Praveen Kumar - ‘Top Print Student of South Zone’

Ludhiana, May 1, 2024: M. S. Praveen Kumar from College of Engineering Guindy, Anna University was declared as the winner and was presented with a certificate and honored with the title of 'Top Print Student South Zone', thereby securing his eligibility to participate in the National Finale.  In his address, Praveen expressed heartfelt gratitude to OPA, acknowledging their unwavering dedication. Describing the experience as truly remarkable, he underscored the wealth of knowledge gained throughout the process. Furthermore, he extended sincere appreciation to OPA for instituting the Print Olympiad, recognizing its invaluable role in providing participants with a substantial platform to showcase their talents and enhance their confidence. Praveen also advocated for the organization of more competitions akin to the Print Olympiad, proposing the inclusion of events like hackathons. Praveen said, “The Print Olympiad is helpful to express my views and learn so many things about our printing and packaging technology. Similarly, many more contests should be conducted to improve our thinking and knowledge.

“Stay updated with the emerging technologies of the world such as Artificial Intelligence and Data Science” S N Venkataraman, Chief Executive - ITC Packaging & Printing Business advised the printing students. Venkataraman was the Chief Guest during South Zone finale for the sixth edition of Print Olympiad held at College of Engineering Guindy, Anna University.  He encouraged the students to devise inventive strategies aimed at enhancing productivity by integrating these cutting-edge technologies into the workplace. He emphasized that leveraging these technologies could streamline workflow processes, minimizing routine tasks and empowering engineers and designers to prioritize innovation and validation.

The South Zone finale for the sixth edition of Print Olympiad is organized by the Offset Printers’ Association at College of Engineering Guindy, Anna University, Chennai with the support of Arasan Ganesan Polytechnic College, Sivakasi. Students and faculty from College of Engineering Guindy, Anna university, Institute of Printing technology, Chennai and Salesian Institute of Graphic and Arts, Chennai enthusiastically joined the event, eager to find out the winner of South Zone. Welcoming the audience Prof. Dr. K. Senthil Vadivu, HOD, Department of Printing and Packaging Technology, CEG, Anna University said, it is an honour for the department to be part of the Print Olympiad, the only competition of its kind anywhere in the world. 

Earlier, giving the captivating insight into the Print Olympiad, Prof. Kamal Chopra, the Project Chairman, articulating its core objectives with enthusiasm. He emphasized that the Print Olympiad not only stands as India's premier talent hunt in the printing realm but also boasts the distinction of being unparalleled globally. He highlighted that the competition's primary objective extends beyond selecting a winner; rather, it aims to inspire students of printing and packaging technology to broaden their learning beyond the confines of textbooks. This remarkable competition is made possible through collaborative partnerships with leading universities and printing institutions across the nation, solidifying its reputation as a trailblazer in the industry, inspiring innovation, and fostering excellence. Feeling inspired with her work, Prof Chopra presented a gold plated ‘Proud to be a Printer’ pin to R. Rashmitha, a third year UG student of CEG for her bold initiative in assuming the role of photographer, single handedly, for the event. 

The Guest of Honor, Mohan Kumar, CEO of Prakash Flexibles, underscored the significance of remaining abreast and adaptable in today's volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) world. His insightful words resonated deeply with the audience, inspiring them to embrace innovation and agility as guiding principles in an era defined by rapid transformation.

Provided a comprehensive overview, Dr. M. Nandakumar coordinator South Zone, said, Initially the preliminary round of the Print Olympiad for the students studying in the printing institutions of South India (Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry) was held at virtual platform to select top five students of the region through MCQ test. He congratulated (l to r) Sreesankar E from Govt Polytechnic College, Palakkad, Shoranur, B Madhumitha, Avinashilingam Institute for Home Sc & Higher Edu. for Women, Coimbatore, Janis D and Praveen Kumar M S both from the Anna University, Chennai on being eligible for the South Zone Finale. The Chief Guest S. N. Venkataraman, along with the Guest of Honor, S. Mohan Kumar, presented certificates to these top five print students. Additionally, participation certificates were distributed to the first-round participants. 

The South Zone Finale unfolded with an engaging oral round, where students were presented with topics selected by the judges and tasked with delivering presentations within a designated timeframe. The event commenced with the announcement of five diverse topics, granting participants the flexibility to select one according to their preference. Each student was then allocated a preparatory period, after which they were expected to deliver a speech lasting between five to seven minutes on their chosen subject. Following the presentations, a question-and-answer session ensued, complemented by an audience poll to determine the winner based on predefined criteria. After the oral competition, judges shared their insights, commending all participants for their active involvement and offering encouragement for their future endeavours. The members of the eminent impartial five-member jury were, K. Vipinendran, Assoc. Prof. Printing, Anna University, Dr. K. Senthil Vadivu, Prof & Head Printing at Anna University, D. Bhuvanesswari, Deputy Works Manager Printing & Stationery, Government of Tamilnadu Dr. B. Kumar, former Professor Anna University, and G N Visvakumar, Rajams Digital Offset Prints.

In his concluding remarks, Ashwani Gupta, Co-Chairman of the Print Olympiad project, expressed deep gratitude for the invaluable support of CEG, Anna University, towards this noble endeavour. He extended heartfelt thanks to the Chief Guest, Guest of Honor, jury members, and industry delegates for their unwavering support in nurturing the future leaders of the printing and packaging industry. The conclusion of the event was marked by the rendition of the national anthem.