IIM Amritsar Celebrates Graduation for Over 320 Students
The Indian Institute of Management Amritsar (IIM Amritsar) celebrated a momentous occasion on April 6th, 2024, at Festyn Palais, Amritsar. The institute hosted its 8th convocation ceremony, awarding degrees to over 320 graduating students. This ceremony celebrated the successful completion of studies for the esteemed 8th MBA batch and the second cohorts of the institute’s innovative programs – the MBA-BA, MBA-HR, and EMBA programs. Launched in the 2021 academic year, these programs have quickly established themselves, offering students a wider range of specialized management education options.
Ceremony Guests and IIM Amritsar’s Director Deliver Inspiring Messages
The ceremony was graced by prominent guests including the chief guest for the occasion, Shri Banwarilal Purohit, Hon’ble Governor of Punjab and Administrator, UT, Chandigarh, Shri Sanjay Gupta, Chairperson BoG, IIM Amritsar, Prof Nagarajan Ramamoorthy, Director of IIM Amritsar, the faculty and staff members of IIM Amritsar.
The ceremony kicked off with a warm welcome for Shri Banwarilal Purohit, who received a token of appreciation from IIM Amritsar. Following this, Prof Ramamoorthy took center stage to address the excited graduating class of 2022-2024.
Prof Ramamoorthy’s speech was a blend of congratulations and institutional pride. He lauded the students’ achievements, highlighting their impressive haul of over 52 awards in national competitions. He also celebrated the institute’s growing reputation, mentioning the partnership with Kedge Business School and the launch of a new M.Sc in Data Science and Management program offered jointly with IIT Ropar.
Not forgetting the backbone of the institute, Prof Ramamoorthy expressed his deepest gratitude to the faculty for their dedication and achievements. He acknowledged IIM Amritsar’s success in placements despite economic challenges, boasting 3 international placements with the highest CTC reaching a stellar 58.5 Lakhs per annum.
Prof Ramamoorthy concluded by expressing his confidence in IIM Amritsar’s future and reminding the graduates of the lasting impact of their faculty. He urged them to maintain their integrity as they embark on their professional journeys, forever grateful for the role their teachers played in shaping them.
Stepping up next was Shri Sanjay Gupta. He offered his congratulations to the graduating class, acknowledging the hard work that brought them to this moment. However, he emphasized that this is just the beginning. He spoke of the challenges ahead – building careers, starting families, and navigating life’s complexities.
His message was one of continuous learning and self-improvement. He stressed the importance of staying mentally and physically fit to face the competition and the ever-evolving world. He urged the graduates to be lifelong learners, never letting their thirst for knowledge diminish. He ended his address by inviting the hon’ble chief guest, Shri Banwarilal Purohit to declare the convocation open.
Recognizing Excellence
Recognizing academic excellence and well-rounded achievement, the convocation ceremony awarded gold medals. This year IIM Amritsar was honored to have Shri Banwarilal Purohit distribute the awards on its behalf. Ms Kriti Gupta secured the gold medal for her outstanding all-round performance within the MBA batch. Mr Harshdeep Singh Sandhanwalia was honored with the gold medal for achieving the highest scholastic standing amongst his MBA peers. The celebration of academic achievement extended to other programs as well. Mr Mehul Srivastava, Mr Keshav Agarwal and Mr Chetan Malhotra were presented with gold medals for their top scholastic performances in the MBA-BA, MBA-HR and EMBA batches, respectively.
Highlighting academic excellence, Director Prof Nagarajan Ramamoorthy proudly presented the Director’s Merit List. This prestigious recognition honored the top 10% of performers across all programs.
Sixteen exceptional students were celebrated, showcasing their dedication and achievements. From the MBA program, twelve students were recognized: Jilesh Tanna, Yuvraj Baheti, Mahek Manyal, Kunal Ameta, Rajat Jain, Kriti Gupta, Ashwin Shenoy, Aindrila Das, Charoo Somal, G Bhanusekhar Reddy, Shakti Singh, and Saaransh Chhabra.
