Rooted in Love, Blooming in Peace: VT Seva Maryland Hosts Highly Successful 3rd Annual SAMATHA Celebration

By: Sobana Vasudevan, VT Seva Maryland Branch Director

VT Seva Maryland successfully hosted its 3rd Annual SAMATHA Celebration, centered around the deeply meaningful theme, Rooted in Love, Blooming in Peace.

The prestigious event brought together local community leaders, distinguished scientists, passionate youth volunteers, and dedicated advocates to celebrate service, culture, and philanthropy.

Government Recognitions: Honoring Our Community Impact

A crowning moment of the evening was the presentation of an official proclamation from the local government. Frederick County Council President Brad Young formally recognized the SAMATHA event, commending VT Seva's profound impact on youth development, humanitarian service, and civic engagement across Maryland.

In addition to this county honor, VT Seva Maryland was deeply privileged to receive an official Governor’s Citation from the State of Maryland. These prestigious recognitions serve as a powerful testament to the hard work of our volunteers and the lasting positive impact our initiatives bring to the community.

The Visionaries Behind the Scenes: Our Advisory Leadership

While our youth leaders shone brightly on stage, the overwhelming success of SAMATHA 2026 was powered by a dedicated team of advisors, directors, and officers. Working tirelessly behind the scenes, this team expertly orchestrated the event's overall strategy, administrative governance, financial compliance, and community outreach.

• Mr. Vasudevan Akkoor (Youth Director, VT Seva Maryland):

  
  

  Serving as the foundational operational bridge for the event, Mr. Akkoor played a monumental role in designing and executing the overarching strategies for SAMATHA. He took the lead on speaker relations, successfully assembling our distinguished guest panel, and engineered the high-impact operational framework that transforms community funding into youth opportunities. As an exceptional mentor, he ensures our youth leaders strictly adhere to VT Seva policies while guiding them through crucial best practices. He is a trusted advisor for both adult and youth leads, offering strategic direction, career pathway recommendations, and highly effective conflict resolution by listening impartially to all sides. On the day of the event, Mr. Akkoor seamlessly managed guest relations, supported volunteers, and monitored venue operations to guarantee absolute success. Furthermore, his exceptional presentation skills allowed him to effectively highlight and elevate the individual talents of our team members on a public stage.

• Mr. Srinivasa Putthana (Secretary & Board Officer):

  
  

  Serving as our official custodian of records and governance administrator, Mr. Putthana ensured the structural integrity of the entire event. He managed all venue bookings, collaborated directly with facility hosts, and navigated the complex logistical demands required to securely house our large celebration. Beyond his administrative duties, Mr. Putthana excelled at vendor conflict resolution and remained on his feet throughout the entire event. From arrival to departure, he actively moved across the venue to support our volunteer teams and maintain exceptional crowd management.

• Mr. Dillibabu (Treasurer & Board Officer):

  
  

  Serving as our primary financial officer, Mr. Dillibabu provided the vital fiscal oversight necessary to safeguard the event's financial health. He developed the initial event budgets, managed operational expenses across all committees, and ensured complete transparency and accountability for every dollar raised. Beyond his critical financial duties, he also took full ownership of the audio and projector setup on the day of the event - a highly demanding and labor-intensive task. We are immensely grateful to Mr. Dillibabu for his tireless volunteerism and multi-faceted dedication.

• Mrs. Prashamsa Muppavaram (Donor Engagement Leader & Education Branch Coordinator):

  
  

  Mrs. Muppavaram skillfully secured the financial foundation of SAMATHA by driving corporate and individual sponsorship campaigns. Her creative contributions were equally vital; she penned the master emcee script and carefully mentored our youth speakers to ensure they commanded the stage with confidence. A sound professional, she brings exceptional corporate insight to our branch, helping to shape a stronger volunteer network. She is a proactive problem solver who expertly identifies and resolves organizational gaps. Beyond her stellar leadership, she is a trusted friend and go-to teammate whose timely, insightful questions consistently inspire and elevate the entire VT Seva Maryland team. On any given day, she is ready to roll up her sleeves to provide hands-on help for any event, serving as an invaluable second-in-command who always has my back. A potential candidate to oversee and lead youth initiatives in Monrovia.

