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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline NOVEMBER 01, 2024 | The Indian Eye 23

Classical and Folk Dancers at the Kerala Center Awards Banquet

Association of North America) and WNY in 2018, and is a recipient of the
KCANA (Kerala Cultural Association prestigious Overseas Indian Award,
of North America). He founded the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman. Mr. Nair
literary forum known as Vicharavedi was introduced by Joel Thomas, youth Audience at the Kerala Center Awards Night
NY. Samcy was introduced by Mano- forum Treasurer of the Kerala Center,
har Thomas, coordinator of Sargavedi and Sen. Kevin Thomas presented the services went to Hashim Mooppan, ala, by providing the highest quality
at the Kerala Center. Abraham Philip, award. who is nationally recognized as a lead- of prosthetic limbs to them. Johnson
CPA presented the award. The award for excellence in Nurs- ing appellate litigator and legal strate- was introduced by Annie Lachhander,
The award for community service ing leadership went to Suja Thomas,
went to Sibu Nair, Deputy Director of President of the National Association gist. Hashim is currently a partner at youth forum member of Kerala Cen-
the law firm of Jones Day, previously
ter, and G. Mathai, Kerala Center
Asian Affairs for NY State in Gover- of Indian Nurses of America (NAINA) held leadership positions in the U.S. Trustee presented the award.
nor Kathy Hochul’s administration. and an Advisory Board Member of Department of Justice, as Counselor The ceremony was attended by
Mr. Nair is CHAI’s founder and Ex- the CGFNS Alliance for Internation- to the Solicitor General and Deputy leaders of many community organiza-
ecutive Director (Council of Heritage al Ethical Recruitment Practices. Suja Assistant Attorney General for the tions including FOMAA, FOKANA,
and Arts of India, Inc.). He was the was introduced by Dr. Anna George, Civil Appellate Staff, was a former Pioneer Club, KCANA, and SACSS.
past president of the India Association a past awardee and Assemblywoman law clerk to Justice Antonin Scalia, As part of the Award Ceremony, a
of Buffalo, served as the Vice Presi- Solages presented the award. and has argued five cases in the U.S. souvenir was released by the souvenir
dent of the Hindu Cultural Society of The award for outstanding legal
Supreme Court and dozens more in committee, that consisted of P. T. Pau-
the lower federal courts, including lose, G. Mathai and Mary Philip, by
several high-profile cases concerning giving a copy to Gemini Thomas, pres-
the scope of the President’s authority. ident of Staten Island Malayalee Asso-
Hashim was introduced by Samantha ciation. Entertainment for the evening
Joseph, Joint Secretary of Kerala Cen- was provided by students of Noopura
ter Youth Forum, and Attorney Ap- Dance School directed by Mrs. Chan-
pen Menon, Kerala Center Trustee, drika Kurup.
presented the award. During the event, Kairali TV’s
The award for outstanding con- short film competition winners were
tribution to performing arts went to presented the prizes. Best short film
Dr. Sunanda Nair, a distinguished was Oasis and the award was present-
Mohiniattam dancer, teacher, and ed to its director Sreelekha Haridass by
choreographer. She is widely recog- Paulose Palatti, best actor award was
nized as the “Global Ambassador of presented to Josekutty Valiyakallunk-
Mohiniattam,” promoting its nuanc- al by Jose Kadapuram and best actress
es and practices through her dance award was presented to Deepa Me-
school, SPARC, and with numerous non of Oasis by Daisy Stephen, Vice
performances on national and inter- President of the Kerala Center. Sarah
national stages. She is an A-grade art- Stephen was the MC of this program.
ist for Mumbai Doordarshan and has Abraham Thomas, found-
performed at prestigious venues such er patron, was the chairman of the
as Carnegie Hall in New York and the Award Dinner. Committee members
Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow. Sunanda Mathew Vazhappally and John Paul
was awarded the Kerala Sangeetha coordinated the event. The MC of the
Natak Akademi Award in 2010 and program, Daisy Stephen Pallipparam-
the ‘Kala Ratnam’ Award by Kera- bil, impressed everybody with her out-
la Kalamandalam in 2016. Sunanda standing performance. Indian classical
was introduced by Dr. Benzy Thomas, dances performed by Chandrika Ku-
founder patron of the Kerala Center, rup’s Noopura School of Dance made
and Asha Ramesh, CEO of Sabinsa the awards night a colorful one. Secre-
Corporation, presented the award. tary Raju Thomas concluded the cere-
The award for excellence in Hu- mony with a vote of thanks to honored
manitarian service went to Johnson guests, awardees, sponsors, photogra-
Samuel (Sam/Reggie), the Founder of phers, audience and everyone worked
Life and Limb, an organization estab- so hard to make it a successful event.
lished in 2013, dedicated to serving the With dinner catered by Cotillian, the
needs of amputees throughout Ker- 2024 Award Night came to the end.

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