Excelsior Correspondent
KAKRYAL (KATRA), Apr 18: The 6th Convocation of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU) was held here today where the President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, was the chief guest and delivered the Convocation Address.
Governor N N Vohra, who is Chancellor of the University, presided over the Convocation while Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti was the guest of honour on the occasion. First Lady, Savita Kovind, was also present on the occasion.
During the Convocation, Governor awarded 882 degrees, including PhDs, Masters and Bachelors degrees, and presented 9 Silver Medals to meritorious students. The President gave away 10 Gold Medals.
On the occasion, Governor conferred Honoris Causa on Sunil Bharti Mittal, Founder and Chairman Bharti Enterprises Ltd and Pawan Munjal, Chairman Managing Director and CEO, Hero Moto Corp Ltd.
Speaking on the occasion, Sunil Mittal announced setting up a Chair in the university where faculty and students would get an opportunity for undergoing world class Technology search.
Addressing students at the convocation ceremony, Pawan Munjal said, “Be it in the realm of sciences or humanities or finance, your earnest contributions will drive the growth engine of the Indian economy. The real world outside this campus is going to throw a variety of challenges. Thus, be prepared, mentally and physically – to face such hurdles and hold your own. Don’t aim to just become good managers but focus on being the change agents for our society.”
Earlier, Prof Sanjeev Jain, Vice Chancellor, SMVDU, presented the Vice Chancellor’s Report, highlighting the past achievements and future action plans. He gave details of the campus placements, publications brought out by the University, research projects being undertaken and the various workshops and conferences organized by this institution. He said that various initiatives are being taken to build this institution as a Centre of Excellence.
Those awarded the Chancellor’s Gold Medal, included Mahesh, Parul Mahajan, Shavi Gupta and Akshita Khajuria while the Vice-Chancellor’s Gold Medal was awarded to Pimmy Gandotra and Bisma Bilal.
The University Silver Medals for the year 2016 were awarded to W R Anbu Mathika, Sudhakar Kumar, Yagyank Srivastava, Sehar Shakeel Raina, Nupur, Parul Mahajan and Chidananda Arpita while this Medal for the year 2017 were awarded to Mansavi Bhardwaj, Shavi Gupta, Shubam Sharma, Payal Khajuria, Akshita Khajuria, Ajay Kochar and Ashutosh Kumar Singh.
Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board Medal was awarded to Anubhav Tewari, Vineet Dubey, Ashutosh Kumar and Navleen Kour.
Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board Medal for Best Girl was awarded to Shidananda Arpita for the year 2016 and for the year 2017, it was awarded to Navleen Kour.
Students, who were Info Foundation Prize for Excellence included Latika, Syed Rameem Zahra, Pimmy Gandotra, Avi Gupta, Ravi Ganjoo, Sehar Shakeel Raina, Nupur, Sakshi Singh, Parul Mahajan, Mansavi Bhardwaj, Navleen Kour, Priya Rani, Umhara Rasool, Vivudh Gupta, Kavita Saini, Payal Khajuria, Manvi Sharma and Akshita Khajuria.
State Government Ministers, Legislators, Vice Chancellors of various Universities, members of the Executive Council of the varsity, Chief Secretary, Members of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, senior civil and Police officers, Principal Secretary to the Governor, Chief Executive Officer of the Shrine Board, prominent personalities from various walks of life, Registrar, Deans, Directors, Heads of Departments, Faculty Members, students of the University and their parents were present on the occasion.
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