The MBA-BA program saw two standouts – Wagh Shantanu Pandurang and Kshitij Tndon. The MBA-HR program boasted a top performer – Aditya Kapoor. The EMBA program had three recipients: Akhilesh Shukla, Kannan T.S. (who received the award in absentia), and Priya Tiwari.
The ceremony culminated with a powerful address from the esteemed chief guest. He showered praise on the faculty, staff, proud families, and most importantly, the graduating students of IIM Amritsar. He acknowledged the immense effort it took for the students to reach this momentous occasion, expressing his keen anticipation for their future contributions to the business world, society, and the nation.
His message was two-fold: reflection and responsibility. He urged the graduates to take a moment and appreciate the journey that led them here, recognizing the unwavering support of family, peers, and faculty. He then emphasized the valuable skills and knowledge they acquired at IIM Amritsar. From core subjects like marketing and finance to specialized areas like HR and operations, these graduates are well-equipped to navigate the dynamic business landscape.
But beyond technical expertise, the chief guest stressed the importance of ethical conduct. He reminded them that their education instilled strong values, urging them to carry themselves with integrity throughout their careers. He declared, “You are not just shaping your own destinies, but also the future of this country and its people. You are the ambassadors of Indian culture.”
Shifting gears, he spoke about India’s burgeoning growth, metaphorically stating that the “glass is now more than half full.” He celebrated India’s achievements, from reaching the moon to aiming for the stars. However, he did not shy away from mentioning the challenges that lie ahead, including the pressing issue of climate change and the need to uphold moral values.
With a final flourish, he wished the graduating class all the very best, sending them off with optimism and a vision of a bright future.
Following which, he Chairperson of the Board of Governors conferred degrees upon the graduating students from the MBA, MBA-BA, MBA-HR, and EMBA programs. This act symbolized the culmination of their academic journey at IIM Amritsar and the exciting dawn of their professional careers.
BOB Awards
The conferment of degrees was followed by corporate sponsored awards. Mr Jitin Linjhara, Chief Manager of Bank of Baroda awarded the the Bank of Baroda Achievers award for all round performance to Ms Aindrila Das and the Bank of Baroda Achievers Award for outstanding academic performance to Mr Harshdeep Singh Sandhanwalia.
ICSI Gold Medals
Additionally, Ms CS Rubina Mahajan, Chairperson of Amritsar Chapter of Institute of Companies Secretaries of India presented 3 gold medals to the MBA08 batch’s top three graduates. Mr Harshdeep Singh Sandhanwalia received the prestigious ICSI Signature Award for achieving the highest rank in the program. The second ICSI Signature Award was presented to Mr Jilesh Tanna, who secured the second-highest position. Finally, Mr Yuvraj Baheti was recognized with the third ICSI Signature Award for his third-place finish.
UBI Academic Excellence Awards
Mrs Monica Rana, Regional Head, Union Bank of India presented the Union Bank of India Academic Excellence for Outstanding Academic Performance to the highest ranking from each MBA program, including the core batch, BA batch and HR batch. The UBI Academic Excellence Award for Outstanding Academic Performance in MBA programme was awarded to Mr Jilesh Tanna. MBA-BA student, Mr Wagh Shantanu Pandurang, was conferred the UBI Academic Excellence Award for Outstanding Academic Performance in MBA BA programme. Last but not the least, Mr Aditya Kapoor won the UBI Academic Excellence Award for Outstanding Academic Performance in MBA HR programme.
Finally, the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited Special Merit Scholarship in recognition of Scholastic Performance for MBA, MBA-BA, MBA-HR and EMBA were awarded to Mr Harshdeep Singh Sandhanwalia, Mr Mehul Srivastava and Mr Keshav Agarwal respectively by Mr K S Shetty, Director HR, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited.
The ceremony reached its joyous climax with the graduating class taking an oath of honor. A roar of cheers erupted as celebratory caps filled the air. Dr Arun Kaushik, Chairperson of Alumni Affairs, extended his congratulations to the students on their momentous achievement. He then officially welcomed the outgoing batch as alumni of IIM Amritsar, marking the official close of the convocation.