2003 Immigrant Achievement Awards
Posted Mar 28, 2003

The Law Office of Sheela Murthy, P.C. is proud to be a generous sponsor of the Eighth Annual Immigrant Achievement Awards again this year. The March 28, 2003 Awards Ceremony is organized by the Washington D.C. Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and by the American Immigration Law Foundation (AILF). AILF is a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing public understanding of immigration law and policy and the value of U.S. immigration to American society. As the aftereffects of 9/11, and current tensions between nations, impact attitudes toward immigration and immigrants, it is more vital than ever to recognize the enormous contributions of immigrants to our country.

The purpose of the event is to celebrate the achievements of immigrants to the U.S. by honoring and showcasing the accomplishments of prominent immigrants. Past events have proven inspiring, as each honoree describes his or her path to this nation and the road to his or her current success. The honorees are a diverse and accomplished group, each very different from the other, but inevitably sharing common traits of hard work, high standards, and ingenuity. The Master of Ceremonies this year is Sue Palka of WTTG-TV Fox 5 News. The event generates funds for AILF's valuable work.
 
We are proud that some of the honorees were nominated by our law firm. Among them is Dr. Roeland van der Marel of the Netherlands. A highly accomplished researcher in astronomy, Dr. van der Marel's impressive background is available on his website. The three remaining honorees include: Dr. Rao Ivatury, professor specializing in trauma surgery, originally from India, who conducted surgery on victims of the sniper attacks in the Washington, D.C. area; Flory Jagoda, a folk musician and composer from Bosnia; and Luis Reyes, a successful Washington area restaurateur from El Salvador. AILF will also be presenting a Distinguished Public Service Award to Cornelius Decatur Scully III of the U.S. Department of State (DOS), retired.

Proceeds from the ticket sales and sponsorships of law firms and corporations benefit the important work performed by AILF, ranging from litigation to educational programs. We at The Law Office of Sheela Murthy support AILF and their work through sponsorship of this event. More information on this event and AILF is available on their website.