The Annual Technical Symposium of ISTE Student’s Chapter, Sankalp-08 held at NIST witnessed a conglomeration of young technocrats of various technical institutes of the country. Powered by a punch line- ‘Futurizing the Present’ which perhaps, best illustrated its resolve to attain quality and tap the intellectual technical acumen, it had more than 700 outside participants from across the country. Our Honourable Director, Prof. Sangram Mudali set the tone of the event in his opening speech. The following delegates made their august presence felt in the opening ceremony: Mr. Rabinder Henry, HOD, Nanotechnology, Director, Professional Robotics Course in I2IT, Pune; & Mr. Ch. Prakash Rao, Principal, Khallikote Jr. College, Berhampur.

NIST celebrated its Annual Cultural Extravaganza, Waves – 08 with great sparkle and dazzle. The fest got better with new talent, new shine, new flavor, and new energy loaded with total excitement and full of creativity. The three day program showcased a plethora of sports, cultural and creative talents of NISTians including Mini Marathon, Volleyball Match, Basketball Match, Swimming Competition, Songs and Dances, Skits, Quiz & Antakshari, Mimicry & Dumb Charade and Fashion Show by both students and Faculty members. It’s the alumni that make its Alma Mater proud of. Waves-08 acknowledged the Alumni with NIST Best Graduate Awards (2008 Passouts in B.Tech, M.Tech, MCA, MBA) for Excellence in their respective fields. To sum up it was yet another golden moment in the history of NIST which united everybody to rejuvenate & celebrate to the fullest.

NIST in association with National Adventure Foundation, Bhubaneswar organized a Para-Sailing activity at New Cricket Ground, NIST, Palur Hills. The NIST members comprising of Faculty, Staff and Students experienced and enjoyed the Sky Ride, flying free at a height of 50ft to 300ft above the ground level. Around 218 students, many staff and faculty members participated in the activity. It was all made possible under the able stewardship of Mr. Vinay Kumar Das, Coordinator, Student Activity Center, NIST.

If one expects to find the rarest blend of raw ‘Adventure’ with exquisite ‘Heavenly Beauty’, it is this. ‘The National Himalayan Trekking’ takes one into the world of gentle walks along pine–shaded slopes over the city roads to hard, perspiring treks over rough and rocky terrains crossing high mountain passes, from challenging ‘on-the-top-of-bus’ rides on narrow paths (at a height of 7000-8000 ft) with no fencing to rappelling straight down from the mountains, gentle shuffling of skies on easy gradients of a snow covered meadow or a wind splitting rush of a heavy downpour or an even more exciting Ice-skiing experience, a soaring flight in a hangglider or the adventurous take on the white-water Rafting. You name it, Himachal has it. NIST organized the National Himalayan Trekking Expedition to Sarpass, a Himalayan range at the height of 13, 800ft above sea level. Every year Faculty members along with students take the chance of experiencing the chilly hills in the month of May being a part of this expedition which is coordinated by the Students Activity Centre, NIST in association with Youth Hostels Association of India (YHAI).

NIST organized a mini-trekking expedition for all first year students of the institute including Staff & Faculty members from RAMAIHA PATNAM to GOPALPUR SEA BEACH. Around 175 students, staff and faculty participated in the 18 kms long trek.

NIST e_news, the monthly news bulletin of the institute celebrated its 7th Anniversary in the college premises. The Central Sahitya Academy Awardee, Prof. Prafulla Kumar Mohanty, Former Principal, Ravenshaw (Autonomous) College, adorned the occasion being the Chief Guest along with Mr. Chandrashekhar Raopatnaik, Asst. General Manager, The Sambad, Berhampur. as the Guest of Honor. The entire program was coordinated by Mr. Dipti Ranjan Lenka and Mr. Amrut Phalguni Mohanty, Editors, NIST e_news.