Hyderabad, December 31, 2020: Two students from GMR Varalakshmi Foundation (GMRVF) run institutes made exemplary achievement by bagging an opportunity to pursue the courses of their choice under the Community College Initiative Programme (CCIP) sponsored by the Department of State, United States of America.
Behera Mounika and Sopeti Hema Sree will soon be flying to the US to pursue their dream courses. Both these students are in their second-year graduation at SGCSR College, Rajam, run by GMRVF, the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm of GMR Group. Mounika and Hema have been recently selected by the US Consulate General, Hyderabad to participate in the CCIP this year.
Under the aegis of the US Department of State, the CCIP supports deserving candidates from other countries to study at an American community college for one year. GMRVF provides all training and guidance to its students applying for courses under this programme. The entire expense of the selected candidates – course-related expenses, airfare, boarding and lodging expenses, books and medical aid – are borne by the American government. Further, the candidates are also paid a monthly stipend to meet other incidental expenses.
Mounika hails from a poor family in Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh. Her father is a fisherman and her mother is a homemaker. GMRVF supported her education from the time she was in the third standard under its flagship Gifted Children programme. Gifted Children scheme seeks to identify, encourage and financially support the education of underprivileged meritorious children from GMRVF’s target communities to enable them to realize their full potential. Mounika made use of this program and excelled in her studies. When she was in her second-year graduation, GMRVF encouraged her to apply for CCIP. She gave her best shot and cleared all the stages of the selection process of this year’s CCIP. She has opted for ‘Environmental Horticulture’ course under CCIP 2020-2021. She will be pursuing her studies at College of DuPage, Illinois State, USA.
Hema Sri hails from a middle-class family in Vizianagaram District, Andhra Pradesh State. Her father is working as a messenger in a bank. In addition to this, he also does tailoring work at home. Hema is doing her graduation at SGCSR College in Rajam run by GMRVF. Foundation staff noticed the spark in her and facilitated her admission into the CCIP programme. Hema opted for ‘Sustainable Agriculture’ course and she is going to pursue her studies at Valencia College, Orlando, Florida State, USA.
Both candidates will start their courses in January 2021 as it has been slightly delayed due to the pandemic this year.
Commenting on the students’ achievement, Dr Avanish Kumar, Director-Community Services Wing, GMRVF, said, “GMRVF provides the right launch pad for students to break the barrier and live their dreams. The Foundation has been grooming the shortlisted candidates for the CCIP and providing them support during all the stages till they succeed in getting the admission. These courses will help the students aim higher and make a change in their lives. GMRVF is making a notable impact in the lives of the communities it is working with and will continue to do so.”
GMRVF has been partnering with the US Consulate at Hyderabad and facilitating admission of the students in this program since 2015. With these two students, GMRVF facilitated candidates selected for the CCIP has reached 10. Two of the students who returned from the US after completing the courses successfully got employment in reputed companies while others are pursuing their higher education.
