Rashika Shetty is a medical student at the University of Minnesota Medical School and is in excellent academic standing.

Rashika's journey reflects a deep commitment to service, health equity and community impact. Inspired by BANA’s mission of unity, cultural pride, and community leadership, she has actively contributed to underserved and marginalized populations through mobile healthcare initiatives supporting migrants, homeless individuals, and refugees, including Afghan refugee communities. Her work, recognized by the United Nations, highlights her dedication to culturally sensitive healthcare and advocacy for equitable access to medical services. Rashika’s leadership, compassion, academic excellence and commitment to making a meaningful difference embody the true spirit of this distinguished award and serve as an inspiration to the broader community.

Neethi Sheka, a student at Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine. 

Neethi’s journey beautifully reflects the spirit and legacy of this scholarship. Inspired from a young age through the BANA community, she grew up admiring professionals and leaders across the country who were making meaningful contributions in healthcare, research, and public service. Those experiences helped shape her dream of pursuing medicine and motivated her to dedicate years of hard work, perseverance, and determination toward achieving that goal. Neethi’s leadership, compassion, academic excellence and commitment to making a meaningful difference embody the true spirit of this distinguished award and serve as an inspiration to the broader community.

Mia Gitanjali Shetty Desai - exceptional academic achievement, community spirit and dedication to cultural values.

Achieving an outstanding SAT score of 1590, a truly extraordinary accomplishment that reflects her hard work, discipline and pursuit of excellence.

Mia has been deeply connected to the BANA community from a young age. Her experiences attending BANA events, participating in the BANA Bunt Camp and engaging in spiritual and community service activities through Bala Vihar Manhattan have helped shape her strong values, leadership qualities and commitment to giving back.

Mia’s passion for service extends beyond academics. She hopes to use the scholarship to support underserved Bunt communities, including organizations such as the Premanjali orphanage in Bangalore that supports the education of visually impaired children. Her desire to strengthen cultural connections, support charitable initiatives, and inspire future generations beautifully reflects the spirit and legacy of the KM Shetty Memorial Scholarship.

Ila Gayatri Shetty Desai  - extraordinary academic achievement, leadership and commitment to community service.

Earning a perfect ACT score of 36,  an exceptional accomplishment that reflects her dedication, discipline and pursuit of excellence.

Ila has demonstrated remarkable leadership and involvement both within her school and broader community. Inspired by BANA’s efforts to preserve cultural heritage and strengthen community connections, she has remained deeply connected to her roots through Bala Vihar Manhattan and various community initiatives.

Ila’s accomplishments extend far beyond academics. She participated in the distinguished School for Ethics and Global Leadership (SEGL) Program in London, served as class president for three years, earned multiple Model Congress awards. She is captain of the cross country and captain of the badminton team. She is also an accomplished harp soloist and member of the Upper School Orchestra.

Her passion for service and giving back is equally inspiring. Ila hopes to use the scholarship to further support charitable initiatives within the Bunts community, particularly efforts benefiting orphaned children in Karnataka , a cause that holds deep personal meaning for her family. Having earned early acceptance to Harvard University along with an unconditional offer from Oxford University, Ila represents a remarkable example of academic excellence, leadership, humility, and community spirit.

Prachi Shetty - exceptional creativity, dedication and meaningful contribution to design and community storytelling.

An architect and designer, Prachi has played a significant role in shaping the visual identity and creative direction of the BANA Souvenir Book. Through her thoughtful design approach, she successfully transformed community stories, achievements, traditions and memories into a modern, visually engaging and culturally grounded publication that beautifully represents the spirit of BANA.

Her ability to blend modern aesthetics with cultural heritage while creating an inclusive and inspiring experience for all generations reflects both artistic excellence and strong community values. Prachi’s leadership, attention to detail and commitment to preserving community identity through design have been widely appreciated and have helped elevate the overall presentation and impact of the BANA publication initiatives.

Her passion, professionalism and dedication truly embody the values and legacy of this distinguished award and continue to inspire creativity, cultural pride and community connection.

Elan Shetty - exceptional leadership, athletic achievement and strong commitment to community values.

A proud third-generation BANA member, Elan has been deeply connected to the organization since childhood, inspired by the legacy of community leadership within his own family. Through BANA events, youth activities and cultural programs, he developed meaningful friendships, leadership qualities and a strong appreciation for heritage and community connection.

As Captain of the Phillips Academy Football Team, Elan has demonstrated outstanding leadership both on and off the field.

Beyond athletics, Elan has actively contributed to strengthening youth engagement within the BANA community and hopes to continue mentoring and inspiring future generations through leadership and service initiatives. His dedication to academics, sportsmanship, cultural pride, and community impact reflects the true legacy and values honored through the award.

Aanya Trivedi Shetty - remarkable literary voice, emotional depth and meaningful contribution through storytelling.

