New Delhi, Mar 25: Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) successfully concluded Tiger Pride 2026 in New Delhi, bringing together students, counselors, and partner schools associated with its global experiential learning platform, Tiger STRIPES.
The event celebrated student achievements and engagement within the Tiger STRIPES platform, underscoring RIT’s continued collaboration with Indian schools and its commitment to empowering students through innovation-driven and experiential learning initiatives.
The program was led by Daniel Kopperud, Assistant Director – Strategic Global Enrollment Initiatives at RIT, who also conducted a workshop titled “Strong Applications Start in School: Avoiding Common Pitfalls.”
Speaking at the event, Kopperud said,
“Experiential learning plays an important role in helping students connect classroom learning with real-world situations. By participating in collaborative challenges and practical missions, students begin to see how knowledge applies beyond textbooks. Our partnerships with schools across India help make these opportunities accessible, while counselors and educators guide students as they prepare for global academic pathways.”
The event followed a creative “Spies and Missions” theme aimed at fostering 21st-century skills through experiential activities and collaborative challenges.
RIT also recognized outstanding student participation from partner institutions, including Vidyagyan Leadership Academy, Christwood School, and Kunskapsskolan School. Students such as Rupali Jadaun, Chirag Tomar, Divyanshu Yadav, Lavanya Verma, Lavanya Upadhaya, Jason Valentine, Aagyan Neyan, Daksh Sethi, and Myra Agarwal were acknowledged for their active engagement.
Counselors who played a key role in supporting student participation were honored with the Most Inspiring Counselor Awards. Recipients included Subha Samson of Christwood School, Isha Joshi of Indian Heritage School, Pathankot, and Charles-Aurèlien DIÉ of Pathways School, Gurugram.
The Highly Engaged School Award for the 2024–2025 academic year was presented to Vidyagyan Leadership Academy in recognition of its consistent participation and contribution to Tiger STRIPES initiatives.
Commenting on the importance of collaboration between institutions and schools, Sundar Kumarasamy, CEO and Founder of Excelerate, said,
“Students benefit when schools and institutions work together to expand opportunities beyond traditional classrooms. Exposure to collaborative challenges and international perspectives helps students build confidence as they prepare for global academic environments.”
RIT’s Tiger STRIPES program is a no-cost global experiential learning platform designed to help students develop real-world skills through workshops, internships, webinars, and collaborative challenges across domains such as technology, design, and innovation. The initiative enables participation from school to graduate levels, connecting students from over 190 countries and offering exposure to emerging fields including artificial intelligence.
Participants also gain access to micro-internships and earn digital badges and certificates that strengthen their academic and professional profiles.
