Phylicia Abraham Viruthikulangara Named Salutatorian
Ms. Phylicia Viruthikulangara is a gifted and talented member of the Chicago Knanaya community with strong Christian values. She graduated from Whitney M. Young Magnet High School, a selective enrollment high school in Chicago which ranks #3 in the state of Illinois. She finished high school as the 2016 class Salutatorian with a 5.22 weighted GPA and scored a 34 on the ACT. Phylicia is both an AP Scholar and an Illinois State Scholar. In addition, Phylicia served as the service project coordinator of the National Honor Society at her school. In the midst of her busy academic, athletic and social activities, Phylicia completed her Arangetram in Bharatanatyam with Soorya Dance School (SDS) and since then, she works as an assistant dance instructor for SDS. Phylicia's hard work and incredible work ethic led her to gain admission into the Guaranteed Professional Program in Medicine (GPPA) at University of Illinois at Chicago.
Phylicia’s accomplishments began when she served as the Junior High class president at Edison Regional Gifted School. In high school, she founded and led the South Asian Student Association (SASA) as a way to bring her Indian culture to her school community. Through SASA, she taught Indian dance that was showcased in her high school’s Asian American Show every year. She was also a member of her high school’s Poms hip-hop dance team that won the State Championship in 2015 and won multiple city championships. Outside of school, she volunteered as an assistant dance instructor for Everybody Dance Now! (EDN!), a non-profit organization that provides free, weekly dance classes to Chicago’s underserved youth. She organized a dance workshop that donated all profits to EDN! During the summer, she performed cancer related research in oncofertility at Northwestern University’s Woodruff Lab under the guidance of Dr. So-Youn Kim. She also participated in an internship with the Indo-American Democratic Organization. Moreover, Phylicia has played an active role in the Knanaya community by participating in Kids clubs, KCJL, KCYL and receiving awards in annual KCS dance competitions and KCCNA conventions. She also volunteers weekly as a Religious Education teacher at St. Mary’s Knanaya Catholic Church.
Phylicia is the daughter of Thomas Viruthikulangara, supervisor at US Postal Service, and Girley Viruthikulangara, civil engineer for the City of Chicago Water Department. She is the sister of Dr. Gathi Abraham, a Northwestern University medical graduate and resident at George Washington University, Dr. Geethi Abraham, a University of Illinois at Chicago medical graduate and resident at Northwestern, and Philip Abraham, a junior at Yale University, a top Ivy League school.
Phylicia plans to pursue a career as a physician who serves underserved communities, all the while being an active member of Knanaya community by teaching dance and Religious Education.
Phylicia’s accomplishments began when she served as the Junior High class president at Edison Regional Gifted School. In high school, she founded and led the South Asian Student Association (SASA) as a way to bring her Indian culture to her school community. Through SASA, she taught Indian dance that was showcased in her high school’s Asian American Show every year. She was also a member of her high school’s Poms hip-hop dance team that won the State Championship in 2015 and won multiple city championships. Outside of school, she volunteered as an assistant dance instructor for Everybody Dance Now! (EDN!), a non-profit organization that provides free, weekly dance classes to Chicago’s underserved youth. She organized a dance workshop that donated all profits to EDN! During the summer, she performed cancer related research in oncofertility at Northwestern University’s Woodruff Lab under the guidance of Dr. So-Youn Kim. She also participated in an internship with the Indo-American Democratic Organization. Moreover, Phylicia has played an active role in the Knanaya community by participating in Kids clubs, KCJL, KCYL and receiving awards in annual KCS dance competitions and KCCNA conventions. She also volunteers weekly as a Religious Education teacher at St. Mary’s Knanaya Catholic Church.
Phylicia is the daughter of Thomas Viruthikulangara, supervisor at US Postal Service, and Girley Viruthikulangara, civil engineer for the City of Chicago Water Department. She is the sister of Dr. Gathi Abraham, a Northwestern University medical graduate and resident at George Washington University, Dr. Geethi Abraham, a University of Illinois at Chicago medical graduate and resident at Northwestern, and Philip Abraham, a junior at Yale University, a top Ivy League school.
Phylicia plans to pursue a career as a physician who serves underserved communities, all the while being an active member of Knanaya community by teaching dance and Religious Education.
Acheivements - Roy Chelamalayil
Chicago KCS is proud to inform you all that Roy Chelamalayil, ex-KCS Board member and former chairperson of various KCS committees, has been appointed as Respiratory Program Director at St. Augustine College in Chicago. He currently holds master's degree in Health Administration.
