In response to growing concerns among Indian students in the United States regarding safety, mental health, immigration, and career opportunities, the American Telugu Association (ATA) organized a comprehensive Student Orientation Program on November 2, 2025, at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, the alma mater of Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella.

The event, held in collaboration with multiple Indian student organizations, sought to provide practical guidance, mentorship, and resources to help international students adjust to life and studies in the U.S. According to a statement from ATA, the program drew strong participation and featured an impressive lineup of speakers, including law enforcement officials, immigration attorneys, career counselors, insurance experts, and entrepreneurs.

Key Sessions and Highlights

Safety and Security: Chief of Police Brian Switala and Police Lieutenant Alexander Ewend from the UW–Milwaukee Police Department shared essential safety strategies and briefed students on university and local resources available for handling emergencies.

Campus Life and Community Integration: Dr. Swarnjit S. Arora, Emeritus Professor of Economics, encouraged students to broaden their perspectives through cross-cultural experiences and emphasized the importance of communication and interpersonal skills for success in a global environment.

Pathways to Internships and Careers: Industry leaders Ravi Reddy (CEO, serial tech entrepreneur, and venture investor), Kiran Pasham (Co-founder, President, and Architect of SplashBI), and K.K. Reddy (entrepreneur) offered practical insights on securing internships, networking effectively, and building long-term careers in technology and related sectors.

Navigating Immigration Policies: Attorneys from Somireddy Law Firm and the Law Offices of Prashanthi Reddy provided guidance on maintaining immigration compliance under CPT and OPT regulations, while addressing recent challenges faced by students.

Health and Life Insurance Awareness: Insurance specialist Krishna Rangaraju highlighted the importance of having comprehensive health and life insurance coverage and discussed the various plans available to international students.

ATA Leadership and Acknowledgments

The event was led by ATA President Jayanth Challa, Secretary Sainath Reddy Boyapalli, and the Board of Trustees, with members Maheedar Muskula, Ven Reddy, R.V. Reddy, and Krishna Rangaraju in attendance.

According to the statement, ATA Media Chair Bhanu Swargam and the Milwaukee organizing team—including Polireddy Ganta, Chandramouli Saraswathi, Jayanth Para, Karunakar Reddy, Venkat Jalari, Santhoshi Valluri, Raja Nethi, Vivekanand Kommineni, and Vikranth Reddy Kunduru—played a central role in event coordination and logistics.

Special appreciation was extended to SAI Group volunteers Nikhila Kalidindi and Jawahar Reddy, who helped facilitate student engagement and ensured the smooth execution of the program.

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