• Mrs. Deepa Parida (Outreach Lead & Volunteer Manager):  

  
  

  Mrs. Parida serves as the backbone of our volunteer operations, expertly vetting and deploying our workforce to eliminate any friction on the day of the event. She approaches every challenge with unmatched patience and a warm smile, paying close attention to even the finest logistical details. Once she commits to a task, her dedication is absolute, making her a leader the Maryland team can completely rely upon. In her role as Outreach Lead, she builds critical partnerships with local vendors and community organizations. She is exceptionally responsible and maintains high standards for accountability, rigorously tracking volunteer hours so that every individual's hard work is fairly documented and rewarded. Her structured yet supportive management style ensures our team stays motivated and productive.

• Mrs. Sandhya Kakani (Feeding Hope Program Lead & New Market Youth Lead):

  
  

  Mrs. Kakani skillfully anchors our grassroots efforts, driving student-led initiatives and expanding our presence into the New Market area to bolster statewide food-security programs. She defines patience and empathy, always making time to listen to and support others. During SAMATHA, she was actively on the move, meticulously overseeing venue logistics to ensure every guest and volunteer felt welcomed and cared for. Her exceptional leadership successfully united the entire New Market team, and she makes it a priority to celebrate everyone’s contributions. A highly collaborative and generous leader, Mrs. Kakani frequently crosses over to assist other departments and never turns down a request for help.

• Mrs. Padmaja Vedantam, Mrs. Ramya and Mrs. Sudha Konduri (Samatha Decoration Leads):

  
  

  As our creative designers, they established the visual identity, thematic elegance, and cultural ambiance of the showcase. They directed the design and setup of the main stage, interactive photo booths, and welcoming entrance boards, transforming the theme "rooted in love, blooming in peace" into a vibrant physical reality using traditional accents and sustainable materials. They also successfully managed a team of youth volunteers to coordinate props and signage safely within strict venue timelines, beautifully elevating audience engagement.

• Mrs. Swetha Timmuru & Mrs. Chaitanya Arem (Cultural Leads & Heritage Coordinators):

  
  

  Serving as the creative storytellers of the evening, they were responsible for organizing and preserving cultural authenticity on stage. They carefully coordinated the traditional performances and diverse artistic showcases, ensuring that the programming remained deeply rooted in heritage and inclusivity.

• Mrs. Shwetha Keranahalli (Communication Lead):

  
  

  Mrs. Keranahalli serving as the central public voice of the celebration, driving the public narrative and non-profit brand consistency. She manages all digital and print promotional channels, curated compelling impact stories, and steered media outreach to maximize the event's regional visibility.

  
  

• The Event Lead Coordinators - comprising Mr. Murali Divi, Mrs. Bhanu Priya Viyyuri, Mr. Aditya Komperla, Mr. Venkat Konnala, Mrs. Swathi Chava, Mrs. Sirisha Chintalapatti, and Mrs. Mounika Shriramoju -

  
  

  Act as the main logistical hub coordinating venue operations, vendor contracts, sound production, and specialized internal committees. Within this team, Mr. Murali Divi directs general decor, crowd management, and volunteer care, while Mrs. Bhanu Priya Viyyuri manages the technical decoration setup. Mr. Aditya Komperla controls microphone and sound operations, Venkat Konnala handles post-event cleanup, and Swathi Chava bridges both the initial setup and final cleaning workflows. Additionally, Sirisha Chintalapatti leads the dedicated chess competition, and Mounika Shriramoju coordinates guest management and registration. Ultimately, they serve as the vital conductors who manage the master timeline, direct rehearsals, and troubleshoot on-site challenges to ensure that the visual efforts of the decoration team, the marketing of the communication team, and the dedication of the volunteers unite seamlessly to deliver a polished, impactful guest experience.

Impact and Donor Appreciation

This incredible program is made possible entirely through the generosity of our community and corporate donors. Through the SAMATHA 2026 initiative, VT Seva Maryland successfully raised enough funds to sponsor the education of 22 visually challenged and underprivileged students.

