<p>The 18th convocation of Visvesvaraya Technological University here on Monday saw girls stealing the show with N Suchitra of Jain Institute of Technology, Davangere, leading from the front with nine gold medals.</p>.<p>Suchitra clinched nine gold medals in BE Civil stream.</p>.<p>Madhushri S R of Bapuji Institute of Engineering, Davangere, bagged six golds in Civil while Meghana Prakash of Vidyavardhak College of Engineering won as many medals in Electronics and Communication.</p>.<p>Daughter of Ramappa, a retired bank manager and Suwarna, an employee with an insurance company, Madhushri is preparing for UPSC Civil Services exams.</p>.<p>“I want to become an IAS officer. Currently, I am taking coaching for the UPSC exams in Hyderabad,” she told <span class="italic">DH</span>. A total of 28 students shared 74 gold medals up for grabs in various streams.</p>.<p>Degrees were awarded to 64,881 BE graduates, 619 B Arch, 4,425 MBA students, 1,801 MCA students, 2,859 MTech and 33 MSc Engg. As many as 418 PhD degrees were awarded to the deserving.</p>.<p>‘Bridgeman’ Girish Bharadwaj, who is an expert in building suspension bridges, was honoured with Doctor of Science award.</p>.<p class="CrossHead"><strong>A low-key affair</strong></p>.<p>The death of Goa Chief Minister and former defence minister Manohar Parrikar cast its shadow over the convocation.</p>.<p>Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, who was to deliver the convocation address, and Governor and Chancellor Vajubhai Vala did not attend the event in view of the national mourning on Monday.</p>.<p>VTU Vice-Chancellor Karisiddappa said, “Due to unavoidable circumstances the dignitaries vice president and Governor could not make it to convocation.”</p>
<p>The 18th convocation of Visvesvaraya Technological University here on Monday saw girls stealing the show with N Suchitra of Jain Institute of Technology, Davangere, leading from the front with nine gold medals.</p>.<p>Suchitra clinched nine gold medals in BE Civil stream.</p>.<p>Madhushri S R of Bapuji Institute of Engineering, Davangere, bagged six golds in Civil while Meghana Prakash of Vidyavardhak College of Engineering won as many medals in Electronics and Communication.</p>.<p>Daughter of Ramappa, a retired bank manager and Suwarna, an employee with an insurance company, Madhushri is preparing for UPSC Civil Services exams.</p>.<p>“I want to become an IAS officer. Currently, I am taking coaching for the UPSC exams in Hyderabad,” she told <span class="italic">DH</span>. A total of 28 students shared 74 gold medals up for grabs in various streams.</p>.<p>Degrees were awarded to 64,881 BE graduates, 619 B Arch, 4,425 MBA students, 1,801 MCA students, 2,859 MTech and 33 MSc Engg. As many as 418 PhD degrees were awarded to the deserving.</p>.<p>‘Bridgeman’ Girish Bharadwaj, who is an expert in building suspension bridges, was honoured with Doctor of Science award.</p>.<p class="CrossHead"><strong>A low-key affair</strong></p>.<p>The death of Goa Chief Minister and former defence minister Manohar Parrikar cast its shadow over the convocation.</p>.<p>Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, who was to deliver the convocation address, and Governor and Chancellor Vajubhai Vala did not attend the event in view of the national mourning on Monday.</p>.<p>VTU Vice-Chancellor Karisiddappa said, “Due to unavoidable circumstances the dignitaries vice president and Governor could not make it to convocation.”</p>