A Class XII student from the School of Eminence, Mall Road, Amritsar, has brought laurels to Punjab after being selected for Mission ShakthiSAT, an international student satellite programme that will bring together participants from 108 countries to collaboratively design and build a satellite.
The student, Tia Gaurav, earned her place in the prestigious programme after successfully clearing a multi-stage selection process. As part of the mission, she will undergo specialised training near New Delhi, where participants will receive hands-on instruction in satellite design, assembly, integration and testing before contributing to the development of a satellite for the international project.
Sharing her experience, Tia said she prepared for nearly 10 months, dedicating about an hour each day to practical work in the school laboratory. She described the interview round as the toughest stage of the selection process and credited her teachers’ guidance and her consistent hard work for helping her secure a place in the programme.
Calling the opportunity a matter of immense pride, Tia said she is excited to work alongside students from 108 countries on a common space project. She added that she hopes to pursue a career in space science and contribute to India’s scientific and technological advancement in the future.
The school’s principal and faculty members congratulated Tia on her achievement, describing it as a proud moment for the institution, Amritsar and Punjab. They said her selection reflects the growing capabilities of students studying in government schools and demonstrates that they can compete successfully on international platforms when provided with quality education, proper mentoring and access to modern learning facilities.
Teachers also expressed confidence that Tia’s achievement would inspire more students to pursue careers in science, technology and space research while strengthening confidence in Punjab’s government school education system.