SIA at Virginia Tech

?? Exciting Milestone for the Society of Indian Americans at Virginia Tech! ?? On April 19th, 2024, we hosted our first-ever Mock Mehndi at the beautiful German Club Manor. This event was the culmination of approximately 180 days of meticulous planning and a budget exceeding $25,000. We were thrilled to welcome over 500 attendees to this vibrant celebration! The Mock Mehndi was a grand mock wedding, featuring an array of spectacular performances. We were honored to have Virginia Tech’s premier dance team, VT Junoon, and the premier Bollywood fusion singing team VT Swara perform. Additionally, we were delighted to have a special performance by the Nepalese Student Association of Virginia Tech. The event also showcased fantastic class dances and special performances by the bride and groom, as well as the bridesmaids and groomsmen. Our bride and groom were selected through a process similar to the prom king and queen or homecoming king and queen selection. This included a nomination period followed by a voting period, with the individuals receiving the most popular votes being crowned as the bride and groom. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed to making this event a massive success. Your support and participation made this night unforgettable! #VirginiaTech #SIA #MockMehndi #IndianCulture #StudentLife #Community #EventSuccessWe

?? Senior Spotlight: Sawan Chawla ?? A huge congratulations to Sawan Chawla who has served as an executive board member of SIA at Virginia Tech for the past year. Post-graduation, Sawan plans to seek higher education, bringing the dedication and skills honed during internships and time in SIA to this exciting next chapter. ?? Sawan's advice for current and future members: "Actively engage in the organization, offer help where it's needed, and observe the actions of others rather than just their words. Taking initiative and being proactive will always yield better results than remaining passive." ?? The most memorable experience: "Mock Mehendi 2024 was the most outstanding event I attended during my time at Virginia Tech. It was an exceptional SIA event and the best Indian event I’ve experienced. Cherish these moments and live fully in them; such times are fleeting and won't come back. Embrace every opportunity to participate and engage, whether it’s an SIA trip or a gathering within the organization." Sawan has completed three internships: 1. Customer Experience Intern at Thermo Fisher Scientific 2. Data Engineer Intern at Blend360 3. Data Analyst Intern at Arora Engineers These experiences have provided Sawan with a diverse portfolio of skills, ranging from data analytics and mining to coding and automating processes, to authoring high-level instruction manuals and data visualization/improvements. ?? Join us in celebrating Sawan’s achievements and wishing continued success in future endeavors! #SeniorSpotlight #SIA #Leadership #FutureAviationProfessional #CollegeLife #Graduation2024

?? Senior Spotlight: Samyuktha Voopalapati! ?? A huge congratulations to Samy Voopalapati who has served as both the Secretary and Vice President of SIA at Virginia Tech since joining in sophomore year. Post-graduation, Samy plans to pursue a career in dentistry, bringing the dedication and skills honed during time in SIA to this exciting next chapter. ?? Samy's advice for current and future members: "Always take the initiative to put yourself out there. Your time in college will pass swiftly, so savor each day and make the most of every opportunity." ?? The biggest lesson learned: "It’s crucial to voice your opinions and stand by them, regardless of what others may think. The ability to assert yourself and communicate effectively is invaluable." ?? Join us in celebrating Samy’s achievements and wishing continued success in future endeavors! #SeniorSpotlight #SIA #Leadership #FutureDentist #CollegeLife #Graduation2024