North-South Foundation
Excellence beyond the classroom
Excellence beyond the classroom
| Heidi M. Pascual* Publisher & Editor * 2006 Journalist of the Year for the State of Wisconsin (U.S.-SBA) |
“NSF identified the children who are doing good, but having financial problems and the organization gave scholarships until they
completed their undergraduate studies. Here in the U.S., NSF raised money — about $250 per scholarship. If anybody is willing to sponsor
someone, he/she can give $250, and that will go to one child’s education in India. Aside from sponsorships, funds are sourced from fees
collected from parents of contest participants, which is $25 per contest.”
M.S. Rao got involved with NSF in Chicago when he witnessed one of the contests being conducted there. “I saw the children were learning
the skills, and I realized this is important,” he said. “I should also take part, so I started volunteering for the North-South Foundation in 1989.
Basically, at that time, NSF used to run only Spelling and Vocabulary contests. Now, there are many contests, including Math, Geography, Essay
Writing, Public Speaking, and Brain Bee.”
He added that the two-fold mission of NSF is remarkable because they help Indian children here and in India. Here, we build up the
children’s competitive spirit, since the American society is very competitive,” M.S. Rao stressed. “We want our children to have that foundation
for success.”
NSF Founder Dr. Ratnam pointed out that in the U.S., children have lots of distractions and parents are very busy. “When both husband and
wife work, they go out during the day, and in the evening, they still have to cook, wash dishes and vacuum. It’s a lot of work, and it’s very difficult
to focus on the child,” Dr. Ratnam said. “So we have to pick up the challenge. We’re trying to do our best to help children so they can set higher
goals and reach them for a period of time.”
How does NSF do this? NSF conducts several competitions to promote students’ learning beyond what they learn in school. “We conduct
contests once a year,” M.S. Rao explained (a process that is done by 80 NSF chapters throughout the U.S.). “Here, we have about 50-60 kids a
year in various contests. Each kid can participate in all the contests, or one or two, depending on their interest. Each contest fee is $25. This
year, I think they increased it a little bit more, because of the rising cost of conducting these contests. The winners get a certificate and a medal.
In the local level, we get sponsors who give funds for prizes like books. Then those who reach a certain cut-off point get invited to compete in the
national level. The scholarships are given only to national winners. The top three national winners get scholarships ranging from $250 to $1,000.
The national contests are held once a year, and it has been held in various parts of the country. This year, it will be held at MIT in Boston,
during the Labor Day weekend.”
The Madison chapter, according to M.S. Rao, is taking the lead in developing materials for some of the contests. “We started Math here first
before it was started nationwide,” he proudly stated. “We’re now trying to come up with new ideas and maybe in the next year or so, we may do
coaching for the SAT, ACT, and college board exams. People are asking whether we should develop some curriculum for those exams.” NSF
taps the knowledge and talent base of its volunteers and parents in the diaspora to develop review and contest materials.
Parents are an integral partner of NSF in this endeavor, and Usha Shankar has a lot of good things to share about NSF. “Not only does it
help the kids to exhibit their other talents and skills in education, but it is also for a very good cause,” Shankar said. “And I think it’s one of the best
things that every Indian parent should encourage their kids to do. It is not about winning or losing but it helps them to find out how good they are
in comparison with other kids of the same level. Plus, whatever they do, even though they don’t win, whatever knowledge they have gained in
the process of preparing for the competition, goes a very long way.”
Shankar’s son has been participating in NSF competitions for four years. “I think every time he goes to the competition, he learns something
new,” she said proudly. “He learns a lot of new words; his vocabulary skills improve a lot, and it helps im in the school. Twice, he made it to the
school-district level for the Spelling competition. He is 11 years old and in middle school. He was then in fourth grade, and he was the youngest
speller in the district competition from Middleton. He went back again in fifth grade. He didn’t make it to the State level, though, but I think it’s
just a stepping stone. It’s really good.”
Shankar tries to convince other Indian parents to encourage their children to participate in the NSF contests by telling them her own
experiences. “As a volunteer parent, it gives me a lot of happiness because it’s an opportunity for me to serve and give something back to the
community,” Shankar said. “My primary role in this is to go around canvassing a lot, trying to get as many people as possible because the more
kids you have, the better the competition. I play an active role, and since I’m with different organizations, I try to pass the word around. I am able
to convince people because I have gone through this as a parent. And because my son participates in it, so I’m able to tell them the
experiences, rather than just tell them, ‘Hey, there is a competition; just come over for this.’
