Pride of Polytechnic

At the annual prize distribution function of the Sophia Shree B. K. Somani Memorial Polytechnic on February 25, 2016, the institute’s coveted Mr Siganporia Prize and Trophy for the Pride of the Polytechnic was presented to Berezida Gandhi by chief guest Leena Yadav, a film director and alumna of the institute.

From far left: Berezida Gandhi receiving trophy from Leena Yadav; Navroz Siganporia

In her final semester of BSc (hospitality studies) at the Sophia Polytechnic, specializing in food and beverage service, and bakery and patisserie, Gandhi who is the president of the student council for the year 2015-16 was also conferred the Trophy for Outstanding Overall Performance, Cyrus Daver Shield for the Best Manager, Trophy for Sincerity, Initiative and Responsibility in Class Activities, and Prize for Service Beyond the Call of Duty. Editor in 2015 of Bon Appétit, the in-house magazine of the Hospitality and Food Technology department at Sophia, she was additionally commended for outstanding participation in The Sophia Cooverji Hormusji Bhabha Foundation Programme in Ethics and Spirituality under which she won the first prize in the essay competition and third prize in the book review competition this year.
The Pride of Polytechnic award is conferred on a student gauging her performance in four parameters, all of which are given equal weightage. A student should be proficient at work, in extracurricular activities, have leadership qualities, and be helpful to others, stated Navroz Siganporia who has instituted the rotating trophy for female students with a cash prize of Rs 5,000 since the academic year 2001-02.
Siganporia’s long-standing association with Sophia Polytechnic had commenced in 1970. He retired as head of its Applied Art Department in 1978 when he chose to go to Iran where he worked for American Bell. Following the revolution in Iran he shifted to Saudi Arabia where he was employed with Bell Canada and started the Bell International Art and Craft Society. In Riyadh, he took classes at the Riyadh International Art and Craft Society. Since his return to Bombay in 1983 he has been running Sigi, an independent interior design practice, and gladly addresses students when invited by different art institutes and even the Holiday Programme for Youth.
Convinced that "art has a definite niche in the future,” he remembers well his grandmother’s concern "Ai drawing/fawing maa su sukarwar thavanu chhé (what future prospects can you expect if pursuing a career in art)?” An alumnus of the J. J. School of Art who was the first recipient of the Best Student of the Year award, Siganporia has always striven to induce students to excel in academics along with extracurricular activities, he conveyed to Parsiana.