Punjabi Youth Graduation and Scholarship Awards Night

Parvinder Singh Sahota, the scholarshipwinner, lifted by other graduatesat the celebrations.

The Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago(PCS) organized its eleventh annual"Punjabi Youth Graduation and ScholarshipAwards Night" on June 12, 2011, at theViceroy of India Banquet Hall in Lombard,Illinois.

Rajinder Singh Mago (left) celebrating withyoung graduates.

More than 250 attended the function wherethe guests of honor were the class of 2011graduates from the community.

The celebration included recognitionawards, scholarships, keynote address, cakecutting ceremony, DJ music, dancing, networking,and delicious Indian cuisine. Participantsof "Rangla Punjab 2011" the PCSAnnual Vaisakhi cultural program were alsoawarded.

P.C.S. $1000 scholarship this year was givento Parvinder Singh Sahota of Maine WestHigh School. He won for his high scholasticachievements and also participation in communityservice and Punjabi cultural activities."Our family has passed through rough timesbut I always listened to my mom who told meto work hard and be happy and successful inlife."

The scholarship winners among the applicantswere determined by an independentpanel of judges according to the marking criteriaestablished by P.C.S. Keynote SpeakerDr. Bikram Singh Dhillon, author of a newlyreleased book "The Diamond Rule," an ERphysician and a professor of medicine at Universityof Illinois Chicago, in his thought provokingaddress, encouraged the younggraduates to have a curious mind and remindedthem of the value and strength of theiridentity as Punjabis.

A special cake cutting ceremony honoringall the class of 2011 graduates was also held.An exclusive invitation for the first dance atthe celebration party was given to the graduates."Graduates, it is your night tonight, havefun, you deserve it," announced BalwinderSingh Girn, PCS president, who also welcomedall the attendees.

All attendees enjoyed the party, relished deliciousIndian cuisine, DJ music and dance.The dance floor was jam packed with youngBhangra lovers till late into the evening.

Chicago Businessman is "2011 Family Hotelier of the Year"

John Trivedi.

Chicago businessmanandhotelier JohnTrivedi was namedas "2011 Family Hotelierof the Year"during the recentAsian AmericanHotel Owners Association(AAHOA)Convention in Las Vegas.

The Award was part of thethird annual Procter & Gamble(P&G) Professional"Family Hotelier of the Year"award competition, presentedin conjunction withAAHOA.

Trivedi was initially selectedas a finalist and thenreceived the highest numberof online votes. Finalistswere rated and ranked by ateam of P&G Professionalexecutives and AAHOAmembers based on the nominee'sfamily involvement,outstanding business andcommunity service, and thecreativity and sincerity of thenomination. Once the finalistswere determined, thegrand-prize winnerwas chosen based onresults of the twoweekonline votingperiod in combinationwith judges'scores. P&G Professionalis the awayfrom-home divisionof Procter & Gamble,serving the foodservice,building cleaning and maintenance,hospitality and conveniencestores industries.The company partnered withAAHOA, which representsmore than 10,000 membersowning more than 20,000hotels that total $128 billionin property value, to createthe "Family Hotelier of theYear" award. The programcelebrates the values centralto a successful family business.

The grand prize includes$5,000 for athree-day, two-night trip forfour to the 2011 AAHOAAnnual Convention andTrade Show, a commemorativeplaque and a $5,000 inprize money.

Shri Swaminarayan Temple celebrates 20th anniversary

Celebrations mark the 20th anniversaryof the Shri Swaminarayan Temple inWheeling, Illinois.

Celebrations and religious programsorganized from May 21,2011 to May 29, 2011 markedthe 20th anniversary celebrations of theShri Swaminarayan Temple in Wheeling,Ill.

The 20-hour Swaminarayan Dhunand the recital of Janmangal Stotra foranother 20 by devotees from all overthe country were part of the celebrationswhich included a grand Shobhayatra(parade) on May 27, 2011organized to welcome and celebrate thepresence of future Acharya of the temple,Shri Nrigendraprasad, who camefrom Gujarat.

Almost 700 devotees participated inthe parade, which was accompanied bytwo bands, one from Wilmette and onefrom students of the Conant HighSchool. A large decorated float with agolden throne was created by temple'svolunteers for Shri Nrigendraprasad.

On May 28, 2011, Shri Nrigendraprasadaddressed the congregationand detailed his vision for the templeand its expansion for which many devoteesenthusiastically donated their jewelry.Six priests from variousSwaminarayan temples participated inthe celebrations. They wereSatyaprakash Swami and ChappaiyaSwami from Gadhada temple, NityswarupSwami and PurnaswarupSwami from Vadatal (Sardhar), NirdoshSwami from Vadtal (Bagasara), andRamswarup Swami from Junagadh.

On May 29, Maha Abhishek was performedby Nrigendraprasad. PurnaswrupSwami and Chhapaiya Swamienthralled more than 1,800 devoteeswith their bhajans.

The future acharya also unveiled twopublications, Hari Gita and NityNiyam, as well as Ashtadhamyatra andUtsav CDs.

According to a press release, a culturalprogram featured performances bychildren and youth, and another programrecognized the efforts of temple.