Rabindra Vidya Niketan in Keonjhar celebrated its annual function on April 4, bringing together students, parents and faculty for an evening marked by vibrant performances and meaningful interactions.Attending the event as the chief guest, IIT Bhubaneswar director Shreepad Karmalkar encouraged students to stay curious, determined and grounded in their pursuits. His interaction with students of classes X, XI and XII during a dedicated session on career guidance was a key highlight, as he offered practical insights and addressed their queries.The school also honored academic excellence during the prize distribution ceremony, felicitating CBSE 2024-2025 toppers along with achievers in art, music, SGAT, athletics, kho-kho and taekwondo.The cultural segment added color and creativity to the evening, with students hosting the programme. A Saraswati Vandana set a serene tone, followed by a Ramayan-themed dance performance that depicted episodes from the epic through expressive storytelling.Among the standout presentations were a skit titled ‘A Grain of Truth’, which delivered a strong social message, and ‘Standing Strong for What Is Right’, highlighting women’s right to education and the importance of water conservation. Musical performances such as ‘Nadamurchana’ and ‘Bandish’ captivated the audience with their artistic depth. The grand finale, ‘Veiled Vitality and Visible Women’, celebrated women’s empowerment through cricket, drawing inspiration from the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.IIMC’s gold haulTwo students of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Dhenkanal, brought laurels to the institute by winning the first prize (gold) at the All India RiseUp PR 2026 contest organized by PRmoment.Maitri Garg and Aftab Ahmod, students of the Post Graduate Diploma in Corporate Communication and Brand Management (CCBM) programme, emerged as winners at the national-level competition, which saw participation from leading academic institutions across the country. Competing as Team Kairos, the duo topped the final round, which featured nine shortlisted teams selected after rigorous mentoring sessions and live pitching before an eminent jury of industry experts.Congratulating the winners, Anand Pradhan, regional director of IIMC Dhenkanal, said the achievement reflects the institute’s commitment to excellence and industry-oriented training.Odia Pakhya celebrationsMore than 600 students from colleges and universities from across Odisha took part in the state-level ‘Amrut Pidhi Saraswat Samaroha’ organized as part of the ongoing Odia Pakhya celebrations.The programme, organized by the Odisha Sahitya Akademi under the aegis of the department of Odia language, literature and culture, was held at BJB Autonomous College in Bhubaneswar on the 11th day of the fortnight-long celebrations.Students took part in competitions across three literary categories — short story, poetry and essay writing. The themes for the contests were Desh (Nation) for short story, Bharat Varsha for poetry and Mo Swapnara Odisha (Odisha of My Dreams) for essay writing. A total of 30 students selected as winners will be felicitated during the state-level Odia New Year celebrations on April 14.