December 18, 2016

Alumnus, vice chair of Indian conglomerate gives keynote address at Purdue winter commencement

New graduate congratulated A new graduate receives a congratulatory handshake upon receiving his degree during Purdue University's winter commencement ceremonies on Sunday Dec. 18). (Purdue University photo by Charles Jischke) Download image

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — GV Sanjay Reddy, vice chair of GVK Industries in India and Purdue alumnus, gave the keynote speech for the winter commencement ceremonies Sunday (Dec. 18) at the university's West Lafayette campus.

Reddy spoke during two ceremonies in Purdue's Elliott Hall of Music. He addressed a graduating class that included approximately 1,153 undergraduate degree candidates, 661 master's and 395 doctoral degree-seekers, as well as four Doctor of Nursing Practice degree candidates.

Students in the colleges of Health and Human Sciences, Pharmacy, Purdue Polytechnic Institute, Science, Veterinary Medicine and the School of Management participated in the 9:30 a.m. ceremony. Lauren N. Taylor, a student in the School of Management from Indianapolis, was the student responder.

The 2:30 p.m. ceremony included students in the colleges of Agriculture, Education, Engineering and Liberal Arts. Kelly Ann Featherstone, a student in the College of Engineering from Evansville, was the student responder.

Reddy received his bachelor's degree in industrial engineering from Purdue in 1987, and he later earned an MBA from the University of Michigan.

He was instrumental in making GVK Industries the largest private airport operator in India. The company owns and operates the Mumbai and Bengaluru airports, which handle over 60 million passengers per year. GVK Industries also has interests in energy, transportation, resources, real estate, hospitality and life sciences.

Reddy founded GVK Biosciences, one of Asia's largest contract research organizations, which employs more than 2,500 scientists. He also is involved with GVK EMRI 108 service, which is the world's largest ambulance service and is offered free of cost to more than 800 million people across India. It is credited with having saved more than one million lives.

He also is a member of the Purdue-India Executive Council, which serves as an advisory board to Purdue on its strategic engagement with the country.

Commencement videos will be available for $30 per DVD. Order forms can be obtained at the Loeb Playhouse box office, online at http://www.purdue.edu/commencement/documents/DVD_Form.pdfor by calling 765-494-3933. Forms must be submitted within two weeks after the event.  

Writer: Greg McClure, 765-496-9711, gmcclure@purdue.edu 

Source: Christine DeHahn Pass, senior assistant registrar, 765-494-6163, dehahn@purdue.edu 

 

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