Washington, Nov 5 (IANS): The Indian American Kerala Cultural and Civic Centre will honour nine Indian American Malayalees for their outstanding achievements in their field of specialization or for their service to the society.
The awardees were selected unanimously by a four-member committee headed by Kerala Centre Board Member and Trustee Dr. Thomas Abraham. The awardees will be honoured at the Kerala Centre's 22nd Annual Awards Banquet on Nov 15 at World's Fair Marina in Flushing, Queens, New York City.
This year's celebration also includes a Technology Summit for Kerala where invitations are extended to Malayalee academics, scientists, technologists, engineers, entrepreneurs and businessmen in New York City.
The awardees:
Recognition for Outstanding Contribution in Education - Dr. Geeta Menon, 11th Dean of the Undergraduate College at NYU's Leonard N. Stern School of Business and the Abraham Krasnoff Professor of Global Business and Professor of Marketing.
Recognition for Outstanding Contribution in Entrepreneurship - Siby Vadakekkara, founder, Chairman and CEO of Marlabs, a software services firm headquartered in New Jersey which he started with three employees in 1997 and has now become over 1800 employees globally with over $100 million in revenues.
Recognition for Outstanding Contribution in Corporate Leadership - Suresh Nair, head of Global Wealth and Investment Management Technology at Bank of America/Merrill Lynch.
Recognition for Outstanding Contribution in Engineering - Abraham Pannikottu, principal of an Ohio based engineering firm which developed a unique carbon fibre hoop design zero pressure tyre for the US military that could keep military vehicles running faster and longer after an attack.
Recognition for Outstanding Contribution in Services to Government - Dr. Gabriel D. Roy, who served as a faculty member in Mechanical Engineering in India and the US and also managed sponsored research and IR&D in industry.
Recognition for Outstanding Contribution in Applied Sciences - Dr. Thomas J. Colacot, the Global R & D Manager in Homogeneous Catalysis at Johnson Matthey Catalysis & Chiral Technologies in West Deptford.
Recognition for Community Service - Baby Uralil. Initiator, founder and president of many cultural associations, Uralil started a medical lab in New York, which has now extended to different states of America. He is also CEO for Malayalam IPTV.
Recognition in Literature and Writing - Thelma Kizhakedan. Known as a writer, gaayika and abhinethri, she started writing in the Kerala periodicals like 'Malayala Nadu, 'Janayugam', 'Kaumudi' in 1970s.
Recognition with Special Award - Dr. Teresa Antony. An experienced yoga instructor, she is a member of Strathmore's Who is Who Worldwide 2014 and has published numerous scientific articles and has written and spoken about Indian culture and community at various forums.