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www.newsindiatimes.com – that’s all you need to know Washington State University Bestows Highest Alumni Achievement Award On Varinder Bhalla V arinder Bhalla, a graduate ofWash- ington State University 54 years ago, was honored recently with the pres- tigious Alumni Achievement Award, by his alma mater, the highest recognition conferred byWSU. The award was personally presented by Mariah Maki, Executive Director of theWSU Alumni Association, who traveled from Washington to NewYork for an exclusive dinner reception hosted by the university, a press release from Bhalla said. The event gathered members of the NewYork Chapter of theWSU Alumni Association, including Vice President Meghann Cherzan and Fran Rowley, a classmate of Bhalla from the Class of 1971. “In recognition of your outstanding humanitarian service as Founder and Presi- dent of the AWB Food Bank, and for your many philanthropic initiatives,” Director Maki is quoted saying in her presentation, adding, “We celebrate your deep compassion and unwaver- ing dedication to the underprivileged. From New Delhi to NewYork, your work reflects the highest ideals of service and leadership. With heartfelt gratitude, Washington State University proudly bestows upon you its highest honor for embodying the spirit, values, and pride of a true WSU Coug.” Since its inception in 1969, theWSU Alumni Achievement Award has been awarded to fewer than 0.2% of all alumni – less than 500 indi- viduals out of more than 250,000 graduates, the press release said. Past recipients include luminaries such as Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Paul Allen. Bhalla and his wife, Ratna, co-founded the AWB Food Bank in New Delhi, which has distributed nearly 15 million meals to the underprivileged over the past 30 years, by collecting excess food from hotels, air- lines, and industrial kitchens, the press release said. TheWSU also honored Ratna Bhalla for her steadfast partnership and support. In a ceremony, she was inducted as an Honorary Member of theWSU Cougar Family, “in recog- nition of her extraordinary commitment to the couple’s shared mission.” In an emotional acceptance speech, Bhalla said: “I may not have made it back to Pullman to receive this honor all those years ago, but havingWSU come to me after 54 years feels like a full-circle moment – one that fills my heart with gratitude and deep emotion.” “I dedicate this award to my mother, Agya Wanti Bhalla, who quietly and faithfully fed hungry people in our hometown. Watching her as a child left a lasting impression on me. She planted the seed – I simply helped it grow.” Bhalla added, “Washington State University gave me more than an education; it gave me purpose. This recognition reconnects me with my roots and reminds me that giving back is the truest measure of success.” Bhalla was also recently honored with a Con- gressional Award in recognition of his unwaver- ing commitment to philanthropy and community service. Among his many acts of compassion: donat- ing a motorboat to schoolchildren in Gujarat who had no option but to swim across a dangerous river to attend school. Launching an eye-camp in his hometown of Amritsar, providing free eye exams and eyeglasses to the visually impaired. In closing, Director Maki renewed her invita- tion for Bhalla to return toWSU, saying, “Your legacy is a powerful testament to how what students learn atWSU can lay the foundation for a life dedicated to service and purpose. We hope your story continues to inspire generations of Cougs to come.” By a StaffWriter PHOTOS:CourtesyVarinder Bhalla Varinder Bhalla with family and friends receiving the WSUAlumni Achievement Award from Executive Director Mariah Maki. Varinder & Ratna Bhalla donated motorboat to the children of Sajjanpur village in Gujarat who had to swim across a turbulent river to reach school. India Announces Eight New Consular Application Centers In US I ndia’s Ambassador to the United States, Vinay Kwatra, on Thursday announced the opening of eight new In- dian Consular Application Centres across the United States, aimed at expanding access to consular services for the Indian diaspora. In a post on X, the Embassy of India inWashington, DC shared a video message by Ambassador Kwatra. Ambassador Kwatra said in his statement that the new Indian Consular Application Centres would be in Boston, Columbus, Dallas, Detroit, Addison, Orlando, Raleigh, and San Jose. “In addition, we would also be opening another Indian Consular Application Centre in Los Angeles very soon. With the opening of these new Indian Consular Applica- tion Centres, our presence to provide extensive consular services and related delivery capabilities would increase and expand significantly. Besides, it would also make the delivery of these consular services faster and more acces- sible to our vibrant Indian diaspora.” The Ambassador said that starting August 1, all the Indian consular application centres would also re- main open on Saturdays. He noted that this would help significantly enhance not just the availability of various consular services, but also their accessibility to the Indian diaspora. The Ambassador also mentioned the streamlining of various miscellaneous consular services, which would be made available through the Indian Consular Application Centres, and a few of the important services would, how- ever, continue to be dispersed and made available from the embassy premises. “We firmly believe that people-to-people ties are at the heart of the India-US partnership. With the opening of two new consulates in Boston and Los Angeles, which the Prime Minister of India had an- nounced a few months ago, we would be able to further strengthen not just a relationship between our two coun- tries, but also our people-topeople ties, particularly in the areas of Boston and Los Angeles”. Ambassador Kwatra requested the members of the Indian diaspora to keep visiting the website of the Indian Embassy, where detailed information about the open- ing of these Indian Consular Application Centres and the availability of various miscellaneous Consular services would be made available more regularly. As per the Ministry of External Affairs, about 5.4 mil- lion Indian origin people (per MEA data; includes 2.07 million NRIs) reside in the US. Persons of Indian origin constitute the third-largest Asian ethnic group in the US. The Indian diaspora has been a catalyst in cementing closer ties between India and the US. Earlier this year, in January, the United States held a dedication ceremony for its new Consulate in Bengaluru, which made it the fifth US consulate in India. - ANI Community News India Times (August 2, 2025 - August 8, 2025) August 8, 2025 18 PHOTO:VIDEOGRABVIA ANI India’s Ambassador to the US Vinay Kwatra speaking about new c onsular offices being opened around the US.