We extend our special gratitude to the following key donors, each of whom generously sponsored the education of at least one visually challenged student: 

• AATS Financial – Mrs. Teja Pusunuri

  
  

  

• Minnodi LLC – Mrs. Santhana Shanmugam

        Minnodi LLC partners with community organizations to remove barriers to tech

        education. Founded on the principle of seva through skill-building, we offer no-cost IT

        training programs for job seekers, youth, women, and professionals re-entering the

        workforce. Our flagship 10-day “IT Basics” course has helped over 500 DMV residents

        begin careers in cloud computing, networking, and IT. We are honored to collaborate with VT Seva to expand access to digital literacy and create pathways to economic

        empowerment.

• Frederick Desi District – Mr. Sam Mullapudi

• Uday Nasini Photography – Mr. Uday Nasini

If you are looking to capture your next big milestone and make memories forever, we want to give a huge shoutout to Uday nasini photography business. This is a fantastic local photography and videography service based in Frederick area and also serving DMV area specializing in everything from stunning event photography to cinematic video, and drone aerials. Whether you need a quick portrait session or a full crew for your next big event, they deliver amazing, high-resolution galleries. Get his contact and check out their work to capture and create your memories forever!

The beautiful moments from our event were captured perfectly by Uday ji. You can view and download the complete photo gallery here: VT Seva Annual Day 2026 Photo

Gallery. https://uday.smugmug.com/VTSEVA-2026-Temp-folder/n-HtvSmc

• Best Brains Learning Centers (Monrovia) – Mrs. Swathi Kapoor

  

  At Best Brains of Monrovia we specialize in teaching students ages 3 to 14 Math, English, Abacus, and Coding. Our innovative teachers and staff help children reach their full potential.

• Roots Product Lab Associates LLC

• Swaraalaya School of Music and Arts 

• Mrs. Aparna Hemchandra

• Mr. Ashok Aedla

• Mr. BalaPrakash Rajan

• Mr. Dillibabu Pammi Venkateswaralu

• Mr. Chandu Kankanala

• Mrs. Swathi Chava

• Mrs. Prashamsa Muppavaram

• Mr. Adharsh Nair

• Mrs. Anjana Konduri

Volunteer Felicitations

VT Seva's core mission thrives on grassroots community and family involvement. To honor this spirit, our distinguished chief guests presented special felicitations to our dedicated community leaders, individual youth helpers, and core family teams (including students, mothers, fathers, and siblings) who stepped up to serve together. 

The following volunteers were recognized for their outstanding service, sorted in alphabetical order along with their respective local chapters: 

• Abhinav Komperla (The Komperla Family – Monrovia)

• Abhinav Sathvik Taritla (New Market)

• Adithiya Venkatakrishnan (New Jersey)

• Akanksha Subramaniam (The Subramaniam Family – Monrovia)

• Akul Pallerla & Anay Pallerla (The Pallerla Family – Monrovia)

• Anwesha Parida (The Paridas Family – Monrovia)

• Arjun Chintalapati & Nayan Chintalapati (The Ratnakar Family – Monrovia)

• Aryan Krishna Shriramoju (The Shriramoju Family – Monrovia)

• Chetan Sai Kankanala (The Kankanala Family – New Market)

• Dillibabu (The Dillibabu Family – Monrovia)

• Divya Putthana & Rohan Putthana (The Putthana Family – Monrovia)

• Eshaan Konala (The Konala Family – Monrovia)

• Ethan Joseph & Neil Joseph (New Market)

• Inika Keranahalli (The Keranahalli Family – Monrovia)

• Isheeta Shree Taritla (New Market)

• Joshua Cabral (Monrovia)

• Kaviya Karthick Kumar & Dheesidan Karthick Kumar (Monrovia)

• Keerthi Siripurapu (Monrovia)

• Manasvi Divi & Tejasvi Divi (The Divi Family – Monrovia)

• Misha Nabeel (The Nabeel Family – Monrovia)

• Mridula Vasudevan & Taara Vasudevan (The Vasudevan Family – Monrovia)

• Rathish Pandian (New Market)

• Reyansh Takallapally (New Market)

