Goa’s Raveena Deshpande, an architecture student, earns a prestigious presidential scholarship for master’s degree at Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). This highly coveted scholarship, awarded to only nine students annually, marks a significant achievement for her.
Raveena, previously involved in designing eco-friendly homes for the disadvantaged Vanarmare tribal community in Goa, received admission offers from eight American universities, including Ivy League giants Columbia University and the University of Pennsylvania. However, she has chosen to pursue her dreams at RISD, a 147-year-old institution founded to democratize design education for women.
“I am thrilled and overwhelmed by the opportunities before me,” said Raveena, a graduate of People’s High School, Panaji, who later earned the gold medal at the Goa College of Architecture.
“Throughout her academic career, Raveena has demonstrated a profound curiosity and a commitment to environmental and social issues,” said her father, Rahul. “Her dedication was evident when, as a ninth-grader, she represented Goa and India in Japan after winning the Inspire Awards in New Delhi. During her architecture studies, she and her friends proactively sought solutions for housing the Vanarmare community, earning the OAN National Grant and Fellowship in 2021.”