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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline MAY 24, 2024 | The Indian Eye 36

University of America, the only institution in the US whose mission is to pro- VEENA IYER
vide education based on Hindu philosophy.
Ramesh Bhutada then took the stage as his $1 million commitment over
four years was announced to the surprise of the attendees. He spoke about Lawyer appointed as District
the need to fund Hindu community institutions such as the Texas Hindu
Campsite, the Hindu University of America (HUA), and now HAF. All three Court Judge in Minnesota
have now received $1 million commitments from him.
Ramesh Bhutada is a renowned philanthropist, entrepreneur, and CEO
of Star Pipe Products in Houston, Texas. He is the Founder of the Indo-Amer- overnor Tim Walz announced
the appointment of Veena
ican Chamber of Commerce, Founding President of SVYASA Research GIyer as District Court Judge in
Foundation, and is an avid supporter of the Southwest Vipassana Meditation Minnesota’s Second Judicial District.
Center. Iyer will be replacing the Honorable
Established in 2003, the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) is the larg-
est and oldest education and advocacy organization and the pre-eminent JaPaul J. Harris. The seat will be cham-
bered in St. Paul in Ramsey County.
voice for Hindu Americans. From a small band of idealistic volunteers in 2003, “I am honored to appoint Veena
today HAF is a professionally staffed institution with close to 20 full-time Iyer to the Ramsey County bench,”
staff, a visionary Board of Directors, dedicated National Leadership Council,
and passionate Advisory Council thanks to the generosity of Hindu Ameri- said Governor Walz. “Her diverse
practice background and under-
cans from all across the country.
standing of the impact that our justice
TIARA ABRAHAM system has on the many communities
it serves gives me the confidence that
Music prodigy becomes the she will be a fair and balanced judge.”
Veena Iyer is the executive director of the Immigrant Law Center of Min-
nesota. She was previously a shareholder at Nilan Johnson Lewis and an Equal
youngest master degree holder Justice Works fellow at Legal Aid Chicago. Iyer was also a law clerk for the
Honorable Natalie Hudson on the Minnesota Court of Appeals, the Honor-
from Indiana University able Susan Burke on the Fourth Judicial District, and the Honorable Matthew
Kennelly on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Her
community involvement includes leadership roles with the Minnesota Asian
Pacific American Bar Association and Minnesota Women Lawyers. Iyer also
serves on the Board of Regents of Augsburg University and the Community
Advisory Board of the Minneapolis Federal Reserve Bank. She received her
B.A. from the University of Chicago and J.D. from Harvard Law School.

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iara Abraham earned her master’s degree from Indiana University, an
accomplishment that makes her the youngest to do so in 2024 across all
TIU campuses statewide. “Today has been a whirlwind of emotion. It’s
been full of joy,” said Abraham. The teen graduated from Indiana University’s
Jacobs School of Music with a master’s degree in music of voice.
Now, she’s the youngest person to earn the degree across all IU campuses
in 2024, and she did it with a 4.0 GPA throughout her academic career.
Tiara Abraham became a Mensa member at age 4, began college courses
at age 7, and celebrated her Sweet 16 with an undergraduate degree from UC
Davis in California. It’s the same school her older brother Tanishq earned his
PhD at 19.
“My dream job is to perform around the world in established opera houses
and just make people happy with my voice,” she said.
“I truly believe in the power of music, and I’m blessed with a beautiful
voice, and I just want to make use of that,” she said.
Abraham has been invited to sing at several commencement ceremonies
at many renowned places over the years. She will sing the national anthem at
IU’s undergrad ceremony on Saturday.

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