• Sameer Khan (The Khan Family – Monrovia)

• Sana Shenoy & Family (Monrovia)

• Sanjay Guda (The Guda Family – Monrovia)

• Vihaas Ventrumulli (The Ventrumulli Family – New Market)

• Vihaan Krishnan & Ishaan Krishnan (New Market)

• Vishan Das Mukkapally (The Mukkapally Family – Monrovia)

• A warm welcome and heartfelt thank you to our newly formed VT Seva Maryland New Market volunteer team! Established through the dedicated efforts of Sandhya ji and Chetan, this dynamic group is already rolling up their sleeves to create a meaningful community impact. From tree planting initiatives and toy drives to cultivating and selling organic plants, their energy is truly inspiring.

  
  

  In fact, during our recent Samatha Day event, the team’s organic plant sales successfully raised enough funds to sponsor meals for the entire student body at Netra Vidyalaya for the day! Thank you to the entire New Market team for your outstanding dedication and incredible start.

Special Competitions and Events

Beyond the main stage, the SAMATHA celebration featured a diverse lineup of engaging tournaments and shows, expertly coordinated by our youth and community leaders:

• Chess Tournament

  
  

  • Led by: Arjun Chintalapati & Mrs. Sirisha Chintalapati

    
    

    • Tournament Report by Arjun Chintalapati: 

      
      

      The 2026 SAMATHA Chess Tournament concluded as a resounding success, filled with memorable moments, laughter, and high-level strategy. Serving as the event lead, Arjun Chintalapati oversaw close to 30 enthusiastic participants of all ages. The tournament showcased an incredible array of skills, highlighting intense, high-pressure games where participants displayed fierce competitiveness while maintaining a wonderful spirit of sportsmanship.

      
      

      Reflecting on the leadership role, Arjun noted gaining invaluable personal growth in logistics, time management, and multi-sectional tournament coordination. Special recognition goes to Akul, Aryan, Deechu, Collin, and Abhinav for their indispensable assistance in organizing tournament boards, managing the room atmosphere, and solving technical issues during active play.

      
      

      Heartfelt appreciation is also extended to the entire VT Seva Maryland core team, whose collective marketing and logistical planning made this annual tournament possible. We look forward to welcoming everyone back to the tables in 2027!

      
      

• Spelling Bee Competition

  
  

  • Led by  Akul Pallerla & Anay Pallerla

    

    

  

  • 

    Event Report by Student Leads: Akul Pallerla & Anay Pallerla

On June 20, 2026, we had the wonderful opportunity to organize and conduct the VT Seva Samatha Spelling Bee for students from Kindergarten through 8th Grade. It was an exciting and deeply rewarding experience to see so many young participants challenge themselves, master new words, and showcase their skills on stage.

We extend our warmest congratulations to all of our participants. Standing before an audience to compete takes tremendous courage and confidence. Every student should be incredibly proud of their determination and effort, as they all beautifully demonstrated the true spirit of learning and growth.

An event like this requires a dedicated community, and we extend a heartfelt thank you to the parents and families whose encouragement created such a positive environment. We express our sincere gratitude to Mrs. Sobana Vasudevan, VT Seva MD Branch Director, for her trusted guidance, and to Chetan Sai Kanakanala for co-facilitating the event to ensure it ran smoothly. Most importantly, a special thank you goes to our mom, Prashamsa Muppavaram, for her unwavering support, motivation, and belief in us throughout the planning and execution stages.

We are incredibly grateful to VT Seva Samatha for providing this platform. Managing this project allowed us to develop vital leadership, teamwork, and communication skills while actively giving back to our community. Thank you to everyone who participated, volunteered, and supported the Spelling Bee, and we look forward to welcoming even more young spellers in future events!

• Kids Fashion Show 2026 - Brings Confidence and Creativity to the Stage!

  
  

  • Event Leads : Taara Vasudevan & Mridula Vasudevan

    
    

    

    
    

    

    
    
    
    
    
    

    Event Report Prepared by Mridula Vasudevan and Taara Vasudevan

Our recent Annual Day celebration featured a vibrant and heartwarming Kids Fashion Show! On June 20, 2026, students from across Maryland took the runway, showcasing incredible confidence, creativity, and enthusiasm.