He hails from Punnathara. He is married to Sheena Kozhamplackil and has three children, Regina, Peter and Christina.
Chicago KCS congratulates Mr. Roy Chelamalayil on his outstanding achievement.
He hails from Punnathara. He is married to Sheena Kozhamplackil and has three children, Regina, Peter and Christina.
Chicago KCS congratulates Mr. Roy Chelamalayil on his outstanding achievement.
Congratulations to Jerry Kurian Thannikuzhuppil who passed the CPA exam!
Jerry, a proud member of Chicago Knanaya Catholic Society, graduated from DePaul University in 2013 with a bachelor's degree in Accounting and Finance.( C.P A.) He just passed the CPA exam and has been working at KPMG as an Audit Associate since October 2013.
Jerry is the son of Joseph Kurian Thannikuzhuppil, (Monipally) and Tessy (Ambily) Kurian. Jerry has a younger brother, Jimmy Kurian, who is also a graduate of DePaul University. He is an IT consultant at Hitachi Consulting and is pursuing a Master's Degree in Software Engineering. |
Sheena Arackal earns doctorate in Political Science
Sheena Arackal earned a doctorate in Political Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for her research into the relationship between external violence and infighting within ethnic groups. Sheena’s research challenges existing theories in Political Science, which assume external violence makes ethnic groups more cohesive. Sheena has presented her research at several Political Science conferences, and will publish her findings in a forthcoming book.
Sheena is the daughter of Peter & Leelamma Arackal and wife of Joseph Mathew Paramel (KCCNA legal advisor ). Chicago KCS congratulates Sheena Arackal on her outstanding achievement and wishes her all the best! (June 2014) |
Philip Abraham Viruthikulangara named Valedictorian
Mr. Philip Abraham a young adult of our community graduated as 2014 class VALEDICTORIAN of North-side College Prep High school, a selective enrollment High school which ranks No.1 in Illinois and 36th Nationwide. Philip a National Merit Finalist, AP Scholar an Illinois State Scholar served as treasurer of Math National Honor Society, board member of French Honor Society and member of the National Honor Society, won the Harvard Book Award in his junior year and completed his high school with a 5.31 weighted GPA, scoring a 35 in his ACT.
In the four year of High School Philip was in Wrestling, Chess and Tennis team. The School Men’s Tennis team won CITY Championship in 2014. His Varsity Chess team won the City for last two years competing in Illinois State competitions, Philip won the Academic Achievement Award.
For the Community, Philip volunteered at Presence Resurrection Medical center and May Fair Salvation Army and served as Religious Education teacher at Chicago Knanaya church.
Philip is the son of Thomas Abraham, supervisor at US Postal Service, and Girley Abraham, civil engineer for the City of Chicago Water Department, brother of
Dr. Gathi Abraham, a Northwestern graduate currently a resident at George Washington University, Geethi Abraham, third year medical student at University
of Illinois, and Phylicia Abraham, a junior at Whitney Young Magnet High School, Chicago.
Philip will be attending Yale University, one of the top Ivy League Schools in US in fall of 2014.
Chicago KCS congratulates Mr. Philip Abraham on his outstanding achievement and wishes him all the best! (June 2014)
In the four year of High School Philip was in Wrestling, Chess and Tennis team. The School Men’s Tennis team won CITY Championship in 2014. His Varsity Chess team won the City for last two years competing in Illinois State competitions, Philip won the Academic Achievement Award.
For the Community, Philip volunteered at Presence Resurrection Medical center and May Fair Salvation Army and served as Religious Education teacher at Chicago Knanaya church.
Philip is the son of Thomas Abraham, supervisor at US Postal Service, and Girley Abraham, civil engineer for the City of Chicago Water Department, brother of
Dr. Gathi Abraham, a Northwestern graduate currently a resident at George Washington University, Geethi Abraham, third year medical student at University
of Illinois, and Phylicia Abraham, a junior at Whitney Young Magnet High School, Chicago.
Philip will be attending Yale University, one of the top Ivy League Schools in US in fall of 2014.
Chicago KCS congratulates Mr. Philip Abraham on his outstanding achievement and wishes him all the best! (June 2014)
Ajimol Puthenpurayil earns doctorate in nursing
Chicago KCS member, Ajimol Puthenpurayil,earned doctorate in nursing from Rush University in Chicago for her research on a new care model in emergency department designed to reduce the length of stay of psychiatric patients in hospital leading to a cost efficient and safe and quality care program.
Few health care institutions have already shown interest in this model. Ajimol works as the nursing director at Swedish Covenant Hospital in Chicago and as a professor at North Park University and serves as the President of Indian Nurses' Association of Illinois.
