The University gathered on Wednesday (March 22) to celebrate academic excellence by announcing the Dean's List for the Monsoon session of 2022. Two hundred forty-nine students made the cut for awards for getting a Semester Grade Point Average (SGPA) of 8.50 and above.
Recognizing the hard work and dedication of the winners, a packed hall saw parents, students, faculty, Deans, and the Vice Chancellor come together to laud students' efforts.
Vice-Chancellor Dr. Ananya Mukherjee; Dr. Suneet Tuli, (Dean, Research and Partnerships); Dr. Rajeev Kumar Singh (Associate Dean, Academics); Dr. Sanjeev Galande (Dean, Department of Life Sciences), Dr. Sandeep Sen (Dean, School of Engineering), gave away certificates to the winners.
The event was unique in many ways. It was the first Dean's List Award given to students who had attended a full offline semester after the pandemic disruption and the first after the University was declared an Institution of Eminence by the government of India in August 2022.
Pointing out that the function was happening on World Water Day, Dr. Mukherjee explained the extensive work done by the University on Sustainable Development Goals. "We have a lot of research work being undertaken on water by faculty and students. The University is undertaking practices like rainwater harvesting and water conservation. Work on this began a decade ago when the campus was being set up. The recently opened Thematic Botanic Garden symbolizes our commitment to conservation."
Applauding students, Dr. Mukherjee said, "All of you are already great achievers; you will achieve many more things. So, be the change you want to be and the change you want to see in the world. Moreover, efforts like preserving biodiversity and fighting climate change can contribute to changes in society as well."
Receiving a high SGPA is not an easy feat; it is a testament to a student's academic ability and willingness to put in the effort necessary to excel. Speaking at the event, Dr. Singh pointed out that the function was auspicious as it coincided with the beginning of the holy month of Ramzan, Navaratri, and Ugadi.
"As the event has many firsts, I decided to add something new from my side too. This year, we are giving away books along with certificates to the winners," said Dr. Singh. The University specially ordered over 250 books to give away to the winners. The titles included bestsellers from across various genres. Welcoming this new addition, Dr. Galande said these books would be a treasure.
Recalling the story of Romanian gymnast Nadia Comăneci, Dr. Galande recalled how the first Olympic gymnast to get a 'Perfect 10' was shocked when the scoreboard displayed her performance as a zero. This was because the display could not show "10.00."
"Everybody is striving for perfection in whatever they are doing. I want to mention that all the students receiving accolades excel equally in their co-curricular activities. This is the highlight of college life. One has to engage in multiple activities and give their best to learn crucial life lessons."
A testament to this is the long list of co-curricular activities in which 13 students with an SGPA of 10/10 were involved.
Pointing out that there were more things in the world to be learned and enjoyed, Dr. Tulli reminded students that those in Science streams need to engage more with issues related to humanities, and those in social Science must learn more about technology. "The future belongs more to those in humanities as they will have to fight artificial intelligence. They will have to shore up and see where humanities are headed," said Dr. Tulli.
Explaining the nuanced difference between getting high marks and having proficiency in the subject, Dr. Sen advised students not to get carried away. "One must not get carried away by measures and targets. Real education happens when one learns, and this will help them retain knowledge."
Making it into the Dean's List is no mean feat. It calls for grit, focus, and hard work. There is always a next time for those who failed to make the cut.
