India-Born Scholars Receive NJIT Excellence Awards
Three educators earn recognition for their contributions to teaching and innovation at the Newark university.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Scholarships
Three India-born scholars were honored with 2026 Nexus of Excellence Awards by the New Jersey Institute of Technology. The university presented the awards to recognize outstanding achievements in instruction, innovation, and research.
Why it matters
These awards highlight the significant roles faculty and staff play in fostering academic and community excellence. Recognizing these contributions reinforces the university commitment to mentoring, advising, and high-level research.
Aritra Dasgupta, Ashish Borgaonkar, and Shahid Akbar received the 2026 awards. Shahid Akbar is a 3rd year PhD candidate in the Materials Science program.
The players
Ashish Borgaonkar
He is the founding director of the Newark College of Engineering's Grand Challenges Scholars Program.
Aritra Dasgupta
He currently directs the Intelligible Information Visualization lab at the university.
Shahid Akbar
He is a 3rd year PhD candidate in the university's Materials Science program.
New Jersey Institute of Technology
This is a public research university located in Newark that presents annual awards to recognize faculty and staff excellence.
The details
The New Jersey Institute of Technology held an awards ceremony to celebrate staff and faculty for contributions to teaching, research, and service. Honorees included Ashish Borgaonkar, who received the Master Teacher designation and an Excellence in Innovation in Education award, Aritra Dasgupta for graduate instruction, and Shahid Akbar for teaching assistance.
Timeline
October 14, 2026: The university held the awards ceremony.
Culture Shift
The 2026 event follows the established pattern set by the annual Nexus of Excellence Awards to honor academic contributions. This recognition reflects a broader societal trend of highlighting diverse international expertise within American higher education.
These awards provide local students and community members with insights into the expertise and research capabilities driving the Newark campus. The recognition of these scholars highlights the quality of instruction and mentoring available within the local university system.
The takeaway
Recognizing educators who excel in instruction and innovation is essential for maintaining high academic standards at research institutions. Such awards serve as a reminder of the vital impact that dedicated faculty and student researchers have on the campus community.
Further reading
For additional information on support programs, visit the Newark scholarships page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The American Bazaar.
