Latest news with #DakshinaKannadaDCFellowship
Time of India
5 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
How a village girl's robot for farmers won her a ₹72 lakh job offer at Rolls-Royce's jet division
When Rithuparna KS stepped out of her NEET exam hall a few years ago, she thought her shot at becoming a doctor was over. 'After my PUC, my dream was to become a doctor. However, when my NEET results did not fetch a govt seat, I secured a govt seat in the 2022 CET counselling and enrolled at Sahyadri College. Though disheartened initially, from day one of college, I began exploring and ideating,' she told TNN. Her father suggested engineering. She picked Robotics and Automation at Sahyadri College of Engineering and Management in Mangaluru. The plan was simple: make the most of it. From college projects to international medals She didn't sit still. Senior students' projects grabbed her attention. She wanted in. Soon, she and a friend were building robots for arecanut farmers — machines that could spray pesticide and harvest nuts, cutting down back-breaking work. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play War Thunder now for free War Thunder Play Now Undo They took this to the INEX conference in Goa. They came back with gold and silver medals after competing with teams from Singapore, Japan, China and Russia. From local labs to NITK and real-world impact Rithuparna didn't stop at classroom demos. She joined a research team at NITK Surathkal , digging into robotic surgery. She spoke to real surgeons. She sat with local officials, including then Deputy Commissioner Mullai Muhilan MP, to help build an app for better waste management in her district. Live Events She was also picked for the Dakshina Kannada DC Fellowship, chosen as one of 15 students tackling real local issues. The Rolls-Royce rejection that changed everything Her biggest goal? Land an internship at Rolls-Royce. But when she first reached out, they shot her down bluntly. 'Do you even qualify to be part of our firm?' they asked. They told her she wouldn't manage even one task in a month. Most people would have given up. Rithuparna didn't. She asked for a chance to prove herself. They threw her a one-month task. She didn't fully understand it at first but she researched, read, stayed up. She got it done in a week. Rolls-Royce took notice. One task turned into another. Then more. For eight months she juggled tough assignments, back-to-back interviews and late-night research, all while staying on top of her sixth-semester coursework. The offer that broke the ceiling In December 2024, the call came. Rolls-Royce offered her a pre-placement opportunity in its Jet Engine Manufacturing Division. From January 2, she worked remotely every night from midnight to 6 AM, squeezing in classes by day. By April 2025, the company doubled down. Her initial ₹39.6 lakh package was bumped up to ₹72.3 lakh per year, recognising her grit and results. She'll soon finish her seventh semester and fly to Texas to join the global team. Family and college pride Rithuparna, daughter of Saresh KN and Geetha Saresh, grew up in Koduru in Thirthahalli taluk. She did her schooling at St Agnes before Sahyadri. Her younger sister, Rithvika KS, now has one more reason to look up to her. Her college is beaming too. 'The college is proud of her achievement,' said Lawrence Joseph Fernandes, Head of Mechanical Engineering and Robotics and Automation at Sahyadri, to TNN. What does she say to students dreaming of big jobs? No sugar-coating. 'Youth today have big dreams, yet they only give their 50 per cent instead of 200 per cent to achieve what it takes to be successful,' she told Deccan Herald. From a girl who once thought her dream had ended outside an exam hall, it's advice worth listening to.
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
Rejected by NEET, hired by Rolls-Royce: How this Karnataka girl bagged a ₹72 lakh Job offer at 20
When 20-year-old Rithuparna KS walked out of her NEET exam room a few years ago, she believed her dreams had hit a wall. Initially offered a salary of ₹ 39.58 lakh, her package was later revised to ₹ 72.2 lakh.(Linkedin) Today, she's headed to the jet engine manufacturing unit of the iconic UK-based company Rolls-Royce, with an eye-popping ₹72.2 lakh annual salary and the title of being the youngest woman in the organisation, Deccan Herald reported. As reported by the publication, life hasn't been smooth sailing for Rithuparna. After failing to secure a merit seat in MBBS, she briefly considered preparing for the UPSC. But on her father's advice, she pivoted to engineering, a move that would quietly lay the foundation for something extraordinary. She enrolled in Robotics and Automation at Sahyadri College of Engineering and Management (SCEM) in Adyar, where exposure to senior students' projects sparked her fascination with automation and machine design. It didn't take long for her curiosity to turn into ambition, the report added. (Also Read: Bengaluru vs Singapore: Zoho's Sridhar Vembu on what it takes to make Indian cities livable) With a friend, she began building innovative projects, including a detachable robot for arecanut pesticide spraying and harvesting, that earned them medals at an international conference in Goa, where they competed against participants from Singapore, Japan, China, and Russia. Her academic record and hands-on experience helped her land an internship at Rolls-Royce, a feat she kept secret from her parents until the offer was confirmed. 'My academic milestones, projects, and rigorous interviews helped me get an internship with the Rolls-Royce Company,' she said according to DH. Initially offered a salary of ₹39.58 lakh, her package was later revised to ₹72.2 lakh after she was recognised for her contributions during the internship. Beyond her resume, Rithuparna is part of the Dakshina Kannada DC Fellowship, where she was selected among the top 15 students tasked with solving real-world problems. Her message to young aspirants is both direct and grounded, 'Youth today have big dreams, yet they only give their 50 per cent instead of 200 per cent to achieve what it takes to be successful,' she said according to the report. (Also Read: India's second-longest cable bridge inaugurated in Karnataka's Shivamogga)
