Apeejay Schools’ grand investiture ceremony marks new chapter

On August 21, 2024, Apeejay School, Noida saw a vibrant yet sombre ceremony — the much-awaited investiture ceremony of the composite Interact Club. This prestigious event brought together the vibrant communities — Apeejay School, Pitampura; Apeejay School, Faridabad 21-D; and Apeejay School, Noida. The event was yet another significant landmark event under the stewardship of Mrs Sushma Paul Berlia, Chairman, Apeejay Education, and Chancellor Apeejay Stya University. The event was a significant milestone in the calendar of Apeejay Education as it celebrated the rich legacy and the bright future of its students and educators.

The ceremony began with the school band providing a warm musical welcome to the esteemed guests, including luminaries from the Rotary Club of Delhi Premier. The event unfolded in the school’s auditorium, beautifully decorated to reflect the importance of the occasion. 

The ceremony was honoured by the esteemed presence of several notable figures like Rtn Dr Neha Berlia, Co-Promoter of Apeejay Stya & Svran Group and Pro-Chancellor of Apeejay Stya University and Chair of Interact/Rotaract at the Rotary Club of Delhi Premier; Rtn Pankaj Murarka, President of the Rotary Club of Delhi Premier; Rtn Dr Sonia Lal Gupta, Director and Co-Chair of Rotaract/Interact at the Rotary Club of Delhi Premier; Rtn Atul Dua, Director of the Rotary Club of Delhi Premier; and Rtn Atul Bhargava, a Member of the Rotary Club of Delhi Premier.

The guests were called upon to light the ceremonial lighting of the lamp, which represents the very same light that Apeejay Education wishes to share with its students in the form of knowledge and career guidance. The event witnessed numerous eminent speakers who all echoed and accentuated only one aspect of the event — leadership and responsibility.

Ms Ritu Kohli, Principal, Apeejay School, Noida, warmly extended her welcome to all her guests. She, very articulately, spoke about the legacy left behind by Founder-Chairman, Dr Stya Paul and the proactive leadership of Mrs Sushma Paul Berlia in steering towards a richly endowed future for students of the Apeejay.

Dr Neha Berlia addressed the audience and introduced Rtn. Pankaj Murarka, the President of the Rotary Club of Delhi Premier. She emphasised the critical role of human values within the Apeejay family and discussed how the ideals of selflessness, compassion, and inner strength, as championed by Swami Vivekananda, serve as enduring pillars that continue to inspire and guide the entire Apeejay community. She also highlighted the importance of developing leadership skills among Interact Club members.

Dr Berlia expressed her gratitude to Principals Ms Ritu Kohli, Ms Veena Goel, and Ms Priti Wason for their exceptional leadership in organising the distinguished event and throughout the academic term. She commended the Interactors for their outstanding contributions during the 2023-24 session and welcomed the new teams of Interact Clubs, extending her best wishes for their future endeavours.

Rtn Pankaj Murarka’s speech was a great inspiration for the young leaders. He drew upon his own experiences and views on leadership inspired by Ralph Waldo Emerson’s words on the glory of Integrity and pioneering leadership were well-gelled with the audience of students and guests.

This was followed by setting the auditorium ablaze with mesmerising colours and activities in the form of a typical Kathiawadi Folk Dance by the students of Apeejay School, Noida. This spellbound dance not only brought to the fore the talents of the students but also, in a way, served as a dais to express and exuberate on India’s rich cultural heritage. Next in line was an engaging mime act by the students of Apeejay School, Pitampura. A silent expression of an epic heroic tale of Rani Laxmibai — it is an absolute masterpiece, holding the audience spellbound with the powerful conveyance of its courage and valour.

A great group song on the theme of sensibility toward the environment and sustainability was also sung by Apeejay School, Faridabad 21-D, members, which kept the audience in awe. Their harmonious voices travelled the auditorium in unison, echoing the message loud and clear on relevance to the conversation about the environment and the role that the youth have to take in leading the same.

Changing of Guard

The outgoing Interact Club Presidents from the three Apeejay Schools — Bhavya Jain, Drishti Sharma, and Sarthak Singhal — presented their reports, highlighting the key achievements, awareness campaigns, sustainable practices centred on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and philanthropic efforts from the 2023 session. Following their presentations, the event transitioned to the formal installation of the new Interact Club teams. In a ceremonial act, the outgoing presidents passed the presidential collars to their successors, symbolizing the transfer of leadership responsibilities.

Following their presentations, the event transitioned to the formal installation of the new Interact Club teams. In a ceremonial act, the outgoing presidents passed the presidential collars to their successors, symbolising the transfer of leadership responsibilities.

The new Interact teams were introduced and administered oaths by President Rtn Murarka. This was followed by the group photograph of the new teams with the esteemed Rotarians along with their Principals.

Course of Future Action

The newly inducted officials shared their vision for the coming year while stipulating some gentle activities they have in mind and which they seek to make a difference in the local and global arena. They spoke strongly of their will to enhance the productivity of clubs through innovative projects and the album of community services, hence declaring they are ready to lead by strength and purpose.

A vote of thanks was presented by Ms Manjari Rattan, In-charge of the Interact Club, who had very valuable words full of thanks and recognition for all of those who made the event a success with their hard work and dedication. She further added in her closing remarks that it was the sense of cooperation this very ceremony had installed, which hopefully will carry forward in the future activities in which the Interact Clubs are into.

In the end, everybody walked out with the power of creating a memory that stays alive forever as a reflective feature of the rich legacy of Apeejay Education and its commitment to creating leaders for tomorrow. More than just a formal process, the ceremony was replete with inspiration: replete with the celebration of leadership, cultural heritage, and shared aspiration while setting a benchmark to showcase what educational excellence and community service, together, could achieve.