The scholarship was instituted by Birla International in honor of Pendyala Vamsikrishna. Vamsi died in the September 11, 2001 attack on the World Trade Center. His wife, Prasanna Kalahasthi was unable to bear the tragic news of his death, and joined him a few weeks later. The scholarship was instituted in August 2002.

• The merit-cum-need based scholarship will be given to one student of the Birla Institute of Technology & Science

• All students of the University in their second year would be eligible for the scholarship

• The scholarship will be cover tuition fees for one year for the student

• The student will be chosen by a Scholarship Committee consisting of faculty at the Birla Institute of Technology & Science; an additional family member of Pendyala Vamsrikrishna may be invited to join this committee

• The student will be required to demonstrate financial need; this information will be gathered and processed by the Scholarship Committee

• Academic performance in the previous year will be the primary criteria for selection of the student, once the student has demonstrated financial need

• For further information, please contact Dr. RK Mittal, ARC Dean at the Birla Institute of Technology & Science.

Additional links

The CNN virtual memorial

A moving article on Vamsi & Prasanna

Messages for families of Vamsi and Prasanna

Download speech on Vamsi by classmate at the Oct '01 Reunion

When love stands bravely against unbearable grief - LA Times

The Pendyala Vamsikrishna Memorial Scholarship

The urban peace digital monument

University of Southern California news on Prasanna Kalahasthi