Shankar doesn’t just convince people to come and let their children participate. “I actually tell them both the positive and the negative side
of it,” she admitted. “For the spelling and vocabulary contests, it’s a lot of words for a small kid, say a second grader or a third grader, to learn
1,500 words. It may not be possible to learn all the words, but even if they do 10 percent of it, I think it goes a very long way.”
North-South Foundation will once again conduct some seminars and workshops for both parents and their children in December or early
January, for them to understand the impact of NSF contests in the students’ learning.
Dr. Ratnam gives all the credit to the parents who are taking an interest in NSF work. “In our tradition, parents want our children to do better
than us, because they’re the future” Dr. Ratnam said. “They are now beginning to understand that education is very important; that children need
to be highly competitive. And they also realize that the American school system is not the best in the world; they’re good schools but they’re not
the best. So we want to complement what the children learn in school. We want to go beyond that.”
Dr. Ratnam posited that perhaps in the mid ‘60s, American schools were the best, but he believes this is no longer true. “I used to go to the
school of my second daughter,” he recalled, and he would ask her teacher. “’How is my daughter doing in school?’ and the teacher would say,
‘Yes, she’s doing great!’ I was interested in what her challenges were, what she could do better at; but the teacher would say, ‘Oh nothing, don’t
worry; she’s doing fine.’ And if I pressed harder, the teacher would say, ‘If she’s happy, I’m happy; you should be happy too.’” We’re all happy,
right? But at the end of the day ... each child should be challenged.”
Citing several examples of human successes despite obstacles, Dr. Ratnam stressed, “Everything being equal, this society prefers the locals,
right? But if you do better, then this society will look at you. So we have to struggle hard, work hard, and take on the challenge. Our children
should be challenged and should set higher goals. That’s what we need to teach our children. It’s all right if they do better; but it’s much better if
they do their best. There are no limits to what any human being can do.”
Note: Many NSF children have scored among the top — including the championship — in the Scripps National Spelling Bee, National
Geographic Bee and MATHCOUNTS. Top U.S. colleges have accepted numerous NSF children. More importantly, these contests help children
improve their communication skills, gain self-confidence, and empower them to become better citizens for tomorrow. For more information on NSF-
Madison Chapter contests, how to participate and to volunteer, contact M.S. Rao at (608) 661-7604; (608) 206-6909; ms@symphony.cc; or Usha
Shankar at (608) 206-3009; (608) 294-4090 x 874. Also, visit www.northsouth.org.
completed their undergraduate studies. Here in the U.S., NSF raised money — about $250 per scholarship. If anybody is willing to sponsor
someone, he/she can give $250, and that will go to one child’s education in India. Aside from sponsorships, funds are sourced from fees
collected from parents of contest participants, which is $25 per contest.”
M.S. Rao got involved with NSF in Chicago when he witnessed one of the contests being conducted there. “I saw the children were learning
the skills, and I realized this is important,” he said. “I should also take part, so I started volunteering for the North-South Foundation in 1989.
Basically, at that time, NSF used to run only Spelling and Vocabulary contests. Now, there are many contests, including Math, Geography, Essay
Writing, Public Speaking, and Brain Bee.”
He added that the two-fold mission of NSF is remarkable because they help Indian children here and in India. Here, we build up the
children’s competitive spirit, since the American society is very competitive,” M.S. Rao stressed. “We want our children to have that foundation
for success.”
NSF Founder Dr. Ratnam pointed out that in the U.S., children have lots of distractions and parents are very busy. “When both husband and
wife work, they go out during the day, and in the evening, they still have to cook, wash dishes and vacuum. It’s a lot of work, and it’s very difficult
to focus on the child,” Dr. Ratnam said. “So we have to pick up the challenge. We’re trying to do our best to help children so they can set higher
goals and reach them for a period of time.”
