Young Achiever of the Year Award Sponsored by Nationwide Insurance

Farah Taslima is a 12-year-old, New York City girl who was a student of the Very Young Composers program. Members of the New York Philharmonic orchestra performed one of her pieces, Serenity Unleashed, during their historic music diplomacy tour of North Korea in February of 2008.

Ishan Mandani is a 12-year-old boy from Florida whose passion for the poor, elderly, and sick has lead him to make exemplary commitments to charitable organizations like Hospice, a terminally ill nursing home.

Science Achiever of the Year Award Sponsored by Air India

Dr. Anil Kaul’s current research involves developing new diagnostic tools for early detection of cancer, osteoporosis and has recently filed a disclosure on wireless monitoring of pregnancy.

Performing and Visual Arts Achiever of the Year Award Sponsored by Malani Jewelers

Ms. Shahzia Sikander was born in 1969 in Lahore, Pakistan. Sikander specializes in Indian and Persian miniature painting, a traditional style that is both highly stylized and disciplined.

Social Service Achiever of the Year Award Sponsored by Raja Foods

Ms. Purvi Shah has served as the Executive Director of Sakhi for South Asian Women since February 2002.  Sakhi is an organization that for the past nineteen years has worked to bud community awareness and change attitudes that perpetuate violence towards women.

Sports Achiever of the Year Award Sponsored by Raza Communications
Ms. Mohini Bhardwaj is one of the US Olympic team silver medalists for women's gymnastics.

Business Achiever of the Year Award Sponsored by Western Union
Ms. Shafi Saxena is the mastermind behind the successful Dove Skin campaign and their mission to make more women feel beautiful everyday.

Technology and IT Achiever of the Year Award Sponsored by Mpingi
Dr. S. Somasegar is the senior vice president of the Developer Division at Microsoft. S. Somasegar oversees the Microsoft India Development Center (IDC) in Hyderabad, India and the Microsoft Canada Development Center (MCDC) in Vancouver, Canada.

Entertainment Achiever of the Year Award Sponsored by Sony Entertainment Television

Ms. Lena Khan is a writer and director of several films, including, A Land Called Paradise, winner of the LinkTV's One Nation, Many Voices short film festival.

Literature Achiever of the Year Award Sponsored by Tilda
Mrs. Bapsi Sidhwa is one of South Asia's most distinguished writers. Her novels include The Crow Eaters, The Pakistani Bride, Cracking India, An American Brat, Water, and an anthology, City of Sin and Splendor: Writings in Lahore.

South Asian Personality of the Year Award Sponsored by Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club
Mr. Robin Raina is a leader in both the business and charity circles. On one end he is the Chairman of the Board, President and CEO of Ebix, Inc. as well as the Founder and President of the Robin Raina Foundation, a charity carrying out the largest private charity initiative in the Indian sub-continent. His charity has carried out the building of 6,000 homes, free of cost, for the underprivileged.