Ushering in a hundred years of teaching, inspiring and empowering strong women, St Teresa’s College held a curtain-raiser to its centenary year which falls in 2025.
The programme commenced with a prayer song rendered by the college choir.
The principal, Dr. Lizzy Mathew welcomed the dignitaries – Dr. R Bindhu, Minister of Higher education and Social Justice, Govt. Of Kerala, Adv. M Anilkumar, Mayor of Kochi Corporation Dr. Saji Gopinath, Vice Chancellor, Kerala University of Digital Sciences Innovation and Technology, Rev. Dr. Sr. Vinitha CSST Provincial Superior and Manager of the college, Sr. Rose Margret, Local Manager, Sister Emiline, Director of the college, Dr. Sajimol Augustine, Senior Administrator of the College along with the Aluminae organization – ASTA, the Dean’s, HoDs, the Teachers, Press and media and the students.
Adv. M Anil Kumar, delivered the Presidential address for the day. He expressed his pride and honour on being invited to the ceremony. As the first citizen of Kochi, he expressed his delight to be part of the centenary programme of a college that has set it’s benchmark in terms of arts and academics. He spoke about the Assembly’s new initiative to produce more volunteers among college students and expressed his wish to find the contribution of more Teresians in it.
Rev. Dr. Sr. Vineetha CSST Provincial Superior addressed the gathering, by invoking the memory of the foundress, Mother Teresa of St. Rose of Lima. She spoke about the vision of Mother Teresa whose divine call was to educate and empower young women and how the college was formed in light of that vision in the year 1925. She spoke about the evolution of education that goes beyond classrooms into outside realms. She emphasised the need for Sustainable Development in all domains including education.
“St Teresa’s will be able to dream big and materialise their dreams into reality” – Sr. Vinitha concluded.
Dr. R Bindhu, Minister for Higher Education, unveiled the logo and tag line of the college centenary and delivered the inaugural address. She was immensely appreciative of St. Teresa’s College for being one of the best colleges for women in Kerala. She remembered the notable aluminae, Gowri Amma, Jhansi James, Jaysree Mishra,
Lida Jacob, Samvritha Sunil, Asin, Vijayalakshmi, Janaki Sreedharan, VK Karthika – emphasise the role the college has played in moulding talented and competent women. With immense pride, she acknowledged the first digital University which took shape in Kerala. She spoke about the government’s plan to make more accessible incubation centres to provide better laboratories and libraries for various colleges. Also, the emphasis of the government to encourage more translational research that includes a wide range of subjects pertaining to Kerala including agriculture, farming and fisheries. The minister also encouraged the students to use AI to broaden their creative capacity and emulate the youth who created robots for innovative purposes, including cleaning manholes.
Kerala has 19 colleges in the top 100 colleges of India and St. Teresa’s College is one among them is commendable, she observed. The minister concluded her speech by wishing the college all the best for it’s future endeavours.
Dr. Saji Gopinath, Vice-Chancellor, Kerala University of Digital Sciences Innovation and Technology, spoke about the need for more young women to be active in professional domains. “The only thing that lasts in the world is educational institutions”, he said. He concluded the speech by wishing more glory to the institution and launched the video showcasing the hundred-year journey of the college.
Dr. Sajimol Augustine, Senior Administrator of the College, and former principal felicitated the gathering. “We consider teaching as a mission, learning as a passion and excellence as a tradition” she observed.
Jovitta CS, the Magazine editor and the College Union Representative proposed the vote of thanks.
As a tribute to the college celebrating 100 years, the college choir comprising 100 women students, staff, alumni and parents performed under the guidance of Dr. Beena Job, former head of the English department and the current Dean for self-financed courses.