Mandeep Chahal speaks at the Capitol Hill

Mandeep Chahal at the historicKennedy Caucus Roomon Capitol Hill

Mandeep Chahal, a premedicalUniversity ofCalifornia-Davis honorsstudent who, along with hermother, were to be deported backto their native India but got aneleventh hour reprieve from theU.S. Department of HomelandSecurity on June 21, 2011, wasrecently a featured speaker at theU.S. Capitol.

Mandeep Chahal being hugged bya friend after she gets an eleventhhour reprieve from the Departmentof Homeland Security.

This event comes on the heelsof an important Senate hearing onthe DREAM Act, which is legislationthat would enable these talentedyoung people to earn theircitizenship through either twoyears of college or military service.

As she stood in front of Senatorsand hundreds of youth likeherself, who only want the opportunityto live in the country theylove without the fear of deportation,in the historic Kennedy CaucusRoom on Capitol Hill, Mandeepthanked all her supporters.Recounting her ordeal, Mandeepasked elected leaders to ensurethat no family ever has to gothrough the anguish that she endured."As a student, I work hard.

I'm in the honors program at oneof the country's top public universities,and I'm on track to go tomedical school. I plan to spendmy life working for the publicgood in the United States ofAmerica. If it took all this for meto stay in my country, then somethingis wrong. It shouldn't bethis hard."

Indian-American Rujul Zaparde among ten Huggable Heroes 2011

Rujul Zaparde.

A 16-year-old Indian American,Rujul Zarpade, from Plainsboro,New Jersey, is among 10 youngstersages 12 to 18, who have beenselected as the 2011 Build-A-BearWorkshop Huggable Heroes."These 10 young people elevatethe bar on giving," said MaxineClark, Build-A-Bear Workshopfounder and chief executive bear.

"They selflessly accept challengesand devote their time and energyto make a difference. Theydemonstrate kindness, compassionand leadership and motivategrassroots change."

Zaparde co-started DrinkingWater for India to build tube-wellsin rural India. He speaks acrossthe country to encourage involvementand support. Now, 23schools support Drinking Waterfor India and, to date, the organizationhas raised more than$35,000 and built 31 wells inIndia, providing access to cleanwater for 55,000 villagers.

Each Huggable Hero receives$10,000 (a $7500 educationalscholarship and $2500 from theBuild-A-Bear Workshop Foundationto be donated to the 501(c)(3)charity or Canadian cause of theHuggable Hero's choice.In addition, the Huggable Heroeswin a trip for themselves anda parent or guardian to St. Louis,home of the Build-A-Bear WorkshopWorld Bearquarters.

DISH Network to introduce fiveSouth Asian Channels

DISH Network L.L.C., theleader in international programmingin the US, has announcedthe expansion of the nation'slargest South Asian televisionlineup to 77 channels with thelaunch of ETV Bangla and ETVTelugu and the upcominglaunches of ETV Marathi,STAR Majha and ETV Kannada.

ETV Bangla (DISH NetworkCh. 590) is available on DISHNetwork in the US in both theBangla Mega Pack for $29.99per month or the Prabasi BengaliPack for $19.99 per month.The entertainment-focusedchannel features drama, non-fiction,reality, devotional, moviesand music-based programming24 hours per day. It also airschildren's shows and specialevents.

ETV Telugu (Ch. 585) Pack isfor $29.99 per month. The channeloffers a wide variety of entertainmentprogramming,including dramatic series, realityshows, music-based shows,movies and more.

ETV Marathi (Ch. 670) andStar Majha (618) will soon joinDISH Network's new MahaPackage for $19.99 per month –the only Marathi-language programmingpackage in the US.

ETV Marathi delivers top-rated,in-language shows focused on avariety of different topics includingreality, drama, religion,movies, music and children'sprogramming.

ETV Kannada (Ch. 905) willbe offered in the Kannada MegaPack for $19.99 per month. The24/7 channel features all thingsentertainment, from popular TVseries, movies and music tochildren's and reality shows.

Biking to find cure for cancer

Bijal Mehta.

Ayoung Indian AmericanBijal Mehta, a Universityof Texas, Austin, studenton June 4, 2011 started her4,500-mile bike ride at theEighth Annual Texas4000, billedas the world's largest charitybike ride. All proceeds in theAustin-to-Anchorage ride go towardscancer research.

The team will be on the roadfor 70 days regardless of heat,rain, sleet, wind and snow.Mehta and her team want to raiseawareness, educate about prevention,and collect dollars forcancer research.

"I ride for all those cancer patientswho do not have theirfriends and family by their side.In my life, I have been extremelyblessed to have very few lovedones affected by cancer or lifethreatening disease…. It occursto me, however, that not all peoplein this world are blessed withlarge families or an extensivenetwork of friends, especially asthey age.

It is for these people that Iride," Mehta said.