Solan, March 25
Shoolini University honoured outstanding women achievers from its faculty and student community during the Vandana Sharma Memorial Award 2026, recognising their resilience, determination and excellence. Assistant Professor Dr Monika Prakash Singh from the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and BTech Biotechnology student Reet Sahni were declared winners in the faculty and student categories respectively.
The Women of Substance event celebrated inspiring journeys of women who have shown courage and commitment in overcoming personal and professional challenges. Associate Professor Dr Nitika Thakur from the School of Biotechnology secured the runner-up position in the faculty category, while Shenaya Sharma (BBA LLB) was named runner-up among students.
Sharing her emotional journey, Dr Monika P. Singh spoke about the challenges of balancing motherhood and academic responsibilities. She highlighted the guilt of being away from her young daughter while pursuing her PhD and research, despite facing societal expectations and family pressures. She dedicated the award to her daughter, Tianna Prakash Singh, calling her the source of her strength.
Dr Nitika Thakur encouraged women to pursue their ambitions with confidence and not be limited by societal norms. She stressed the importance of staying committed to one’s goals and passions.
Student winner Reet Sahni described herself as a “warrior” rather than a “survivor”, inspiring others to face their struggles with strength and courage. Runner-up Shenaya Sharma shared that her journey taught her the importance of self-reliance, a message that strongly resonated with fellow students.
Director Sustainability and Community Engagement Mrs Poonam Nanda said, through the Vandana Sharma Memorial Award, we aim to recognise and celebrate women who show extraordinary strength, resilience and determination in their journeys. Each story shared today is a powerful reminder that challenges can be turned into opportunities with courage and self-belief.
