The air was filled with joy as family members bid farewell to 25 students from Pune Zila Parishad schools, many of whom come from underprivileged backgrounds, as they embarked on a once-in-a-lifetime 10-day tour of the United States. Their flight is scheduled to depart from Mumbai early Saturday morning, marking the beginning of an enriching journey that includes visits to NASA centers and the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum.
The itinerary features significant stops, such as NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and major technology companies in San Francisco. During the visit, the students will also have the opportunity to meet India’s Ambassador to the United States, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, at the Embassy of India in Washington, D.C.
A flag-off ceremony took place at Council Hall on Friday, celebrating the students’ achievement. Among them is Aditi Parthe, a seventh grader from Bhor, who was selected for the tour despite her school lacking computers and her family not owning a smartphone. Her father expressed immense pride, stating, “We feel that she has done something completely different. All our relatives are very happy. I wish that she should keep doing well in the future, and I will keep supporting her.”
Umar Shaikh, another student, is also stepping onto a plane for the first time. His father, Sameer Shaikh, who runs a stationary business in Indapur, shared their surprise at the selection process, noting, “We had no idea about the exam; the teachers filled the forms themselves. We were so happy when the results came out we couldn’t even believe it.”
The excitement extended beyond family with Suyog Wadekar, a cousin of Kasturi Wadekar, who is also part of the group. He exclaimed the family’s happiness about her journey to the USA.
The program is organized in collaboration with the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), which has been instrumental in designing the selection framework and conducting assessments. Over 13,000 students participated in the initial test, with the final selection achieved through a stringent three-stage evaluation process.
Earlier this year, 50 students experienced a rocket launch at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), while another group explored notable sites in New Delhi, including Rashtrapati Bhavan, the Parliament House, and Jantar Mantar. More students will also be visiting science institutions in Mumbai. The San Francisco segment of the US trip is supported by the Jnana Prabodhini Foundation in California.
Original Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/all-smiles-as-25-pune-zp-students-leave-for-nasa-tour-10366663/
Category: Cities,Pune
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Publish Date: 2025-11-15 02:15:00