How does NSF do this? NSF conducts several competitions to promote students’ learning beyond what they learn in school. “We conduct
contests once a year,” M.S. Rao explained (a process that is done by 80 NSF chapters throughout the U.S.). “Here, we have about 50-60 kids a
year in various contests. Each kid can participate in all the contests, or one or two, depending on their interest. Each contest fee is $25. This
year, I think they increased it a little bit more, because of the rising cost of conducting these contests. The winners get a certificate and a medal.
In the local level, we get sponsors who give funds for prizes like books. Then those who reach a certain cut-off point get invited to compete in the
national level. The scholarships are given only to national winners. The top three national winners get scholarships ranging from $250 to $1,000.
The national contests are held once a year, and it has been held in various parts of the country. This year, it will be held at MIT in Boston,
during the Labor Day weekend.”
The Madison chapter, according to M.S. Rao, is taking the lead in developing materials for some of the contests. “We started Math here first
before it was started nationwide,” he proudly stated. “We’re now trying to come up with new ideas and maybe in the next year or so, we may do
coaching for the SAT, ACT, and college board exams. People are asking whether we should develop some curriculum for those exams.” NSF
taps the knowledge and talent base of its volunteers and parents in the diaspora to develop review and contest materials.
Parents are an integral partner of NSF in this endeavor, and Usha Shankar has a lot of good things to share about NSF. “Not only does it
help the kids to exhibit their other talents and skills in education, but it is also for a very good cause,” Shankar said. “And I think it’s one of the best
things that every Indian parent should encourage their kids to do. It is not about winning or losing but it helps them to find out how good they are
in comparison with other kids of the same level. Plus, whatever they do, even though they don’t win, whatever knowledge they have gained in
the process of preparing for the competition, goes a very long way.”
Shankar’s son has been participating in NSF competitions for four years. “I think every time he goes to the competition, he learns something
new,” she said proudly. “He learns a lot of new words; his vocabulary skills improve a lot, and it helps im in the school. Twice, he made it to the
school-district level for the Spelling competition. He is 11 years old and in middle school. He was then in fourth grade, and he was the youngest
speller in the district competition from Middleton. He went back again in fifth grade. He didn’t make it to the State level, though, but I think it’s
just a stepping stone. It’s really good.”
Shankar tries to convince other Indian parents to encourage their children to participate in the NSF contests by telling them her own
experiences. “As a volunteer parent, it gives me a lot of happiness because it’s an opportunity for me to serve and give something back to the
community,” Shankar said. “My primary role in this is to go around canvassing a lot, trying to get as many people as possible because the more
kids you have, the better the competition. I play an active role, and since I’m with different organizations, I try to pass the word around. I am able
to convince people because I have gone through this as a parent. And because my son participates in it, so I’m able to tell them the
experiences, rather than just tell them, ‘Hey, there is a competition; just come over for this.’
Shankar doesn’t just convince people to come and let their children participate. “I actually tell them both the positive and the negative side
of it,” she admitted. “For the spelling and vocabulary contests, it’s a lot of words for a small kid, say a second grader or a third grader, to learn
1,500 words. It may not be possible to learn all the words, but even if they do 10 percent of it, I think it goes a very long way.”
North-South Foundation will once again conduct some seminars and workshops for both parents and their children in December or early
January, for them to understand the impact of NSF contests in the students’ learning.
Dr. Ratnam gives all the credit to the parents who are taking an interest in NSF work. “In our tradition, parents want our children to do better
than us, because they’re the future” Dr. Ratnam said. “They are now beginning to understand that education is very important; that children need
to be highly competitive. And they also realize that the American school system is not the best in the world; they’re good schools but they’re not
the best. So we want to complement what the children learn in school. We want to go beyond that.”
Dr. Ratnam posited that perhaps in the mid ‘60s, American schools were the best, but he believes this is no longer true. “I used to go to the
school of my second daughter,” he recalled, and he would ask her teacher. “’How is my daughter doing in school?’ and the teacher would say,
‘Yes, she’s doing great!’ I was interested in what her challenges were, what she could do better at; but the teacher would say, ‘Oh nothing, don’t
worry; she’s doing fine.’ And if I pressed harder, the teacher would say, ‘If she’s happy, I’m happy; you should be happy too.’” We’re all happy,
right? But at the end of the day ... each child should be challenged.”
