The Chinmaya Mission Bala Vihar Graduation is a culmination of the spiritual education that children receive over a period in Bala Vihar. This year, we have 10 graduates.
From left to right:
Tanush Sistla
• College Attending:
– Oregon State University
– Biophysics
• Some Accomplishments:
• Lab Research at Doernbecher & OHSU
• Presidential Volunteer Service Award
• Presidential Scholar Semi-Finalist
• Science National Honors Society President
• Director of Education for Mission:Citizen
• President of Various Lincoln STEM Clubs (CS, Science Bowl, Medicine, etc.)
• Through Chinmaya Mission:
• ELL Tutoring
• Homeless Shelter cooking
• CORDUSA Service Visit
• Walk for CORD Event
Roshen Sanjay Nair
• College Attending:
– Stanford University
– Mathematics & Computer Science
• Some Accomplishments:
• Founder and Principal Instructor at Roshen’s Chess Academy. Trained more than 300 students.
• Eagle Scout
• Selected by Stanford University & Ross for graduate level math programs.
• Math Kangaroo/AMC – National/State Topper
• National Merit Scholarship Winner
• Captain of State Championship winning math/chess teams
• Won multiple Oregon State Chess Championships and a National Chess Championship.
• FIDE National Chess Instructor
• Oregon Chess Federation Board of Director & Secretary
• Beaverton Mayor’s Youth Advisory Board Member
• President’s Volunteer Service Award – Gold
• Carnatic vocalist and Bollywood dancer
• Taekwondo Black Belt
Khavya Balamurugan
• College Attending:
– Case Western Reserve University
• Some Accomplishments:
– Volunteering in local museum and hospitals
– Worked with children’s child development
– Through Chinmaya Mission:
• ELL Tutoring
Srikrishna Sanved Prasannan
• College Attending:
– University of Oregon
– Architecture Major, Audio Production Minor
• Some Accomplishments:
• Performing Ghatam Artist
• Eagle Scout
• National Honors Society
• Pearl Rotary Student of the Month
• Presidential Volunteer Service Award
• Co – President Indian Student Union
• Head, Student School Ambassador
• Audio Engineering Tech Crew
• Through Chinmaya Mission:
• Homeless Shelter Cooking
• Volunteering Chinmaya Events
Gowri Ganesh
• College Attending:
– University of Minnesota (Honors College)
• Some Accomplishments:
• Co-president of Westview Theatre Troupe
• Acted in many mainstage productions at Northwest Children’s Theater
• 8 years of Bharatanatyam, 6 years of piano
• Through Chinmaya Mission:
• Presidential Service Award (Gold) for ELL tutoring (6 years)
• Homeless shelter cooking
• Led theatre summer camps for kids
Kavya Ananth
• College Attending:
– Case Western or Univ of Washington
• Accomplishments:
• Represented through school :
• Mock Trial 2x Nationals/Captain for 2 years of JV
• IFTJ at Capitol Hill
• Started/Lead Jesuit Refugee Club
• 201 Service club
• Completed:
• Oregon Seal of Bilteracy (Spanish).
• Level 8 Piano
• Odissi Dancer
• National Honor Society
• Through Chinmaya Mission:
• ELL Tutoring, National Geeta Chanting Competition, Homeless Shelter Cooking
Maansi Singh
• College Attending:
– University of Illinois Urbana Champaign (UIUC)
• Computer Science and Philosophy
Some Accomplishments:
– Founder of Encode Justice (EJ) Oregon Chapter
– Work with schools, OR DOJ and OR DOE on Data Privacy law and AI Education Policies
– NMSC Finalist
– Princeton Prize in Race Relations
– GE Reagan Scholarship Semifinalist
– NCWIT Aspirations in Computing award
– Spanish Seal of Biliteracy
– United Nations AI/Human Rights presenter and Youth Observer for UN Human Rights Declaration Project
– First Tech Challenge World Championship Semi Finalist and Oregon State Competition EMCEE
– Ethics Bowl
– Rose Haven YOB Member
– Through Chinmaya:
• Homeless Shelter Cooking and Adopt-A-Road Program
Sanika Bedre
• College Attending:
– University of Washington
• Some Accomplishments:
• 2nd degree Black Belt
• Leader of South Asian Culture Club
• Certified CNA
• Sangeetha
• Level 7 Piano
• 201 Club
• National Honor Society
• Can speak Chinese
• Through Chinmaya Mission:
• ELL Tutoring
• Homeless Shelter cooking
• Gold Presidential Service Award
Jhanvi Venkitesh
• College Attending:
– Pennstate
• Some Accomplishments:
– Captain of Three year
State Champions in High School Dance
– National Honor Society Secretary
– Science Ambassador mentor
– National Ambassador – When We All Vote
– DDCA Diversity Scholarship winner
• Lacey Beaty – Beaverton Mayor Campaign
• I-Mission – Helping Food Delivery Fund Raising
• Covid mask delivery
• Chinmaya Activities
• ESL tutoring
• Shelter Cooking
Rainah Rajan
• College Attending:
– University of Oregon #scoducks
– Public policy and management/political science major, women’s and gender studies minor
• Some Accomplishments:
– Volunteer and peer-to-peer educator with Planned Parenthood
– Part of APANO’s TARO program
– Portland Youth Climate Strike
The Graduation Song Written and Composed by Pujya Guruji Swami Tejomayananda
abhi-nandana abhi-nandanam
dīkshānta-kāle abhi-nandanam
udyamena hi vardhate yasha
kuru karma tva sarvadā tata
svasti va sadā shobhane pathi
prārthayāmahe īshvara prati
Greetings and congratulations on your graduation.
Diligence alone brings recognition;
therefore, be committed to action.
As you walk the path noble,
we pray God makes you truly able.