Justice Basheer Ahmed Sayeed College for Women, Teynampet, celebrated the Students’ Council Valedictory Programme on 30 March 2026. The college invited Thirupurasundari Sevvel, Champion of Chennai – Art & Culture (2023), as the Chief Guest for the occasion.

The programme commenced with a brief Urdu prayer. This was followed by the Principal’s address, where she elaborated on the meaning of the prayer— “Universal brotherhood”—and urged the outgoing students to become responsible citizens and cultivate the spirit of giving. Her analogy of ice melting into water, symbolising the finite nature of life and the importance of making the most of one’s time, resonated deeply with the audience.

The Chief Guest, Ms T. Sevvel, was then introduced and felicitated with a memento by the Principal. In her address, she encouraged students to stay connected to their roots and appreciate the city that shaped them. She spoke about several well-known localities in Chennai, explaining how their names often originated from the trees and flowers once abundant in those areas. The students were fascinated by these insights, which revealed the historical significance behind familiar place names. She also echoed the Principal’s message and motivated the students to uphold those values.

The programme concluded with the Chief Guest distributing prizes to winners of various student competitions and to the council heads for their contributions during the year.

Asan College of Arts & Science, Medavakkam, celebrated International Women’s Day with a vibrant and engaging program for its students on 9th March 2026

The college invited Uma Maheswari, Champion of Chennai – Education (2017), as the Chief Guest for the occasion.

The celebrations began with a brief cultural dance performance by a student, setting a lively tone for the event. This was followed by the traditional lighting of the Kuthuvilakku by the Chief Guest and other dignitaries on stage. After the invocation of “Tamizh Thai Vazhthu,” the students presented a group dance performance, which was met with enthusiastic applause from the audience.

A key highlight of the program was a panel discussion on mental health and its impact on the student community. A panel of women experts addressed this often-neglected topic and shared valuable insights with the audience. The session was highly interactive, with students asking thoughtful questions and engaging in meaningful discussions.

The Chief Guest, Uma Maheswari, was then felicitated with a bouquet and invited to address the gathering. Speaking in her characteristic engaging style, she captivated the audience with her inspiring life journey—from being a school dropout to becoming an educator who has supported the education of more than 600 students, despite limited resources and infrastructure. Many of them have gone on to become doctors, engineers, and government officials.

Her powerful message to the students — “If you can dream it, you can do it”—resonated deeply with everyone present. As a living example of perseverance and determination, her story moved the audience and earned her a standing ovation at the end of her speech.

The college honoured her with a commemorative plaque, after which she was invited to distribute prizes to the winners of various student competitions conducted during the year.

The celebrations concluded with the National Anthem, bringing an inspiring Women’s Day event to a memorable close.

Sri Sankara Vidyashramam Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Thiruvanmiyur, hosted a farewell ceremony for 103 of its senior students on Friday, January 23, at the school auditorium. The school invited Vidya Subramaniam (Champion of Chennai Awardee for Education- 2022) to deliver the keynote address.  The programme began with a brief introduction highlighting Vidya’s accomplishments and honours.

Vidya began her 45-minute talk with thought-provoking quotes, including “Life is never a straight line but a curved path.” She illustrated this idea by sharing her own journey—how, despite being an All-India CA rank holder, she chose a different path and built a successful career teaching Indian classical music online to students worldwide. Her story left the students deeply impressed, and they listened with rapt attention throughout the session.

To make the talk interactive, Vidya invited students to share their school experiences. She emphasised the importance of starting small, remaining consistent, and pursuing one’s passion as essential ingredients for success.

KSA Trust thanks the school’s Principal, Ms Sasirekha, for her support in taking the Champions of Chennai Initiative forward.

