Don Bosco College of Engineering (DBCE), Fatorda, Goa, celebrated its Fifteenth Annual Day and Prize Distribution Ceremony at Ravindra Bhavan on March 27, 2026. The Annual Day served as a platform to appreciate and acknowledge young budding engineers for their academic achievements, while also showcasing their talents in music, dance, and theatre.
The programme commenced with a prayer dance, followed by the Principal, Dr Neena Panandikar, welcoming the gathering. This was followed by the ceremonial lighting of the lamp, as the Principal and Registrar, Dr Kala Nayak, escorted the dignitaries onto the stage.
In her address, Dr Neena Panandikar highlighted the remarkable progress the college has made over the past decade, along with presenting the Training and Placement report. The Heads of Department subsequently presented the annual reports of their respective departments.
Chief Guest, Mr. Shekhar Sardessai, shared his inspiring entrepreneurial journey and spoke about the growth of the Kineco Group over the past three decades. He highlighted that success is built on perseverance, resilience, and learning from setbacks, encouraging students to view challenges as opportunities for growth.
Guest of Honour, Ms. Oindrilla Chatterjee, spoke about the growing influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in everyday life. She emphasized that while tools like ChatGPT are powerful and useful, they must be used with common sense, critical thinking, and responsibility. She reminded the audience that AI can assist and guide, but cannot replace human judgment.
Rector, Father Ralin D’Souza, addressed the gathering and motivated students to strive for excellence and remain committed to their goals. He encouraged them to use their abilities to spread positivity and light, emphasizing that true success lies in uplifting others.
Assistant Professor Avila Naik announced the names of the meritorious students and highlighted their academic achievements, after which they were also felicitated. The W. X. Mascarenhas Scholarship Awards were announced by Counsellor, Elaine Dias and presented to fifteen meritorious students by Mr. Andrew Mascarenhas and Mrs. Marissa Mascarenhas.
Sports Director, Mr. Clifford Britto, awarded certificates to students for their achievements in various sports competitions. The college magazine Beacon and the newsletter Connections were also released at the hands of the dignitaries.
The formal inaugural session was followed by a vibrant cultural programme presented by students and staff, adding colour and joy to the celebration.
The function concluded on a celebratory note, with the students of TE Comp 2 winning the PROCYON Trophy. The runners-up position was jointly secured by TE ECS, TE Comp 1, and FE Comp 2, while SE Comp 2 secured third place. The programme ended with a Vote of Thanks proposed by Dr Mohini Naik, who expressed gratitude to the Chief Guest, Guest of Honour, dignitaries, staff, students, and all those who contributed to making the event a grand success.
