Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Sep 2: Purushottam M S, art teacher of St Philomena College Puttur, Hattajeguttu V Prabhakar Hegde, teacher of Mangalateru government higher primary school, and Shashikala G Sherigar, retired headmistress of Mallar general government higher primary school near Kaup, have been chosen for the state-level best teacher awards for the year 2014-15.

Purushottam M S, Shashikala G Sherigar and Hattajeguttu Prabhakar Hegde

Purushotham M S hails from Montadka in Sullia taluk and lives in Sriram Pet in Sullia. He joined the above institution as art teacher in 1974. He also had served as the officer in charge of NCC air wing of the college between 1985 and 2012. He had undergone various trainings both in teaching profession and in his capacity as NCC officer. He had also participated in a number of adventure camps. He has won several awards from different organizations in recognition of his talent and meritorious services.

Hattajeguttu Prabhakar Hegde, who was born in 1957, had started working as teacher after getting education in Venoor and then at Sarvodaya teachers training centre at Virajpet. After serving as teacher, he had left job to work as extension officer in Syndicate Bank. He functioned as trustee of temple and director of society, when he got an opportunity to rejoin the profession he had left. He joined teaching profession in 1991 and served various places including Nekkilu and Timmanabettu, Mangalateru schools. He used his skills at painting and creating attractive concrete art forms on walls for the benefit of these schools. He happens to be a skilled sports person, and had won first prize in 800 metre race, and second place in shot put, at the 33rd Masters Athletic Championship held at Bangalore this year. He also was selected for the national championships and international championship held last year at Toronto in Italy. He also is a skilled poet.

Shashikala G Sherigar, who started her career as teacher at Kaup model school in 1976, has served at Uppoor, Padubidri, Udupi-Puttur etc. She got promoted as headmistress in 2006 and retired on July 31 this year after serving Mallar government higher primary school since 2007. She gets credit for pooling grants and getting additional facilities for schools like toilets, borewell, construction of compound wall, additional computer room, undertaking door-to-door visits during holidays etc for increasing the student strength. She has won a number of awards including district level best teacher award in 2012-13. She continues to serve the school even after retirement.