The children arrived dressed in their finest attire, representing a beautiful blend of styles. The audience cheered for everything from elegant traditional Indian outfits to imaginative character costumes—including inspiring roles like police officers and local community heroes. Each participant brought their unique personality to the stage, proudly celebrating individuality and self-expression.

We are immensely proud of all the participants for their courage to perform in front of family, friends, and our community. Huge congratulations to the children who took home prizes for their exceptional hard work and creativity! We also want to recognize every single child who participated; stepping onto that stage makes each and every one of you a winner.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to the children, parents, volunteers, and supporters who made this event possible. Your energy and encouragement created a joyful, unforgettable experience. We cannot wait to see you all again at our upcoming events!

• Women's Ramp Walk Show

  
  

  • Led by: Akanksha Subramaniam & Mridula Vasudevan

Cultural Highlights and Teacher of the Year

The prestigious SAMATHA stage came alive with incredible classical showcases and musical expressions. A primary highlight of the evening was the special announcement honoring Vidushi Aparna Gurumurthy of the Nrityasamarpan School of Bharatanrityam as the SAMATHA 2026 Teacher of the Year for her exceptional dedication and contribution to arts education and community service. 

We extend a heartfelt thank you to all of our participating academies and educators for their tireless support in bringing their schools to perform:

• Nrityasamarpan School of Bharatanrityam – Vidushi Aparna Gurumurthy (SAMATHA 2026 Teacher of the Year)

  • https://www.facebook.com/aparnaguru21/

  • https://www.nrityasamarpan.com/about-the-teacher/

• Padma Paadam School of Performing Arts Inc. – Vidushi Thejashwini Ramarao

  • https://ppspa.org/

  • https://ppspa.org/teacher

    

  

• Swaraalaya School of Music and Arts – Vidushi Sobana Vasudevan

  (Founder & Artistic Director, Swaraalaya School of Music and Arts)
  

  • Sobana Vasudevan brings an extraordinary musical lineage to her teaching, having mastered Carnatic classical music under Guru Radha Vishwanathan, the daughter of the iconic trailblazer M.S. Subbulakshmi.

    
    

  • For more than 20 years, Sobana has shared her expertise with diverse students of all ages. Her teaching philosophy bridges history and innovation: she preserves the traditional guru-shishya parampara while dynamically adapting her curriculum to meet current cultural and educational trends. Through Swaraalaya, Sobana goes beyond teaching technical skill - she inspires global citizens to explore the profound beauty, science, and cultural identity embedded within Indian classical arts.

• Performers:

• Thumak Dance Academy

• Other individual group performers

• Youth Leaders Singing performances

• Youth Leaders dance performances

• Other Solo Performers

Distinguished Guests and Speakers

The celebration was honored by the presence of several prominent Maryland leaders who shared inspiring insights and voiced their strong support for VT Seva’s humanitarian mission:

• Mr. Brad W. Young:

  
  

  President of the Frederick County Council and lifelong financial planner. He brought decades of civic expertise from his prior leadership on the local Board of Education and the Frederick Community College Board of Trustees.

• Ms. Christina Wong Poy:

  
  

  Administrative Director for the Governor's Commissions on Asian Pacific American and South Asian American Affairs. She highlighted the vital state resources connecting minority constituents to economic and healthcare opportunities.

• Dr. Yang Yu:

  
  

  Chair of the Governor's Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs and Dean of the Liberal Studies Division at Howard Community College. She emphasized state-level advocacy and community resource connectivity.

• Dr. Balamurugan Kuppusamy:

  
  

  Acclaimed cancer researcher at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and Principal of the Frederick Tamil School, recognized for his contributions to both oncology and grassroots cultural preservation.

• Dr. Mahesh Aitha:

  
  

  Biomedical research scientist at the NIH’s National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) and dedicated education advocate, known for his work with the ManaBadi Telugu language program and legislative advocacy for inclusive curricula.

• Dr. Amit Kumar:

  
  

  NCI Program Director and Founder of Urbana STEMM. He was celebrated for his federal scientific portfolio management and his award-winning local youth mentorship initiatives.

