Odia-American Scientist Sitakantha Dash Honoured By Rotary Club With Prestigious Philanthropic Award

Bhubaneswar: Odia-American scientist, entrepreneur and philanthropist Dr Sitakantha Dash, who has helped shape the $100 billion probiotic industry through his pioneering work, was honored by the Rotary Club of Edina, Minnesota, USA with the prestigious membership in the Arch Klumph Society.

Membership in the Arch Klumph Society, named after one of Rotary Club’s presidents, is a recognition given to people who have contributed at least $250,000 to “do good in the world.”

In a special ceremony that was also heralded as India Day, community leaders spoke of the many contributions of Dr. Dash both locally and globally, from supporting water projects around the world to launching a world class university in Odisha.

“We are honored to recognize the philanthropic work of Dr. Dash across the world,” said Rotary Club Edina President, Shelly Loberg.

Tanwi Prigge, President of India Association of Minnesota, shared the wide-ranging contributions of Dr Dash.

He has received numerous national and international awards for his accomplishments in the fields of probiotics, science, and technology, including being recognized as Distinguished Man of the Year.

Other honors include, but are not limited to, the Lifetime Achievement Award from the State of Minnesota (USA) in 2018, distinguished Odiya Award from the President of India in 2017, and the Distinguished Alumni Award from South Dakota State University in 2014.”

“Dr Dash reflects the tremendous contributions Indian Americans make in the USA with their buying power bigger than the economy of Arkansas, their business revenue bigger than the economy of Nevada and estimated tax payments almost as large as the budget of Minnesota” said Dr. Bruce Corrie, economist and Associate Vice President of Concordia University, Minnesota.

“Dr Dash was recently honored with the rotunda of the Minnesota History Museum named after him,” said Nash Shaikh, Chief of Staff, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota. “We appreciate his efforts to lift up the Indian American community through supporting a book on the Indian diaspora to Minnesota, support for the Beyond Bollywood exhibit of the Smithsonian in Minnesota, and the annual celebration of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi and India Fest.”