LONG ISLAND, NY (TIP): South Asian American Women’s Alliance (www.SAAWA.org) celebrated its third gala, Colors of Life, on Saturday June 28th in Bethpage. Speaking on the occasion, President and Founder of SAAWA, Dr. Anila Midha said that the mission of the organization is to encourage education among South Asian American girl students, because when you educate girls, you transform the society, community and the world.

Eleven awards were given to seven high school girls who excelled in Stem subjects, Science, Technology, Engineering and Math and one community Service Award. The awardees included Bhavani Ananthabhotla, Intel Science Talent Search Semifinalist Award and Simon Fellow, SAAWA Math Award ; Varsha Venkatesh, INTEL International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) Finalist, SAAWA Science Award; Deepika Dhawan, SAAWA Stem Award; Priya Alagesan , Intel Science Talent Search Semifinalist 2014 Award, SAAWA Science Award; Priyanka Kumar, Intel Science Talent Search Semifinalist 2014 Award ,SAAWA Stem award; Priyanka Wadgaonkar, Team Winner of 2013 National Siemens competition; Shobha Tewani,SAAWA Community Service Award.

South Asian American Women’s Alliance President and Founder Dr. Anila Midha speaks about the organization

Judi Bosworth was awarded SAAWA Woman of the Year award, Serena McCalla was awarded SAAWA Teacher of the Year award. Dr. Anila Midha acknowledged SAAWA Executive Board, Dr. Bhavani Srinivasan, Aruna Saxena, Sabina Ali and Bharathi Nelanuthala .

The entertainer of the evening: Juana Cala who regaled the gathering with electrifying Flaminco

Five distinguished women of the Community, who have excelled in their fields of expertise and profession were honored. The honorees included Arti Datta, who is a clinical scientist by profession and the Artistic Director of Mudra Dance Studio; Renu Jain, who is an IIT Graduate , financial consultant and a classical vocalist; Dr. Subhadra Nori, who is a regional Director, Department of Rehabilitation medicine, Elmhurst Hospital, Queens General Hospital and The Queens Health Network.

Musicians who brought the East and the West in to a superb musical fusion: Samir Chatterjee on tabla, Elijah Shiffer on saxophone, Matt Osburn on guitar, Emiliano Andres Valerio and Tripp Dudley on percussions

She has established a cancer hospital in Hyderabad, India, and two Sai Temples in Long Island and New Jersey along with her husband ; Dr. Sunita Kanumury, who has a private practice in Allergy and Immunology in New Jersey and has been the President, National APPI( American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin); Jaya Bahadkar, a registered nurse practitioner, who has been an active community worker for 25 years.

The entertainment of the evening was a scintillating performance “Indo Flame” a fusion of Kathak and Flamenco dance styles to live music: Samir Chatterjee on tabla, Elijah Shiffer on saxophone, Matt Osburn on guitar, Emiliano Andres Valerio and Tripp Dudley on percussions. Kathak was performed by Anu Sahasrabudhe and Flaminco was performed by Juana Cala. The audience was awed by the enchanting ensemble and the jugalbandi under the direction of Tabla maestro Samir Chatterjee.