Through her book Finding Her Stride, Aanya presents a powerful and deeply personal reflection on identity, resilience, grief, family, belonging and self-discovery. Aanya’s work stands out not only for its literary excellence, but also for its purpose-driven impact. Her storytelling reflects courage, vulnerability and authenticity while inspiring readers to embrace their own struggles, strengths and individuality. Through this project, she has transformed personal experiences into a message of hope, empathy and connection for others facing similar challenges.

Beyond literature, Aanya has demonstrated a strong commitment to community impact by dedicating the proceeds of her book toward supporting underserved athletes, turning storytelling into meaningful action and service.

Her creativity, emotional intelligence, leadership, and dedication to using literature as a force for awareness and positive change truly embody the spirit and legacy of the award.

Sneha Shetty - outstanding dedication to dance, cultural preservation, youth mentorship and community engagement.

A lifelong member of the BANA family, Sneha has been deeply connected to the organization since childhood and has beautifully used performing arts as a way to celebrate heritage, inspire younger generations and strengthen community bonds. Trained in Bharatanatyam for over 10 years, she has performed on BANA stages since a young age and earned recognition through initiatives such as Bunts Got Talent.

Beyond her own performances, Sneha has demonstrated exceptional leadership by mentoring and choreographing for younger Bunt children, helping them experience the same joy, confidence, and cultural connection that BANA gave her. Her student teams have performed at multiple BANA and community events across the country, helping strengthen youth engagement and lasting friendships within the community.

Sneha’s passion for dance and service continued through college as Captain of UConn Surya, where she led a nationally competitive Bollywood fusion team to multiple intercollegiate awards. 

Her commitment to preserving and passing on cultural traditions through performance, mentorship, and leadership truly embodies the spirit and legacy of the Award.

Sophia Shetty - extraordinary leadership, innovation, service and commitment to uplifting underserved communities.

Deeply inspired by the Tulu values, leadership rooted in responsibility, care and service, Sophia has transformed cultural values into meaningful action and impact. Her work reflects a remarkable combination of compassion, academic excellence, creativity and purpose-driven leadership.

As the founder of Robotics on Paper, Sophia developed affordable $2 STEM kits and personally taught robotics, engineering and machine learning concepts to more than 2,500 underserved students across 15 schools in India, helping make STEM education accessible to children with limited resources. Her impactful work was recognized by Maharashtra Times, one of India’s largest newspapers.

Sophia’s leadership extends across multiple disciplines including robotics outreach, neuroscience research, debate, accessibility innovation and mentorship. From leading large-scale robotics outreach initiatives and mentoring younger students, to contributing toward autism-focused technology solutions and neuroscience research, she has consistently demonstrated a strong desire to use knowledge and innovation to create positive change.

An incoming freshman at Johns Hopkins University majoring in Neuroscience with a minor in AI-Integrated Surgery, Sophia represents the next generation of visionary leaders who combine intellect with empathy and cultural values with global impact. Her dedication to service, leadership, education, and community empowerment truly embodies the spirit and legacy of the Award.

Vivek Rai - outstanding achievements in badminton, leadership, discipline and commitment to community engagement.

A highly accomplished athlete, Vivek has earned numerous medals in badminton and proudly represented Team USA at the 2025 Pan American Games in Guatemala. Among his many achievements, winning the Junior National Championship in the Under-17 Mixed Doubles category stands out as a remarkable milestone reflecting his dedication, perseverance and competitive excellence.

Since beginning badminton at the age of eight, Vivek has demonstrated extraordinary commitment toward improving his skills and pursuing his dream of competing at the highest international levels. Despite balancing nearly 20 hours of weekly training, he has maintained strong academic performance while remaining actively involved in mentoring younger athletes, volunteering and supporting community activities.

Beyond his personal success, Vivek has shown strong leadership and sportsmanship by helping coach and guide younger players on his high school badminton team and contributing as an umpire at local tournaments. His desire to organize badminton opportunities for BANA members further reflects his passion for giving back and inspiring greater youth participation in sports.

Vivek’s dedication, humility, leadership and pursuit of excellence both on and off the court truly embody the spirit and legacy of the Award.

Sameera Rai  - exceptional achievements in racquetball, dedication to athletics and inspiring representation of the community at an international level.

At just 11 years old, Sameera has already established herself as one of the top junior racquetball athletes in the world, ranking among the Top 8 globally in the Under-10 category. Representing Team USA at three Junior World Championships, she has earned three bronze medals on the international stage while proudly competing for her country.

Sameera is also a three-time USA Racquetball All-American award recipient and has achieved remarkable success at the USA Junior National level with multiple gold, silver and bronze medals. Her accomplishments, discipline and determination at such a young age reflect extraordinary talent and commitment to excellence.

