Report by Prasanna Lakshman, Boston USA
Boston , Dec 21: The third season of the AATA BEE International Youth Quiz 2025 concluded successfully on December 14, drawing enthusiastic participation from Tuluva children representing 68 schools across the United States and Canada. The online competition tested student’s critical thinking skills across a wide range of topics, including science, mathematics, history, sports, and general knowledge.
Organized by the All America Tulu Association (AATA), the quiz aligns with the organization’s mission to preserve and promote Tulu Language and culture globally while uniting people of Tulunadu origin in the United States and Canada. The initiative also serves as a platform to encourage intellectual engagement and foster connections among Tuluva youth. The event was inaugurated by AATA President Shreevalli Rai Martell, who underscored the quiz’s role within AATA’s Youth Enrichment Program and Student Scholarship Award initiative. Commending the participants for their enthusiasm and commitment, she noted that their determination and participation made all of them the winners.
Under the AATA Scholarship Program, outstanding Bee Quiz winners will be recognized with the following cash awards. $1,000 for the high school category winner, $500 for the middle school category winner, and $250 for the elementary school category winner, along with trophies and certificates.
In the high school category Riaan Shetty of Silicon Valley International School, Menlo Park, California is the winner and took the trophy. Nikheel Sherigar of Cave Springs High School, Roanoke, Virginia is the runner up. The top ten rank holders are Tanish Shetty, Claire Dsouza, Krithik Puttur, Vansh Shetty, Annabel Dsouza, Neeshma Shetty, Neil Shetty, Atman Koorse, Sanvi Asaigoli and Neil Shetty respectively.
The winner in the middle school category is Hridhaan Shetty of WT Clarke Middle School, Westbury New York and the runner-up is Hrihaan Gautham of Grafton Middle School, Massachusetts, USA. The top ten rank holders are Sid Laha, Arnav Shetty, Vihaan Alva, Daelyn Rego, Neel Pujari, Ishaan Shetty, Aanya Jain, Ansika Sherigar, Nathan Dsouza and Rishaan Shetty respectively.
Siddharth Rai of Triangle Math and Science Academy, Cary, North Carolina took away the winner's trophy in the elementary school category. Heeral Moolya of Chester M Stephens Elementary School, Budd Lake, New Jersey won the runner up trophy. The top ten rank holders include Srivatsa Kumar, Tanai Som, Arush Kirani, Viaan Shetty, Sidharth Rai, Vihaan Shetty, Arnav Adiga, Inika Acharya, Hriyaan Shetty and Anishka Sherigar.
This year’s award and the event were sponsored by Grasslands Developers, Udupi, a trusted name in real estate development known for delivering thoughtfully designed, sustainable, and high-quality residential and commercial projects across the Udupi–Manipal and Mangaluru regions. The All America Tulu Koota (AATA) expressed its sincere appreciation to Vinit Amin of Grasslands Developers for his generous support and contribution.
The quiz was conducted on a secure, user-friendly online platform. The quiz organizing committee did an excellent job conducting the quiz smoothly and without any issues or any technical glitch. The team behind the event included quizmasters Dr Rathnakar Sherigar (AATA Director, Virginia, USA). Dr Roshan Pais (AATA Director, Kentucky, USA), Ranjani Asaigoli (AATA Joint Secretary, North Carolina, USA) and Sindhu Kulal (Toronto, Canada). The moderating, compliance and monitoring was managed by Dr. Jagadish Kumar (AATA Regional Ambassador, California, USA) and Prasanna Lakshman (AATA Director, Massachusetts, USA).
AATA’s leadership, including founder president Bhaskar Sherigar (Boston), vice presidents Shirish Shetty (Atlanta) and Sudarshan Shetty (Toronto), general secretary Puja Shetty (Boston), treasurer Santhosh Shetty (Atlanta), joint treasurer Sudeep Hebbar (Atlanta), chairperson of the board directors Dr Mohana Chandra KP (California) and AATA committee members provided essential guidance.
AATA, a non-profit organization, aims to host the AATA BEE International Quiz annually every December, promoting educational excellence and cultural bonding among Tuluva youth. AATA extends its congratulations to all the winners and hopes to see everyone return next year with the same enthusiasm and spirit.