 

On March 10, 2025, Uma Maheswari (Champion of Chennai-Education -2017) was invited to address the students and faculty of Stella Maris College as part of the Women’s Day celebrations. Upon her arrival, she was warmly received and escorted to the Principal’s chambers, where she was welcomed with refreshments. As she shared her inspiring journey—her struggles, perseverance, and dedication to educating hundreds of underprivileged children despite being a school dropout after the 6th grade—the Principal and faculty listened in admiration, deeply moved by her achievements. Stella Maris College came forward to donate a sum of Rs.10,000/- towards her Kannagi Nagar Social Welfare Trust. We at KSA Trust are truly grateful for this.

Meanwhile, students watched a six-minute video montage at the Open-Air Theatre (OAT) showcasing Uma’s remarkable accomplishments. This served as a prelude to her much-anticipated talk. The event commenced with a soulful prayer song performed by the college students. As Uma was escorted onto the stage by the Principal, the audience erupted into cheers and applause. The Principal and the Correspondent then honored her with mementos.

Uma began her address by expressing heartfelt gratitude to the College and faculty for inviting her. She humbly acknowledged the moment’s significance, sharing how unimaginable it was for her, a former school dropout, to be standing before the students of one of Chennai’s most prestigious institutions.

Her speech captivated the audience as she recounted her life’s journey and the transformative power of education—her realization that education was the key to breaking free from poverty and achieving success. The impact of her work, having educated over 3,000 children, deeply resonated with the students and faculty. Through personal anecdotes and heartfelt reflections, she connected effortlessly with the young audience, who responded with enthusiastic applause and cheers at every pause.

As the session concluded, students and faculty eagerly engaged with Uma, posing insightful questions about her journey. She patiently answered each one, further inspiring those present.

 

This Women’s Day program at Stella Maris College left a lasting impression on everyone. It was an event that students would cherish for years to come. The proceedings concluded with the rendition of the College song, marking the end of an unforgettable celebration.

KSA Trust thanks Dr.Dolly Thomas, Department of History and, the convener of the day’s program, for her continued support of our cause.

 

As part of our outreach program, we warmly welcome Sri Lakshmi Narayana School, Selayoval, Chennai, who have been kind enough to donate a sum of Rs.10,000/- to our Champion of Chennai 2017  – Education category, Ms.Uma Maheswari, towards her Kannagi Nagar Social Welfare Trust. KSA Trust would like to place on record our deep appreciation to Ms.Radha Ramesh, Correspondent of the school for this gesture.

 

We are thrilled to share the exciting news that one of our esteemed Champions of Chennai awardees for Education – 2022, Vidya Subramaniam, was recently invited to deliver a captivating presentation at Stella Maris College, Madras, as part of their Women’s Day celebrations for the year 2024.

Vidya Subramaniam, renowned for her remarkable journey in entrepreneurship,(Managing Online Carnatic Music Classes with more than 2000 students from around the world along with 120 teachers ) took center stage to inspire and empower the student community with her insightful narrative. Despite her educational background (An All India Rank holder in CA ) diverging from the entrepreneurial realm, Vidya exemplified the power of passion, and determination, in carving out her path to success.

During her talk, Vidya shared invaluable lessons and practical advice aimed at igniting the entrepreneurial spirit within each attendee.

The underlying theme of the presentation revolved around the ethos of embracing challenges, leveraging one’s strengths, and nurturing a fervent desire to excel in the face of adversity. The event reaffirmed the notion that with passion and perseverance, one can surmount any obstacle and achieve greatness.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Stella Maris College for providing a platform to showcase Vidya Subramaniam’s remarkable story.

Here’s to celebrating the spirit of entrepreneurship and female empowerment!

On the 6th of February 2024, students of the Children’s Garden School were taken on a field trip to the “Kotturpuram Urban Forest”.This area in Kotturpuram Chennai, which was previously a garbage dump was handed over to “Nizhal” (Champion of Chennai- 2018 – Social Initiative ) an NGO that  is passionate about Tree Conservation.”Nizhal” has turned it around into a verdant mini forest with a wide variety of trees and shrubs.

The students thoroughly enjoyed this outing.