Priya Verma, a student of Chitkara University, has brought huge laurels to the region and India by becoming the first ever Indian to win the ?Claes Nobel Academic Scholarship 2010?. Priya is enrolled in a dual university BCA program through Chitkara University, Himachal, India and George Brown College, Toronto Canada.
The prestigious award has been presented to Priya for excellence in academics, leadership, and community service. The award is presented by Claes Nobel, senior member of the family that established the Nobel Prizes and founder of The National Society of High School Scholars. This award includes a US $5,000 Claes Nobel Academic Scholarship.
All members of the The National Society of High School Scholars are eligible for this award. The society has members from top international universities and colleges like Harvard University, Yale University and Dartmouth College. Becoming a member of this society is in itself a great achievement.
Priya was selected for the award after she emerged top from among 12,000 applicants from all over the world and has been invited to attend the National Society of High School Scholars recognition ceremony in Washington, D.C, on June 25, 2010.
Announcing the achievement to the media an elated Dr Madhu Chitkara, Pro-Chancellor, Chitkara University said, ?We congratulate Priya on winning the Scholarship. This scholarship goes a long way in recognizing her sustained efforts over the years. She has done Chitkara University and our nation proud by being the first Indian to win this award. Awards and recognitions like these further motivate the students and the faculty to do even better and excel in all fields.?
?I am confident that all students of Chitkara University, including Priya will keep on winning more such awards and help bring recognition to the great work being done by the university and the faculty,? Dr Madhu Chitkara added.
Dr Madhu Chitkara also presented a trophy to Priya on the occasion.
Priya, despite still being in her teens, already has a long list of achievements. She was selected for the much coveted Diana Award, UK conferred by the then Prime Minister of UK, Mr Gordon Brown. She was the first girl to be chosen for the award from outside the UK.
She is the proud recipient of an award from former president of India Dr Abdul Kalam. She has also been selected from India for International Global Young Leaders Conference 2009 by GYLC USA. She won the National Youth Award in 2007 and was also selected for the NIF Innovation Award. She has won the Disaster Management Kid Award awarded by USA, Young Learner?s Award from Cambridge University, UK and Young Eco Hero Award 2008 (runners up) from Action Hero, USA.
Priya is a student, writer, journalist, artist, scholar, youth leader, and state, national & International award holder in the field of environment protection. Priya is also a renowned actor and a trained dancer. She has played the character of Juhi Chawla?s younger sister in Punjabi film ?Des Hoya Purdes? apart from playing the lead role in ?mission fateh?, a television soap.