Beyond her athletic success, Sameera carries a strong sense of community pride and cultural connection. Through her continued involvement with BANA and her desire to inspire younger athletes especially girls she hopes to encourage greater participation in sports, leadership and confidence within the community.

Her dedication, humility, sportsmanship and commitment to representing both Team USA and the Bunts community with pride truly embody the spirit and legacy of theAward.

Diya Shetty -  exceptional achievements in badminton, international representation and dedication to athletic excellence.

Beginning her badminton journey at the age of six in Virginia, what started as a simple backyard activity soon evolved into a disciplined pursuit of excellence through hard work, determination, and unwavering family support. Today, at just 15 years old, Diya is a USA National Badminton Player competing internationally in BWF tournaments and proudly representing the United States on the global stage.

Diya has already achieved remarkable success across multiple distinguished international tournaments, including Silver Medals at the Guatemala Junior International and Finland Open, Quarterfinal appearances at the All England Junior Championships and Hungarian Junior International, along with participation in elite events across Canada, Portugal, Germany, the Netherlands and Guatemala.

Currently ranked World Junior Rank #37, Diya stands among the Top 50 junior badminton players in the world, an extraordinary accomplishment that reflects her relentless training, discipline and passion for the sport. Her ambitious goal of breaking into the Top 10 world rankings and ultimately representing Team USA at the Olympic Games highlights her inspiring vision and commitment to excellence.

Beyond her achievements on the court, Diya’s journey serves as a source of inspiration for young athletes within the community, demonstrating the power of perseverance, dedication and cultural pride. Her accomplishments, humility and determination truly embody the spirit and legacy of the Award.

Kiran Shridhar Alva - outstanding dedication, creativity and meaningful contributions toward strengthening community engagement and communication within BANA.

Kiran has played a significant role in shaping and elevating BANA’s content, media presence and social media outreach through her consistent efforts, innovative ideas and commitment to community storytelling. Her contributions have helped enhance communication, increase engagement across generations and showcase the spirit, culture and achievements of the BANA community in a modern and impactful way.

Through content creation, digital media support, promotional initiatives and community-focused storytelling, Kiran has helped amplify BANA’s vision, initiatives and outreach while creating stronger connections within the broader community.

Her passion for supporting meaningful initiatives and helping preserve and promote community identity truly embodies the spirit and legacy of the Award.

Siri Naomi Alva - exceptional dedication, technical leadership, innovation and outstanding contributions toward advancing BANA initiatives, strengthening digital presence and fostering meaningful community growth. 

Over the past several months, Siri's commitment, diligence and visionary approach have created a transformative impact across the organization through significant contributions to the BANA website, BuntsMatch platform, digital engagement initiatives, and creative storytelling efforts that have strengthened communication and connection across generations and regions. Her ability to combine technology, creativity, professionalism and community spirit with passion and purpose has greatly elevated BANA’s outreach and engagement efforts, while her positive energy, collaborative mindset and willingness to consistently contribute beyond expectations truly embody the spirit of leadership, innovation and service that this special recognition represents.

Puja Shetty - extraordinary community leadership, unwavering dedication and meaningful impact on the Dallas and Southwest BANA community.

Puja's ability to bring people together through compassion, inclusiveness, genuine connection and selfless service truly reflects the essence of community leadership.

Through her vision and tireless efforts, the Dallas Guttu community has experienced remarkable growth and engagement, welcoming many new families while creating meaningful opportunities for friendship, participation, cultural connection and a strong sense of belonging. Her leadership during the Southwest BANA Ugadi celebration and regional gathering, which brought together more than 280 attendees from across Texas, showcased exceptional organizational ability, cultural commitment and innovative thinking, including the introduction of the first Yakshagana presentation.

Her initiative in creating the Dallas BB (Bunt Beauties) ladies’ wing has further strengthened friendships, support systems and community engagement among women and families. Her warmth, positive energy and inspiring leadership continue to strengthen the spirit of BANA across the region.

In addition, her volunteering efforts and active support and contribution toward BuntsMatch initiatives reflect her deep passion for strengthening community connections and creating meaningful impact across the broader Bunt community

Bhaskar Shetty - exceptional vision, leadership, dedication and meaningful contributions toward initiating and expanding the growth of BuntsMatch.

Bhaskar Shetty's  passion for strengthening community connection and engagement through innovative and purpose-driven initiatives has created a lasting and meaningful impact across the global Bunt community. Through his continued encouragement, active involvement and commitment to the larger vision of “Connecting Hearts,” BuntsMatch has evolved into a trusted, community-driven platform that brings together individuals and families across 12 countries, including the USA, Canada, the UK, India, the UAE and Australia.His efforts have helped foster meaningful relationships, stronger community bonds and greater connection across generations and regions, reflecting the true spirit of unity, belonging and community engagement.