Chicago KCS congratulates Ajimol on her outstanding achievement and wishes her all the best.(June 2014)
Few health care institutions have already shown interest in this model. Ajimol works as the nursing director at Swedish Covenant Hospital in Chicago and as a professor at North Park University and serves as the President of Indian Nurses' Association of Illinois.
Chicago KCS congratulates Ajimol on her outstanding achievement and wishes her all the best.(June 2014)
GREESHAM KATTAPURATHU-Special Acheivement
One of the young adults from our community Mr.Greesham - son of Simon & Jessin Kattapurathu and Brother of 11th grader Shelly, has acheived the "Best Student" award from his school which is an Illinois states number 1 graded High School.
He was selected as the North Side College Prepratory High School's VALEDICTORIAN. NCPHSN school is ranked 2nd in the Mid-Western region and is ranked 28th Nationwide. Being selected to such an honered school itself is a very special and noteworthy acheivement. Also, In a recent list of "Illinois Raising Stars" compiled by Chicago Tribune news paper, Greesham was selected as a finalist. He is also the 'National Honors Society Vice-President' at his school.
Greesham has secured an admission for Engineering in the very famous Ivy Leauge CORNELL UNIVERSITY. We wish him the very best and extend our appretiation to the Kattapurathu family.
He was selected as the North Side College Prepratory High School's VALEDICTORIAN. NCPHSN school is ranked 2nd in the Mid-Western region and is ranked 28th Nationwide. Being selected to such an honered school itself is a very special and noteworthy acheivement. Also, In a recent list of "Illinois Raising Stars" compiled by Chicago Tribune news paper, Greesham was selected as a finalist. He is also the 'National Honors Society Vice-President' at his school.
Greesham has secured an admission for Engineering in the very famous Ivy Leauge CORNELL UNIVERSITY. We wish him the very best and extend our appretiation to the Kattapurathu family.
Shana Abraham & Sharon Abraham wins Beauty Pagent Awards
Shana and Sharon are daughters of Simon & Sibia Viruthikulangara of Bloomingdale, IL
Shana has won the title of Miss Pre-teen Chicago, organized by America's Beauty Pageants, on May 1, 2011, conducted at the Olympic Theater, in Cicero,IL
Thier second daughter, Sharon Abraham has won the 3rd runner-up in the "Miss Jr.Teen Chicago" pageant.
They both will be attending final nationwide pageant Competitions [Cities of America] to be organized in Orlando, Florida. Both Shana Abraham and Sharon Abraham are active member of KCJL Chicago and have won several awards in talent competions in previous years. Shana was the "KCS Kalathilakam 2008". They are proud to win this prestigious title as members of the Chicago Knanaya community.
Shana has won the title of Miss Pre-teen Chicago, organized by America's Beauty Pageants, on May 1, 2011, conducted at the Olympic Theater, in Cicero,IL
Thier second daughter, Sharon Abraham has won the 3rd runner-up in the "Miss Jr.Teen Chicago" pageant.
They both will be attending final nationwide pageant Competitions [Cities of America] to be organized in Orlando, Florida. Both Shana Abraham and Sharon Abraham are active member of KCJL Chicago and have won several awards in talent competions in previous years. Shana was the "KCS Kalathilakam 2008". They are proud to win this prestigious title as members of the Chicago Knanaya community.
Jeena Chorath named "Homecoming Queen" of Wayne State University
Jeena Chorath, daughter of Vasily and Sherly Chorath of Chicago, was recently named Wayne State University Homecoming Queen out of 30,000 students.
She is currently a senior undergraduate student at Wayne State University School of Medicine’s MedStart B.S. / M.D. combined program. She was chosen to represent the university for her academic excellence
and leadership on campus and personality, Jeena was elected by the student body and a panel of six interviewers from the dean’s office.
She has also been recognized as a Jesuit St. Ignatius Medalist for her volunteer work, ITW Fortune 500 company’s "student who promotes peace and desires to make the world a better place”, and President of Wayne State American Medical Student Association.
She is currently a senior undergraduate student at Wayne State University School of Medicine’s MedStart B.S. / M.D. combined program. She was chosen to represent the university for her academic excellence
and leadership on campus and personality, Jeena was elected by the student body and a panel of six interviewers from the dean’s office.
She has also been recognized as a Jesuit St. Ignatius Medalist for her volunteer work, ITW Fortune 500 company’s "student who promotes peace and desires to make the world a better place”, and President of Wayne State American Medical Student Association.