Congratulating the graduating students, Chief Guest Mrs Lakshmi Murugesan, Founder & Chairperson Emeritus of Paramount Textile Mills, Madurai, and a philanthropist with a strong commitment to education, urged the to be torchbearers of the institution's legacy of ethical values, determination, self-discipline and sacrifice, and to stand up for fair play and justice, have the moral courage to serve and never relent.

Addressing them as young friends, she said new technologies were opening vast opportunities for young Indians to become innovative thinkers. “Nothing ever built rose to the skies unless someone dreamed it could, believed it could and built it. Please dream big,” she said.

In his presidential address, C. Valliappa, Chairman, Sona Institutions, urged the students to prioritise their health, knowledge and skills, and recognise the sacrifices their parents had made to help them reach this milestone.

He reminded them that, whatever profession they choose, they must remain true to their work and committed to their responsibilities, while staying connected with their alma mater as they progress in their careers.

He also reminded them that while AI is likely to play an increasingly larger role in their work, they must continuously sharpen distinctly human capabilities such as reasoning, creativity and innovation to stay ahead and remain relevant.

Of the 692 graduating students, 55 toppers were awarded medals across 11 disciplines — five Government-aided programmes in Civil, Mechanical, Electrical & Electronics, Production and Textile Technology, and six self-supporting programmes in Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Computer Engineering, Electronics & Communication Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical & Electronics Engineering and Architecture.

Placements  spanned engineering, manufacturing, technology, automotive and aerospace sectors, among others.

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The six self-supporting programmes, introduced with the support of the institution's promoters, reflect TPT's use of its autonomous status to expand beyond its traditional core disciplines and offer programmes aligned with emerging technologies and industry requirements.

Chocko Valliappa, Vice-Chairman, Sona Institutions, asked the graduates to keep abreast of emerging technologies and continue learning to stay ahead in their careers. As India moves towards advanced manufacturing, he said the College was developing a curriculum around questions such as: How do we build a wing for global aircraft makers? How do we manufacture rockets for global space exploration companies?

Citing the example of a young team from Hyderabad that has launched a rocket engine, he said, “That is the aspiration we should have.”

Chocko Valliappa said the profile of the outgoing class is changing with the times, with many graduates joining the electric-vehicle technology segments of the automobile industry. SonaSPEED, a precision manufacturing company focused on defence, aerospace and space technologies, has also hired 10 students from the graduating class.

Many among the graduating class have chosen to gain lateral entry into B.Tech programs, including at the Sona College of Technology.

Thyagu Valliappa, Vice-Chairman, Sona Institutions, said the Graduation Day was special as Mrs Lakshmi Murugesan, daughter of founder Sri Karumuttu Thiagarajar Chettiar, was present to witness the progress and the efforts of the institution's leaders, faculty and staff in preparing industry-ready technical talent.

Wishing the students success, he urged them to make a lasting impact through innovation, perseverance, adaptability, collaboration and transformation as they enter a rapidly changing and growth-oriented world. “The future is in your hands, and making Viksit Bharat a reality is your opportunity to contribute to India's continued development,” he said.

Dr V. Karthikeyan, Director, TPT, exhorted the graduating class to use the knowledge, skills and values imbibed at Thiagarajar Polytechnic to contribute to their professions in the global arena and make their families and alma mater proud.

He expressed gratitude to the founders who nurtured Sona Institutions as their Punya Bhumi since 1958 and helped shape the future of generations of students in Salem.

Scholarships valued at nearly Rs three crore from the Government of Tamil Nadu, AICTE, private institutions and Valliappa Foundation have made quality technical education accessible to several hundred deserving and meritorious students.

The Thiagarajar Polytechnic College team, led by Principal Dr A. Kanakaraj, was recognised for upholding the institution's values and providing students with a rich educational experience.