Puranik Foundation to host Inaugural Lotus Innovation Awards Gala at Post Oak Hotel Uptown on April 28, 2022

The Puranik Foundation launched the inaugural Energy Project, a Global Service Leadership Internship Program in 2021

One innovation project will be awarded a $15,000 grant

The Puranik Foundation, headquartered in Houston, is a nonprofit dedicated to providing educational opportunities that open minds, stimulate holistic perspectives, and inspire transformation.

Their Inaugural Lotus Innovation Awards Gala, slated for April 28, 2022 at The Post Oak Hotel Uptown, will celebrate their achievements and honor the Foundation’s Founders, Rekha and Sudhir Puranik.

Students participating in The Energy Project will have the opportunity to showcase their unique innovation in sustainable energy solutions during the evening and one innovation project will be awarded a $15,000 grant for the implementation of a prototype in Houston.

ABOUT The Energy Project Internship Program

In partnership with HISD’s Energy Institute High School (EIHS), Rice University Energy Association and CleanTech Clubs, Stanford University Professor Ariel Raz, and Junior Achievement, the Puranik Foundation is offered students the opportunity to impact the future of sustainability by co-creating sustainable innovations to benefit Houston by problem-solving local energy challenges.

Students form teams to work together to design innovative alternative energy approaches to sustaining areas in solar, wind, agriculture, building materials, water purification, and biofuel.

“We are excited to offer this exciting challenge to inspire and cultivate student ideas from concept development, prototype testing and building entrepreneurial skills bringing their projects to a reality that will impact the future,” said Puranik Foundation’s Executive Director Bhakti Salunkhe. “Our vision for this project is to build a model for sustainability and innovation for students that can be used in under-resourced areas across the world.”

To provide educational opportunities that open minds, stimulate holistic perspectives, and inspire transformation, Puranik Foundation invited sophomore, junior and senior student leaders and visionaries from EIHS to apply for the inaugural internship program, which began on December 2, 2021, and will conclude on May 5, 2022.

During the internship program, students will cover a four-pillar curriculum that includes design thinking, alternative energy 101, an integrative approach with leadership training , and entrepreneurship and business plan pitches preparing students for a promising future.

To enhance their long-term educational and professional future students will attend field trips and mentor sessions. During spring break, from March 11-20, 2022, students participated in a 10-day residential prototyping workshop at TXRX makerspace lab.

Following a five-week business plan development, students will showcase and pitch their innovation at the Lotus Innovation Awards Gala on Thursday, April 28, 2022, at The Post Oak Hotel. One innovation project will be awarded a $15,000 grant for the implementation of a prototype in Houston.

For more information about The Energy Project and Puranik Foundation, visit http://www.puranikfoundation.org/.

About the Puranik Foundation 501(c)(3)

The Puranik Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization headquartered in Houston that owns and operates the Vision International Learning Center, a school in Pune, India. The Foundation believes in providing educational opportunities that open minds, stimulate holistic perspectives, and inspire transformation. Seated on 27 acres of sustainable land, the school provides private education to underserved children grades K-12 at no cost. Housing and meals throughout the week along with a curriculum enriched with nature exploration, mindfulness practices, critical thinking exercises, and leadership training are included.

The Puranik Foundation was founded 21 years ago and is the corporate social responsibility arm of Worldwide Oilfield Machine (WOM) a global design and manufacturer of flow equipment valves for the oil and gas business. Twice a year high school, college students, as well as teachers, professors and mindfulness practitioners from around the world are invited to visit the campus to participate in one of three week-long Global Service Leadership Programs hosted by the Foundation.

For more information, visit www.puranikfoundation.org and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Photos courtesy of Puranik Foundation