43 years later, St Aloysius class of 1983 creates Rs 65 lakh scholarship endowment
Mangalore Today News Network
Mangaluru, July 13, 2026: Forty-three years after graduating from the prestigious St Aloysius High School, members of the Class X batch of 1983 have returned to their alma mater with a lasting contribution by establishing a self-sustaining scholarship endowment with an initial corpus of ₹65 lakh.
The initiative is believed to be the first class-driven scholarship endowment of its kind in the 146-year history of the institution, both in vision and structure. The endowment aims to recognise students with exceptional academic promise while promoting the Aloysian values of excellence and service.
Unlike conventional scholarships, the fund has been professionally structured to grow over time and support an increasing number of students in the years ahead.
The inaugural St Aloysius Class of 1983 Scholarship Awards were presented on June 20 during the annual feast of St Aloysius Gonzaga, the patron saint of youth and students. Scholarships were awarded to Ashwini Shettigar, M.A. Abdul Azaz Shayan and Sharon D’Costa. The fourth recipient, Snithik Churya, who could not attend the event, received the scholarship later at the Headmaster’s office on July 7.
The occasion also featured the felicitation of former High School Assistant Headmaster Shambu Shetty and former Primary School teachers Lidwin D’Souza and Celine Rego for their lasting influence on the Class of 1983. Headmaster Fr. Johnson Pinto and Assistant Headmaster Lancy D’Souza were present. The Class of 1983 was represented by Anil Pinto, Dr Rohan Mascarenhas, P. Sudhir and Mahesh Nayak.
Addressing the gathering, Shambu Shetty said, “It is easy to plant a seed. The real challenge is to nurture it and help it grow,” and urged younger generations to carry forward the initiative and strengthen its legacy.
Fr. Johnson Pinto said that St Aloysius Gonzaga symbolised selfless service and that the scholarship reflected his message of serving others.
A Permanent, Self-Sustaining Endowment
The idea for the scholarship was conceived in 2024 when more than 70 classmates from India and abroad reconnected through social media after more than four decades. What began as a nostalgic reunion soon evolved into a shared vision.
Following months of planning with the institution, the endowment was formally established in April 2025 under the guidance of the then Rector, the late Fr. Melwyn Pinto.
The endowment combines alumni generosity with professional investment management. Besides making financial contributions, classmates also pooled their expertise in finance, administration and management to design the structure of the fund.
The ₹65 lakh corpus has been invested in carefully selected financial instruments under the guidance of classmates with expertise in finance. Only the annual investment earnings will be used to provide scholarships, while the corpus remains intact and continues to grow through market returns and future contributions.
As the endowment expands, it is expected to support an increasing number of students from Class X to II PUC, with the long-term goal of assisting 12 students every year. The fund is jointly administered by the alumni and the Institutional Development Office (IDO) of St Aloysius Institutions.
Dedication
The endowment has been dedicated to the alma mater, its teachers and the memory of departed classmates. It reflects the enduring bonds forged in the classrooms of St Aloysius.
Inspired by the Aloysian motto, “Lucet et Ardet” (Shine to Enkindle), the initiative seeks to encourage similar alumni-led scholarship endowments at St Aloysius and other educational institutions.