Achievement Awards

Achievement Awards

Each year KOA grants a one-time achievement award to college-bound Kashmiri Pandit students living in the USA. Any high school senior student meeting the following requirements qualifies to apply for this award:

• Parents should be active KOA members with membership dues paid in the award year.
• The award is based on a 25-point scale broken down as follows
  • (5 Points) Academics
    • High school GPA of at least 3.5 (out of a maximum of 4.0, i.e., GPA of B+ and above).
    • SAT score of at least 1312 out of 1600 or an ACT composite score of at least 30 out of 36.
  • (5 Points) Some evidence of community service or volunteering
  • (5 Points) Acknowledged participation in extracurricular activities (sports, art, music etc). Submit your certificates/artwork.
  • (10 points) A two-page essay about the Kashmiri Pandit community & culture that addresses at a minimum the following:
    • Discuss the importance of preserving and propagating the identity of Kashmiri Pandits in the modern world
      • Reflect on the historical significance, challenges faced
      • Propose strategies to promote awareness of Kashmiri Pandit identity for future generations
    • This was 2024 Achievement Award topic for the essay

• Submissions are invited when the award program is declared open each year.
  • The applicants are asked to fill out a Google form, the link is sent out in the email to KOA mailing lists.
  • Following form submission, the applicants are asked to send their submission packet (documents) as PDF to an email address.

List of College Bound Achievement Awardees 2021 – 2024

2024

1. First Prize: Shayan Pandit S/O Sunny & Jyoti Pandita from Utah, attending Duke University, NC
2. Second Prize: Sanjna Pandit D/O Rahul & Lavannya Pandit from Texas, attending Washington University in St. Louis, MO
3. Third Prize: Anjika Ganjoo D/O Amit & Rohini Ganjoo from Virginia, attending Georgia Institute of Technology, GA
4. Consolation Prize:
   1. Shikhar Kaul S/O Rohit & Madhulika Kaul from Texas, attending Carnegie Mellon University, PA
   2. Nayan Kaul S/O Sudesh Kaul & Menakshi Dhar Kaul from Massachusetts, going to New York University, NY

2023

1. First Prize: Himal Bamzai-Wokhlu D/O Mrs.Anita Wokhlu from Florida attending Harvard University, MA
2. Second Prize:  Aarav Wattal S/O Mr.Sanjay Wattal and Mrs.Antra Mahaldar from California attending Stanford University, CA
3. Third Prize:
   1. Mira Wali D/O Mr. Devdas Wali from California attending the University of California, Los Angeles, CA
   2. Aarav Raina S/O Mr.Ashish Raina and Mrs.Jyotsna Raina from Illinois attending Northwestern University, IL
4. Consolation Prize: Arnav Hak S/O Mr.Virender Hak and Mrs.Anjali Hak from New York attending Cornell University, NY
5. Participation Prize
   1. Amaar Trisal S/O Mr.Sanjay Trisal and Mrs.Preety Raina, from Maryland attending University of Maryland, MD
   2. Sneha Sadhu D/O  Mr.Chetan Sadhu and Mrs.Shamita Wanchoo from Georgia attending Mercer University, GA

PROGRAM DIRECTOR