraman,SAH Invited guests and speakers at the India Day celebrations hosted by the Indian American Diaspora Association on June 14, 2025, at the SV Lotus Temple in Fairfax, Virginia. - Continued From Page 5