• Mrs. Kathleen Reilly:

  
  

  Highly accomplished Speech-Language Pathologist with over 20 years of experience helping children overcome communication challenges. The VT Seva family extended its deepest gratitude to Mrs. Reilly for her invaluable time, unwavering support, and beautiful dedication to community service. 

• A huge thank you to the incredible crew from Station 17 of the Frederick County Division of Fire and Rescue Services! They joined us at our VT Seva Maryland Samatha event from 1:00 to 3:00 PM, giving our community members and youth wonderful up-close tours of their fire apparatus. We are deeply grateful to our local first responders for taking the time to show their support and engage so meaningfully with our team!

• A heartfelt thank you to Ms. Miranda Sly, School Counselor at Urbana High School, for attending and supporting our recent event! Ms. Sly serves as our dedicated advisor for the UHS VT Seva Club, and we are incredibly grateful for her ongoing guidance, mentorship, and support of our youth leaders.

  
  

  

• A huge thank you to Kicks 4 Karate for joining us and putting on an incredible live demonstration at our event! Our attendees were absolutely thrilled by their skills and energy. Here is a brief glimpse into their fantastic performance!

Award Ceremony

Samatha Event : Competition Awards and Recognition

The Samatha Day event successfully concluded with formal award ceremonies celebrating the outstanding achievements of our community participants. Prizes and certificates were distributed across four major competitions, recognizing excellence in strategy, academics, and creative self-expression.

We officially commend the participants and award recipients of the following programs:

1. Chess Tournament: Recognizing exceptional tactical and strategic skills among our competitors.

   
   

   

   
   

2. Spelling Bee: Commending advanced academic focus, preparation, and linguistic excellence.

   
   

   

   
   

3. Kids Fashion Show: Celebrating youth confidence, individuality, and creative presentation on stage.

   
   

   

4. Women's Ramp Walk: Honoring community leadership, grace, and cultural expression.

We extend our gratitude to the event organizers and volunteers who ensured the smooth execution of these competitive segments and their corresponding ceremonies.

📊 SAMATHA 2026: Youth Fundraising Leaderboard & Impact Update

Our VT Seva Maryland youth leaders have shown incredible dedication to supporting the Netra Vidyalaya School for the Blind in India! With an individual goal set at $365 to fund one full student education, here is where our team stands. https://givebutter.com/vt-seva-maryland-samatha-2026/

Netra Vidyalaya provides visually challenged students with standard educational tools and specialized digital literacy training. These incredible students continue to defy all limits - learning to navigate laptops using audio-screen readers, mastering coding, and routinely outperforming sighted students in state-level board exams and sports competitions.

🏆 Exemplary Leadership: Met & Exceeded Goals

A massive congratulations to our top fundraisers who completely smashed past their initial goals to maximize their philanthropic impact for these brilliant students:

• Mridula: $2,429 (Top Campaign Leader)

• Taara: $1,382

• Anwesha: $440

• Abhinav: $440

• Akul: $425

• Tejasvi: $400

• Manasvi: $386

• Keerthi: $384

• Anay: $377

🎯 Mission Accomplished: Met Goal Exactly

Kudos to these youth leaders who successfully reached their baseline milestone, each ensuring a full year of specialized education, technology, etc., for a Netra Vidyalaya student:

• Arjun: $365

• Akanksha: $365

• Divya: $365

• Chetan: $365

🌱 In Progress & Gaining Momentum

These dedicated team members have launched their campaigns and are actively rallying our community to build up their sponsorship totals:

• AryanKrishna: $65

• Misha: $25

• Vishan Das: $25

• Vihaan: $25

We also look forward to supporting Kaviya, Inika, Ishaan, and Sameer as they kickstart their upcoming outreach efforts! Thank you to all of our incredible youth volunteers, parents, and donors for driving such a profound civic impact across Maryland.

Conclusion

VT Seva Maryland extends its heartfelt thanks to all attendees, donors, performers, and distinguished guests who made SAMATHA 2026 a resounding success. Together, we continue to cultivate a global community rooted in love and blooming in peace.

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