Page 30 - The Indian EYE 100926

NORTH AMERICAN Newsline OCTOBER 09, 2026 | The Indian Eye 30

Kerala Center to honor

eight Indian American Malayalees

at 34th annual awards

OUR BUREAU

ELMONT, NY
he Indian-American Kerala
Cultural and Civic Center, Inc.
T(Kerala Center) will honor
eight Indian-American Malayalees
for their achievements in their fields
at its 34th Annual Awards Dinner on
October 24, 2026.
“The Kerala Center has been
honoring outstanding achievers
since 1992. Each year, we invite
nominations from the community,
and the Awards Committee carefully
reviews the nominations before mak-
ing its selections. This year’s honor-
ees represent an impressive range of
professional accomplishments and
community service,” said Dr. Thom-
as Abraham, Trustee Board Chair-
man and a member of the Awards
Committee.
Dr. Madhu Bhaskaran, Chair-
man of the Board and the Awards
Committee, said, “The Kerala Cen- Kerala Center 2026 Awardees, top row, left to right: Anant Nambiar, Dr. Joe Verghese, Dr. Beena S. Peters and Dr. Girish Kumar Panicker;
ter is proud to recognize Ameri- bottom row: l. to r. T. S. Nandakumar, Sibi David, Prince Johnson and Jose Cheripuram.
can Malayalees who have excelled
in their professions while making Neurology at Stony Brook Universi- sissippi. His honors include the 2026 following his selection as the 2025
meaningful contributions to social ty. A graduate of St. John’s Medical Global Ratna Award. Gilder Lehrman New York Histo-
progress. Their accomplishments College in Bangalore, India, he com- T. S. Nandakumar, widely known ry Teacher of the Year. He teaches
and commitment to service should pleted postgraduate medical training as Bombay Nandakumar, is an in- social studies at Food and Finance
serve as an inspiration to the next in the United Kingdom. He has au- ternationally acclaimed mridangam High School in New York City.
generation.” thored more than 350 publications. maestro, educator, composer, author. Jose Cheripuram is a Malayalam
The honorees are Legislator His research focuses on dementia A recipient of the Sangeet Natak Ak- poet, humorist and writer whose
Anant Nambiar for Political Leader- prevention and migration and cogni- ademi Award, he founded the TSN’s published works include Kavyanarta-
ship and as keynote speaker; Dr. Joe tive health. Percussive Arts Centre in Bombay in ki (Poems, 2011) and Aliyante Padav-
Verghese for Medicine; Dr. Beena S. Dr. Beena S. Peters is a national- 1998 and later established its pres- alanga (Humor, 2012). His literary
Peters for Nursing Leadership; Dr. ly recognized nursing and healthcare ence in New Jersey. He has trained contributions have been recognized
Girish Kumar Panicker for Applied leader. She served as System Chief thousands of students and promoted with the eMalayali Award and the
Science; T. S. Nandakumar for Per- Nursing Executive at Cook County Indian percussion internationally. “Golden Poet” Award. Before immi-
forming Arts; Sibi David for Com- Health and is currently Co-Founder Sibi David has devoted four de- grating to the United States in 1979,
munity Service; Prince Johnson for and Chief Clinical Officer of HRTLY cades to public service, the arts and he served in the Indian Air Force in
Education; and Jose Cheripuram for Inc. She is a Fellow of the American culture of Kerala, humanitarian ini- its medical branch. He later became
Pravasi Malayalam Literature. College of Healthcare Executives tiatives. He founded Art 4 Life, an a registered nurse and served with
Nambiar is the Westchester and the American Academy of Nurs- initiative supporting underprivileged the New York City Health and Hos-
County Legislator for District 7, rep- ing and founding president of the children in Kerala, and created plat- pitals Corporation for 30 years.
resenting Larchmont, Mamaroneck, Indian Nurses Association of Illinois. forms for artists. During COVID-19, Kerala Center President Alex K.
Rye and Harrison, New York. Elect- Dr. Girish Kumar Panicker is an he led “Santhwana Sangeetham” Esthappan said the organization has
ed in 2025, he is the first South Asian internationally recognized agricul- for approximately a year and a half recognized more than 195 American
American and Hindu member of the tural scientist and authority on C-fac- through the Federation of Malayalee Malayalees over the past 33 years.
Westchester County Legislature. He tor, or cover and management, re- Associations of America. “It is gratifying to see the recipi-
had a 25-year career as a financial search involving horticultural crops. Prince Johnson is a veteran ed- ents of Kerala Center awards contin-
executive with American Express, He is a tenured Professor of Plant ucator with 27 years of experience ue to achieve greater heights in their
Mastercard and Synchrony Financial. and Soil Sciences and Director of the and advocate for career and techni- careers and, at the same time, con-
Dr. Verghese is Chair and Dis- USDA Conservation Research Cen- cal education. In 2026, he was named tribute to the betterment of society,”
tinguished University Professor of ter at Alcorn State University in Mis- New York State Teacher of the Year, Esthappan said.

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