The Bhat Foundation brought together students, families, and members of Atlanta’s Kannada community for its Education Awards program on Sunday, July 19, 2026, at Eagles Landing Country Club in Stockbridge. Held in a ballroom overlooking the club’s championship golf course, the luncheon celebrated academic achievement and community service.
The Subra, Anu, and Kiran Bhat Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit established in 2019 by Georgia-based physicians Dr. Subramanya (Subra) Bhat and Dr. Anupurna (Anu) Bhat. Its philanthropic efforts focus primarily on scholarships for high school and premedical students, healthcare initiatives, and the promotion of Indian cultural heritage in the United States and India. It also supports community nonprofit activities and other community services. The foundation has also established endowment funds and built a library in rural India. It provides annual endowed scholarships for Clayton State University students and Emory University fellows, and supports causes and organizations worldwide throughout the year.
The hosts, Drs. Anu and Subra Bhat, welcomed the guests, including Kannada Koota board members Bharat Tejasvi, Ramesh Ugrappa, and Chaitra Bhat, who traveled from Alpharetta.
The ceremony opened with a message from Ramesh Babu Lakshmanan, the Consul General of India in Atlanta at that time. He was the chief guest but was unable to attend. His secretary, Shylaja Prashanth, read his message. This was followed by a song performed by Sripriya Srinivas, a former Bhat Educational Award recipient. Srinivas, a singer, musician, and bioengineering graduate of the University of Georgia, sang “Har Ghadi Badal Rahi Hai Roop Zindagi” from the 2003 film “Kal Ho Naa Ho.” Her performance encouraged students to live in the present and enjoy each moment, evoking the nostalgia of the song sung by Sonu Nigam and composed by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy.
Education and scholarships
The foundation awards certificates of merit and monetary scholarships to graduating high school students from the Henry County school system who are committed to pursuing medical careers. Scholarships are also awarded to high school students from the Karnataka community. Its annual scholarships recognize top-performing graduating seniors in Henry County for academic excellence and community impact.
The judges included Shreyes Melkote, a professor at Georgia Tech; Michael Little, associate vice president for development and external affairs at Clayton State University; Dr. Jacob Chacko, dean of the College of Business at Clayton State University; and Jason Jones, executive director of the Georgia Composite Medical Board. Recipients of the Anu and Subra Bhat Henry County Scholarships included Hailey Jinks, Nyique Hurdle, and Micah Wilson.
Dhruva Raghavendra, Siddanth Rohit, and Sinchana Santosh received the Late Shankari and Late Narasimhaiya Muteri Scholarships, established in memory of Dr. Anu Bhat’s parents. The three students submitted their applications through Kannada Koota. Their parents were also present at the celebration.
Community connections
The gathering offered an opportunity for members of the Kannada community to connect while celebrating the achievements of the younger generation. The scholarships recognized students’ hard work and supported their educational aspirations.
The award presentations were followed by students’ thank-you speeches, additional Bollywood songs, and a vegetarian luncheon.
By Monita Soni