Mangaluru :

Their poor economic background proved to be no deterrent for two students who carved a niche for themselves through sheer hard work.

This translated into three gold medals and a cash award for Karunya Shetty, a botany student of Mangalore University, and two gold medals for Shwetha Bhandary P of SVS College, Bantwal. Shwetha completed her MCom from Bantwal College.

Overjoyed after receiving these gold medals and cash award at the 33rd convocation of Mangalore University on Wednesday, both Karunya and Shwetha exemplified their thirst to overcome their economic status and excel academically. Karunya’s father Shekar Shetty is a shopkeeper and her mother Shoba is a housewife. Venkatesh Bhandary, Shwetha’s father, too is a shopkeeper and her mother Vrinda rolls beedi for a living.

Eligible for Inspire scholarship awarded by the department of science and technology, Karunya said she wants to do research in plant bio-technology.

Incidentally, she is the first postgraduate in her family. She is presently working as a guest faculty in the same department.

Shwetha repaid her parents by winning two gold medals. Having already landed a job as a clerk in Indian Overseas Bank at Padubidri, Shwetha said it was marks that she scored in first semester that motivated her to do well in the remaining semesters. She is keen to pursue a course in ICWA.

The convocation also saw history student Preethi R Udupa of Dr G Shankar Government First Grade College of Women, Ajjarkad walk away with the loudest applause for her two gold medals and five cash awards. Sangeetha Karanth, chemistry department; Logeshwari K, department of human consciousness and yogic science; and Shalini Shetty, chemistry department, Mangalore University, walked away with two gold medals each.

source:http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Mangaluru / TNN / June 18th, 2015