Citing several examples of human successes despite obstacles, Dr. Ratnam stressed, “Everything being equal, this society prefers the locals,
right? But if you do better, then this society will look at you. So we have to struggle hard, work hard, and take on the challenge. Our children
should be challenged and should set higher goals. That’s what we need to teach our children. It’s all right if they do better; but it’s much better if
they do their best. There are no limits to what any human being can do.”
Note: Many NSF children have scored among the top — including the championship — in the Scripps National Spelling Bee, National
Geographic Bee and MATHCOUNTS. Top U.S. colleges have accepted numerous NSF children. More importantly, these contests help children
improve their communication skills, gain self-confidence, and empower them to become better citizens for tomorrow. For more information on NSF-
Madison Chapter contests, how to participate and to volunteer, contact M.S. Rao at (608) 661-7604; (608) 206-6909; ms@symphony.cc; or Usha
Shankar at (608) 206-3009; (608) 294-4090 x 874. Also, visit www.northsouth.org.
In this age of advanced scientific and computer technology, Asian Indians are
perceived to be in the thick of things. There is a lot of truth to that perception; but many of
those who have “made it” know that there are millions of Indians who never even went to
school. They know that there are millions more Indian youth who cannot afford education
beyond high school. They also know that today’s Indian youth in the diaspora needed a
better school system than they currently have in order to succeed. They know all this and
they are actively doing something to reverse this trend.
We don’t have to look far to see some of these efforts in action in the Madison area.
The North-South Foundation local chapter is working hard to make sure that the general
perception about Asian Indians’ educational excellence is realized, not only within the
academic setting, but also outside the classroom. The Foundation also helps Indian youth
back home get on their feet by providing college scholarships.
Parents are crucial to North-South’s efforts in the Madison area, proving to be
invaluable partners in guaranteeing the program’s success.
(Editor’s note: Asian Wisconzine conducted a three-way interview with Dr. Ratnan
Chitturi (NSF founder), M.S. Rao (NSF Madison coordinator), and Usha Shankar (parent and
NSF volunteer)
North-South Foundation
North-South Foundation (NSF) is a nonprofit established in Illinois in 1989 by Dr.
Ratnam Chitturi, initially to raise funds to provide scholarships to poor youths in India and
encourage excellence among them. Since then, its mission has become two-fold: it also
promotes scholastic excellence among Indo-American youth through its increasingly
popular educational contests throughout the United States.
“North-South Foundation initially supported the children who didn’t have the
opportunity to pursue a higher education in India,” Srinivasa Rao Mogallapu (or M.S. Rao),
NSF-Madison coordinator (top, left), told Asian Wisconzine.
perceived to be in the thick of things. There is a lot of truth to that perception; but many of
those who have “made it” know that there are millions of Indians who never even went to
school. They know that there are millions more Indian youth who cannot afford education
beyond high school. They also know that today’s Indian youth in the diaspora needed a
better school system than they currently have in order to succeed. They know all this and
they are actively doing something to reverse this trend.
We don’t have to look far to see some of these efforts in action in the Madison area.
The North-South Foundation local chapter is working hard to make sure that the general
perception about Asian Indians’ educational excellence is realized, not only within the
academic setting, but also outside the classroom. The Foundation also helps Indian youth
back home get on their feet by providing college scholarships.
Parents are crucial to North-South’s efforts in the Madison area, proving to be
invaluable partners in guaranteeing the program’s success.
(Editor’s note: Asian Wisconzine conducted a three-way interview with Dr. Ratnan
Chitturi (NSF founder), M.S. Rao (NSF Madison coordinator), and Usha Shankar (parent and
NSF volunteer)
North-South Foundation
North-South Foundation (NSF) is a nonprofit established in Illinois in 1989 by Dr.
Ratnam Chitturi, initially to raise funds to provide scholarships to poor youths in India and
encourage excellence among them. Since then, its mission has become two-fold: it also
promotes scholastic excellence among Indo-American youth through its increasingly
popular educational contests throughout the United States.
“North-South Foundation initially supported the children who didn’t have the
opportunity to pursue a higher education in India,” Srinivasa Rao Mogallapu (or M.S. Rao),
NSF-Madison coordinator (top, left), told Asian Wisconzine.