MEANT (Malayalee Engineers Association of North Texas- www.meant.org) has kicked off its scholarship drive for 2015.

MEANT, which was started in 1997, has been helping meritorious and needy students since 2005 to achieve their dreams to become an engineer, paying the entire tuition fees for 4 years.

The first scholarship recipient of this program, Mr. Ayyappadas from Trivandrum has graduated with 86% marks and first rank in mechanical engineering from College of Engineering, Trivandrum in 2009 and has since joined the Indian Space Research Organization.

Alias Pathrose, president of MEANT 2015 and a founding member, said that they have sponsored close to 15 students so far. â€œThis year, we have decided to expand our program to help students in lower classes and also adopt a primary school to provide basic amenities,â€ he said.

This year, MEANT is supporting Chanjody St. Sebastians LP School in Thrikkodithanam in Kottayam. The existing infrastructure was very poor without proper toilet facilities and drinking water, for the more than 100 students from poor families.

Meant has tied up with the Junior Chamber International, Nalukody chapter for this and has decided to donate Rs. 50000 for school rebuilding efforts. With the funding support from MEANT and others, the JCI has built bathrooms, a water purifying plant, and has done needed maintenance work for class rooms and computer lab

Anjana Nair, treasurer of MEANT, took the initiative to transfer funds to Kerala. Dr. Arun Kumar, past president of MEANT, handed over the money at a simple ceremony at the school. The headmistress and JCI officials thanked MEANT members and Board of Directors for 2015 for the help.

MEANT 2015 board of directors are: Alias Pathrose (president), Sathyajit Nair (president-elect), Shamin Mannathukaran (secretary), Anjana Nair (treasurer), Rajesh Ravindran (communications director), Dr. Vicas Nedumpillil, and Ramya Unnithan (directors).

MEANT kicks off scholarship drive, expand the program