1

Nathickshilanthi Chandrasegar
Professor Bowers
English 1101
Profile Final Draft
10.30.2015
Champion of Change
In 2013, when I was in Sri Lanka, I opened my email to check for any updates. Then I
saw a mail from my aunt Inthumathy Sivananthan. When I read through the mail, I was
astonished to hear the great news that my uncle, Sivananthan Sivalingam was honored in the
White House and recognized as Champion of Change for his contributions to the changes he
pioneered in the field of physics as an immigrant innovator and entrepreneur. We were very
happy and my grandparents were very proud of their son in law. I was amazed by the
achievements of him as an immigrant in the United States, but I never had the opportunity to
spend more time with him until he was crowned. Luckily, I got a great chance to live with him
when I moved from Sri Lanka to the United States in 2014. It was when I started to admire him
for his attitudes as a person. I was only aware of his achievements before, but later I realized that
he is more than that.
My uncle Dr.Sivananthan Sivalingam was born in Sri Lanka and moved to the United
States in 1982. He is a tan, average height man with a trim beard and salt and pepper hairstyle.
Also he is a young looking person who mostly wears suits and has a smart walk wherever he
goes. He had his early education and completed B.Sc. Physics (1980) in Sri Lanka. A couple of
years later, after serving a brief period at Eastern University in Sri Lanka as an assistant Lecturer
in Physics, he migrated to the United States to continue his higher studies and obtained the MS
and Ph.D. degrees from University of Illinois at Chicago in 1988. He ended up specializing in

semiconductor physics. One of his major inventions in the field of physics is the MCT
(MercuryCadmiumTelluride) Infrared Night Vision technology which is been used in many fields
like military, medical and space, etc.
Currently, he is a Distinguished Professor of Physics at University of Illinois at Chicago,
Director of Microphysics Laboratory at UIC, Founder and Chairman of Sivananthan
Laboratories, Inc, CEO and Chairman of EPIR Technologies, Inc, Founder of Episolar, CoFounder of InSPIRE, and Founder of Episensors, Inc. It is truly amazing to live with such a
successful person and to write about his life. He is a hardworking and determined person. He
wont give up on anything easily; he likes to fight back against the struggles that life throws at
him. He always has a positive energy that impacts everyone around him. Work hard, Party hard
is something he always repeats. Although he is hard working and determined yet on the other
hand, he is someone who is very fun to stick with. Indeed he will make everyone happy with his
smile and interesting talk. In fact, he values work and family life equally. He takes care of
everyone around him and he loves to help people. I always find something interesting whenever I
talk to him.
When I asked him How was your transition from Eastern to Western culture; from Sri
Lanka to the U.S? He told me an interesting story. In 1982, I remember the way I landed in the
Ohio airport to join UIC at Chicago. When I saw the sign for the hot dog and I thought I didnt
know that Americans eat dog meat he said with a laugh. That was the knowledge I had about
this country when I landed, but the care they took as a human being, giving me the direction to
go out of the airport, making sure that I have a place to stay, the detail they have gone through to
make sure that Im okay is just incredible, that is the value this country has for the human
beings he concluded. This is something I found very interesting about him; having zero

knowledge about a new country when he landed; went through all the struggles and now he is a
very successful person who has been honored as Champion of Change in the White House in
2013 for his contributions to the changes he pioneered.
I was so eager to know how he is able to manage a lot at the same time. Therefore, I
asked him How do you manage so much going on in your life? He thought for a while and
replied me that he is used to this kind of busy life. He has to fly at least two times a month,
manage all the companies, got to teach the students at UIC and has to spend time with his wife
and daughters. If you love what you do, it wont be heavy for you he said. I personally felt that
is the driving force which helps him to move forward. Hes doing everything with his whole
heart which brings the hundred percent input out of him. Also he stated that apart from all these
I too have stressful times in my life as everyone else, and Im sure you know what I do to get rid
of those he smiled. Of course I could recall an incidence, one day he was inside the car with
loud music parked in the garage, after 20 minutes he came inside the house. That was the first
time I have seen him doing that. I was wondering what was going on, then he came to me and
said that is something he does to get rid of his stress. We shouldnt carry our work stress inside
the house, it should be left outside and you should find some alternative way to get rid of the
stress in your life as well he said. I could remember that advice even now. All these little morals
that he follows in his life inspires me a lot.
One of his well-known accomplishments is being honored as Champion of Change in
the White House. When I asked about that big day in his life, he said me that was a recognition
that belongs to his team University of Illinois at Chicago, his wife and his kids. I have to
definitely thank my parents who provided me the education and they did teach me to depend on
myself and to help the community when I can he said with emotion. Also he shared some

memories of the hard times he has gone through in Sri Lanka when he was young. Though he
was the sixth in his family he has to sell coconuts and mangoes from their garden to get his
pocket money. I understood that all those struggles he faced in the past has molded him to face
the life challenges.
In addition, another main quality I admire about him is his helping hands. He loves to
help his family members, his co-workers and the community. When we go out to eat, hell spend
around $200 giving tips. And he says that rather spending money on temples and religious
organizations giving money to hard working people is better and he believes in that. Also he
supports the students from Sri Lankan University to continue their higher studies in the United
States. Now as a contribution to his birthplace hes working on to make Sri Lanka the solar
energy hub in the Indian Ocean. Moreover, as his future plan hes going to reconstruct his old
house in Sri Lanka as a childrens orphanage. All these details indicates his helping mind and his
desire to give back to his country which provided him a strong foundation.
The dramatic change he has gone through in his life from a village community in Sri
Lanka to the White House in the United States is remarkable. I feel that my uncle, Dr.Sivanathan
Sivalingam who is a world- renowned physicist is an example to all the immigrants from all over
the world who might think, though this is a new land its hard to be successful in here and we
dont get priority as immigrants and so on. If we have the determination and hard work we can
achieve anything in this country. Also he said This is a country which treats the person for who
he is, not for the color and not for what he has I could understand how much he has earned from
this country and the respect he has for this country manifests his loyalty. His mission in life has
always been to give the very best to his family and friends, his students, his business, his country

and to the world. He is a person who plays all his roles perfectly and Im very proud to be a part
of his life.