The president of SDME Trust and Society is a visionary who contemplates the future with his base firmly embedded in the time tested values of the past. Being a perfectionist, he believes that education not only enriches the mind but also helps a person to earn his living using the knowledge and skills he has acquired. Hence, the emphasis on subjects that creates opportunities for employment finds a special place in the institutions under his patronage. Dr. D VeerendraHeggade succeeded his father Late Shri Rathnavarma Heggade to the position at a tender age of 20. It has been 51 years since, and his accomplishments speak volumes of his personality. In recognition of the same, a well-deserved Padma Vibhushan Award was awarded to him in 2015 by the Central Government of India.