Page 24 - The Indian EYE 111023

NORTH AMERICAN Newsline NOVEMBER 10, 2023 | The Indian Eye 24

THE KERALA CENTER HOSTS ITS 2023

ANNUAL AWARDS DINNER

OUR BUREAU
New York, NY
ndian American Kerala Cultural
and Civic Center, Inc. (The Kera-
Ila Center) celebrated its 31st An-
nual Awards Dinner at the Center’s
auditorium in Elmont, NY, on Sat-
urday, October 28, 2023. The Center
honored eight individuals who made
notable contributions in their profes-
sions and to society with their selfless
dedication.
This year’s honorees were: Dr.
Shyam Kottilil (Baltimore, MD)
--Lifetime Achievement Award; Sa-
jeeb Koya (Pickering, Ontario, Can-
ada) - Entrepreneurship; Dr. Anna
George (Long Island, NY) - Nursing;
Dr. Shelby Kutty (Baltimore, MD)
- Medicine; Ajay Ghosh (Trumbull, Awardees 2023 – Ajay Ghosh, Dr. Shelby Kutty, Sajeeb Koya, Dr. Shyam Kottilil, Dr. Anna George, Gopala Pillai, Lata Menon, and Jayant Kamicheril
CT) - Media and Journalism; Lata
Menon, Esq. (Mississauga, Ontario,
Canada) - Legal Services, Jayant Ka- har Thomas, coordinator of Sargavedi
micheril (Reading, PA) - Pravasi Ma- at the Kerala Center, and Sen. Thom-
layalam Literature; and Gopala Pillai as presented the award.
(Dallas, Texas) - Community Service. The award for excellence in Nurs-
The program commenced with ing went to Dr. Anna George, current
the American and Indian National president of the Indian Nurses Asso-
anthems sung by Riya Roy and Bincy ciation of New York (INANY). She is
Cherian. President Alex K. Esthap- a Nurse, a nurse practitioner, human
pan welcomed everyone and provided rights advocate, and a social activist.
a brief description of the activities and The award for legal service went
goals of the Kerala Center. to Lata Menon, Esq. an accomplished
New York Senator Kevin Thomas Barrister and Solicitor and active
and Nassau County Legislator Carrie community member, who has become
Solages said felicitations and present- Noopura School of Dance students performing classical dances at the event a recognized name in the legal com-
ed the awards. These dignitaries were munity in Ontario as well as the Indi-
introduced by Dr. Thomas Abraham, an states of Maharashtra, Karnataka,
Chairman of the Trustee Board and explained the successes and failures of several organizations in Texas and and Kerala, where she practiced as a
Award Committee member. of managing the COVID outbreak Detroit, and has been with the World lawyer before immigrating to Canada.
Sen. Thomas, a prior awardee and how to prevent future outbreaks Malayali Council from1995 as its Sec- The ceremony was attend-
himself, praised the Kerala Center for which will certainly happen sometime retary, President and Chairman. ed by leaders of many com-
honoring individuals who excelled in in the future. The award for outstanding munity organizations includ-
their professions and served the soci- The award for entrepreneurship achievements in Medicine went to Dr. ing FOMAA and FOKANA.
ety with dedication. Legislator Solag- went to Sajeeb Koya, the man behind Shelby Kutty, a physician-scientist and The songs sung by Bincy Cheri-
es remarked that students of Indian the LED Façade lighting that lights up academic leader, serving as the Hel- an, Tahseen Mohammed, Sibi David,
and Malayalee descent made him a Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the en B. Taussig endowed professor and Toni and Heera, and Indian classical
better student and that helped him world. Sajeeb and his team are proud director of pediatric and congenital dances performed by Noopura School
to go to George Town University. He to be part of this project which owns 2 cardiology at the Johns Hopkins Uni- of Dance made the awards night a
also remarked that there is nothing Guinness World Records. versity School of Medicine. colorful one. Secretary Raju Thomas
wrong with loving the country of our The award for Media and Jour- The award for contributions to concluded the ceremony with a vote of
origin while loving the USA. nalism went to Ajay Ghosh, Chief Pravasi Malayalam Literature went thanks to honored guests, awardees,
A Lifetime achievement award Editor and Co-Publisher of The Uni- to Jayant Kamicheril, a recipient of sponsors, audience, and everyone
was presented to Dr. Shyam Kottil- versal News Network. Kerala Sahithya Academy award for who worked so hard to make it a suc-
il for his outstanding contributions The award for community service 2022 for his book “Oru Kumarakom cessful event. With delicious dinner,
in the field of virology and scientific went to Gopala Pillai who has served Karantay Kuruthamketta Likhithan- catered by Cotilion, the 2023 Award
research. In his keynote speech, he as the President and Board Member gal”. Jayant was introduced by Mano- Night came to a delightful conclusion.

www.TheIndianEYE.com