Prayagraj: Tuesday served as a formal testament to the enduring commitment of St. Joseph’s College to its foundational motto, Semper Sursum. Parents, alumni, and students came together to honour those who pursued the race of scholastic and co-curricular distinction over the past academic year 2025-26.The ceremony commenced with the Chief Guest, Dr. Mrs. Sangita Srivastava being welcomed into the College Auditorium alongside Principal Rev. Fr. Walter D’Silva, Primary Section Headmaster, Rev. Fr. Melwin Pais, Middle School Administrator, Rev. Fr. Gladwin Fernandes, College Co-ordinator, Mr. Jyoti Dube, Additional Administrator Mr. Aubrey McGowan, College Counsellor, Mrs. Aparna Ranjan and Senior th Section Coordinator, Dr. Mrs. Linda Shane Gaffney. A solemn Bible reading and a special prayer by Mrs. C. Wesley helped invoke blessings upon the assembled gathering. Following this, the College Choir orchestrated a stirring musical rendition of the opening Hymn and the College Anthem, showcasing a deep sense of shared tradition. This year, the college community was privileged to welcome Dr. Mrs. Sangita Srivastava, the distinguished Vice Chancellor of the University of Allahabad, as the Chief Guest who was given an eloquent introduction by Ms. A. J. D’Cruz. Dr. Mrs. Sangita Srivastava holds the unrivalled distinction of being the only woman intellectual to be conferred the prestigious title of the only woman Vice-Chancellor of the University of Allahabad and the longest serving Vice-Chancellor at that. An academician and an administrator par excellence, she has been distinguished with an honorary rank of Colonel Commandant 26 January 2023, by the Ministry of Defence. As a mark of abiding respect for her vision, commitment to excellence and inspiring personal example, the Principal formally welcomed her with a sapling-a gesture representing organic growth and the progressive environmental ideals of the campus. The sequence of events was seamlessly co-ordinated by the Mistress of Ceremonies, Mrs. Madhulika D’Souza, who ensured the milestones of the morning unfurled with flawless precision.

The core of the event focused on recognizing and honouring the relentless dedication of the school body. The Chief Guest personally conferred prestigious academic awards upon the top achievers of the Class X ICSE and Class XII ISC cohorts, celebrating their structural mastery of their respective boards. Following the senior accolades, merit and attendance awards were distributed to standout scholars from Classes VI to VIII and Classes IX to XI, highlighting the importance of year-round academic consistency. In order to encourage academic excellence and passionate pursuit of co-curricular activities, the JCT was established in 2016 by the alumni of the 1996 batch, and as representatives of the very same batch, Dr. Nimish Agarwal, Mr. Avinash Raizada and Mr. Nikhar Sagar, gave away the awards to Kirtik Nirkhi, Anmay Srivastava and Dhanad Chaddha. The Chief Guest honoured the following dedicated faculty members with. 100% Attendance Awards,Mr. Nathaniel Bishorup Lawrence,Mr. Prateek Hemrajani,Dr. Raghavendra Diwedi,Mr. Dilip Charles Pascal,Mr. Vijay Ambrose David,In order to inject an air of immense vitality into the hall, a synchronised and lively dance performance by the Middle Section students and a superb piano performance by Vivaan Kesarwani of 8-E interspersed the award presentations, underscoring the exceptional level of musical refinement nurtured within the institution. These award presentations were beautifully displayed thus showcasing the creative calibre of the student body. In her speech, the Chief Guest, Dr. Mrs. Sangita Srivastava, lauded the rich heritage of the college and exhorted the prize-winners to utilise their education as a catalyst for progressive academic transformation in Prayagraj itself-an old seat of learning. She also advised the parents against the culture of coaching which systematically erode the self-esteem and confidence, the very identity of students. The Principal subsequently expressed profound pride in the year’s collective triumphs, exhorted the parents to remember that their children are the most precious treasures and presented a formal token of gratitude to the Chief Guest. The event concluded with a comprehensive Vote of Thanks delivered by the College Head Prefect, Mohd. Jafar Sadiq, and the National Anthem.