A student of Class X in Telangana Social Welfare Residential School in Rukmapur of Choppadandi mandal in Karimnagar district would be studying one year in a high school in the United States of America.
Kallapally Saikumar has been selected for the prestigious Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange Study (YES) programme scholarship to the USA.
Saikumar is the fourth and last son of farm labourers Balaiah and Rajanna of Ganneruvaram in Siddipet district. He was all praise for TSWREI secretary R.S. Praveen Kumar for his inspiration and the ‘Ten Commandments’ taught in the school which helped him clear the four levels of tough tests to get selected to the YES programme.
Saikumar was not aware of the YES programme. His English teacher helped him complete the application in response to a mail sent to the school.
The second round test was held in Hyderabad to check his communication skills in the third round he participated in group discussions and debates. Finally in the fourth round, he was selected considering the fact that his family was from lower economic strata of society.
The YES programme is a high school student exchange programme funded by the US Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. It is an opportunity for the students to begin their global exploration and to gain stronger understanding of the USA and also the international relations.
Year-long stay
The programme has been designed to enhance the student’s personal and cross cultural communication skills which would prove to be a great asset in his future.
Saikumar would be leaving for the USA on June 8 and would return only after one-year. School principal V. Laxman congratulated the student for his selection to the YES programme. He also thanked Dr. Praveen Kumar and special officer K.V. Chalapathi Rao for giving valuable tips to the student to excel at various stages of examination.