Shining Stars Awards honour toppers in Alluri, Anakapalli districts

The School Education Department on Monday rewarded meritorious students who cleared the 2026 SSC and Intermediate Civil Examinations at separate Shining Stars-2026 award ceremonies held in Alluri Sitarama Raju and Anakapalli districts.

In ASR region, the program was held at SR Sankaran Auditorium in Kummariputtu, Paderu. Joint Collector Tirumani Sri Pooja inaugurated the event along with former Paderu MLA Giddi Eswari and other officials. Addressing the students, Ms. Sri Pooja said that continuous hard work, dedication and proper planning are the keys to success, while the speakers urged the students to remain consistent, develop alternative career plans and pursue opportunities as they arise.

Students from various mandals including Paderu, Araku Valley, Chintapalli, GK Veedhi, Pedabayalu, Ananthagiri, Dumbriguda, G. Madugula, Koyyuru and Munchingiputtu were honored for achieving top ranks.

In Anakapalli, the awards were presented at the Pentakota Convention Hall in the presence of district in-charge Minister Kollu Ravindra, Speaker Chintakayala Ayyanna Patrudu, Collector Vijaya Krishnan and legislators.

Mr. Ravindra said that the State government has allocated ₹ 8.5 crore towards cash incentives and awards for meritorious SSC and Intermediate students in Andhra Pradesh. He said that 154 SSC students and 34 Secondary School students from Anakapalli district were selected for the awards, and the majority in both categories were female students.

The awardees received gold medals, certificates and cash incentives of ₹20,000. Speakers also called on parents and teachers to continue supporting their students in pursuing higher education and achieving their career goals.