Loyola Alumni Day 2026Alumni gatherings offer institutions a chance to bring past and present members of their communities together, while creating space to revisit shared experiences and recognise individual journeys since leaving campus. In this spirit, the Loyola Alumni Association (LAA) hosted Loyola Alumni Day 2026 at Bertram Hall, bringing together Jesuit Fathers, distinguished alumni, and guests for an evening of celebration, reflection, and recognition of achievements across diverse fields.The evening began at 4:00pm with the Association's Office Bearers and Organising Committee assembling to welcome awardees, VIPs, and guests, followed by high tea and interaction. A ceremonial procession from Bertram Hall to the main stage set the tone for the celebrations, accompanied by the College anthem, the Thamizh Thai Vazhthu, and a prayer song.Dr G. Viswanathan, President of the Loyola Alumni Association, delivered the Welcome Address, followed by a message from Rev. Dr Antony Robinson SJ, Vice Chairman and Rector of Loyola College. The Chief Guest, Rev. Dr Britto Vincent SJ, Chairman and Provincial of the Jesuit Chennai Province, was honoured and addressed the gathering, after which a special video presentation showcased the journey and initiatives of the Jesuit Chennai Province.Award ceremony felicitates 12 achieversThe centrepiece of the evening was the Award Ceremony, where the Master of Ceremonies invited twelve outstanding alumni to the stage across various categories of excellence:CategoryAwardeeGuiding Light Award 2026Benjamin CherianGuiding Light Award 2026Dr. C. Raj KumarBusiness Leader Award 2026Dilip R VellodiBusiness Leader Award 2026Vijay SankarService Excellence Award 2026S. Jayakumar IPSService Excellence Award 2026A. Catherine Saranya IASGlobal Excellence Award 2026Sal PazhoorGlobal Excellence Award 2026Moin PazhoorProfessional Excellence Award 2026Dr. S. Sundar ManoharanCreative Excellence Award 2026Suriya SivakumarSports Achiever Award 2026Vijay AmritrajFriends of Loyola Award 2026J. Rafiq AhmedEach awardee received their award from Chief Guest Rev. Dr. Britto Vincent SJ, a shawl from senior Jesuit management, and a memento presented by members of the Association's Executive Committee.Actor Suriya Sivakumar receives the Creative Excellence AwardAmong the evening's most memorable moments was actor Suriya Sivakumar receiving the Creative Excellence Award 2026, an occasion that brought him back to his alma mater with visible warmth and nostalgia.Speaking to the gathering, Suriya reflected on how deeply his Loyola education has shaped his identity, noting that whenever people ask about his educational background, he responds simply and proudly with ‘B.Com, Loyola’ - a reply he says carries the weight of the respect the institution commands.He expressed heartfelt gratitude to the college administration, faculty, and the wider student community for their steadfast support of his educational initiatives over the years.In a lighter, rousing moment that drew warm applause from the audience, Suriya urged fellow alumni to wear their Loyola identity with pride, encouraging the gathering with his now widely shared line, ‘Loyolannu ketha sollunga’ - essentially, an exhortation to declare one's Loyola roots with confidence and swagger.A note of recognition as the evening draws to a close Following the award presentations, Dr. Xavier Britto, Vice President of the Loyola Alumni Association, offered felicitations to the awardees. Mr. Karthik Sabanayagam, President of the Chennai Chapter of the Loyola Alumni Association, shared insights into the chapter's journey and initiatives. Mr. Robin MA Jacob, Chairman of Loyola Alumni Day 2026, delivered the vote of thanks.The evening concluded with a group photograph featuring the Provincial, Rector, Secretary, Principal, Alumni Director, Unit Directors, awardees, and members of the Executive and Governing Councils, followed by the National Anthem.Sports as part of the celebrationsChennai Chapter of LAA initiated the first ever Loyola Alumni Sports Day 2026 and organised well on Saturday, 8th August 2026, featuring the Loyola Alumni Tennis Ball Cricket League (LATCL) and the Loyola Alumni Doubles Badminton Championship (LADBC) as a prelude to the mega alumni day celebrations. The tournaments got a rousing welcome among the alumni participants and students.Loyola Alumni Day 2026 once again reaffirmed the enduring bond between Loyola College and its alumni community, celebrating achievement, service, and the shared legacy of a Jesuit education.The event was organised under the guidance of Rev. Dr. A. Louie Albert SJ, Director. Loyola Alumni Association. Rev. Dr. D. Thomas Alexander SJ, Secretary and Rev. Dr. A. Louis Arockiaraj SJ, Principal of Loyola College graced the occasion.Disclaimer - The above content is non-editorial, and TIL hereby disclaims any and all warranties, expressed or implied, relating to it, and does not guarantee, vouch for or necessarily endorse any of the content.