DIMAPUR — The TCK Foundation awarded the first ‘TCK scholarship for undergraduate studies’ to two female candidates of the Lotha community – Mharhonyingi Odyuo, pursuing civil engineering at NIT Chümoukedima, and Daisy Kikon, a BA honours student of Don Bosco College, Kohima.
The award ceremony was held at Hotel Vivor in Kohima on September 11, with Lokayukta Nagaland and former state chief secretary, Banuo Z Jamir, as the guest of honour, an update stated.
Both candidates were selected after going through two rounds of selection including the submission of the forms with essays and a physical interview.
The selection panel comprised Nellayappan B, OSD at chief minister’s office, and Thungjano Kithan, senior assistant professor, Department of History and Archaeology, Nagaland University, and a managing trustee of the foundation.
The selected candidates will receive a sum of rupees fifty thousand each for the period of their four years of undergraduate studies.
The TCK scholarship for undergraduate studies is an initiative of the TCK Foundation for the purpose of facilitating deserving candidates who are unable to pursue higher education owing to financial constraints.
Through financial support, the students can complete their undergraduate studies and pursue their desired life goals.
The scholarship was instituted in memory of the late TCK Lotha, the “first direct recruit IAS officer to the state of Nagaland” and also the first IAS officer from the Lotha tribe.
The guest of honour, in her address, reminisced on her years of association with the late TCK Lotha, especially mentioning his calm and cool composure when dealing with stressful and difficult situations.
“He never showed any airs of superiority nor a patronising attitude over the junior officers. He was always open to ideas and suggestions,” Jamir said and added, “The ideals of compassion, excellence and service truly communicate the heart and essence of the man.”
“The scholarship programme for the initial year invited candidates from the Lotha community. However, in the coming years the trustees say that applications will be invited from all Naga tribes of Nagaland,” the update informed.
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