Upakar Foundation Awards Scholarships To 24 Students
India-West News Desk
WASHINGTON, DC -The Upakar Foundation has awarded scholarships to 24 new Indian American students as part of its 2026 program, including nine students receiving need-based undergraduate tuition support and 15 receiving one-time textbook scholarships.
The nine new Upakar Scholars will receive up to $10,000 each in tuition support over four years. Separately, 22 returning Upakar Scholars have had their awards renewed for the 2026-27 academic year.
The 15 new textbook scholars will each receive a one-time $250 award.
The nine new tuition scholars are Prit Patel of Kentucky, who will attend the University of Pennsylvania; Jezreel Thomas of Pennsylvania, Moravian University; Manav Patel of Maryland, University of Maryland; Aryan Patel of Virginia, University of Virginia; and Misty Sandhosh of Florida, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
The remaining four are Anoushka Sibani of Oklahoma, University of Tulsa; Hargun Ahluwalia of Texas, University of the Incarnate Word; Sukh Preet Kaur of New Jersey, Barnard College of Columbia University; and Aditya Pethe of Iowa, Case Western Reserve University.
The scholarships were supported by Hindu American Community Services Inc., Rao and Padmavati Vadlamani, Dr. Venkat and Gita Mani, India Development and Relief Fund, the Neetu Watumull Scholarship Program, Niru Rohatgi, the family of Shanti Gupta and Upakar.
The 15 new textbook scholarship recipients are Heer Patel, Aarish Patel, Neema Patel, Daksh Patel, Trusha Patel, Shruti Singh, Zoha Baig, Sreya Mathews, Sritha Devarapu, Adithya Karthik Upadhyayula, Shaili Desai, Sarayu Vallurupalli, Pranav Ramji, Reva Sobti and Ayan Virani.
Founded in 1997 in the Washington, D.C., area, Upakar provides need- and merit-based scholarships to Indian American students. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents graduating from a U.S. high school and must have been born in India or have at least one Indian-born parent.
The foundation said it has awarded more than $1 million in scholarships since its founding. It also said applications increased this year and that more than 95% of donated funds go toward student support.
