March 1, 2013 (Washington, DC) –The Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) congratulates Gurpreet Singh Sarin of North Potomac, Maryland, a graduate of SALDEF”s inaugural SikhLEAD Leadership Development Program, on his performances of American Idol 2013. Throughout the competition, Gurpreet represented Sikh values and served as role model for young Sikh Americans across the country by showing them how to always pursue their dreams, while not sacrificing who they are.
You can read more about Gurpreet, by visiting the following links:
VIDEO: (Youtube)
ARTICLE: Gurpreet Sarin on Singing His Way Past Stereotypes
Last night, in Las Vegas, Nevada, Gurpreet performed as part of the final 20 male contestants in the competition. Although Gurpreet was not selected to join the final 10, his performances and the exploration of his background throughout the season, were a landmark achievement for him and the Sikh American community as whole.
“Being on American Idol was an amazing experience that I will never forget”, said Gurpreet. “I am so thankful to the show and the judges for the opportunity they gave me to pursue my dream. This journey wouldn’t have been possible without the support and inspiration I gained from my family, friends, and the SikhLEAD program as well as all of my online supporters and #Singhers.”
VIDEO: Gurpreet’s Farewell message to viewers of American Idol (Youtube)
ARTICLE: Interview with American Idol’s “Turbanator” Gurpreet Singh Sarin (Sikh24)
SALDEF Board Member, Kavneet Singh, stated that, “We are very proud of Gurpreet for his outstanding performances and the way he represented himself and the Sikh community. Beyond showcasing his remarkable talent, Gurpreet exhibited great humility, passion for his craft, and served as an inspiration to the community; all while being visibly identifiable as a Sikh and spreading awareness about the Sikh identity to millions of Americans across the country. We are elated by his success, and extend our continued best wishes in all his future endeavors.”
Gurpreet is a 22-year old student at the University of Maryland, pursuing a degree in Computer and Information Science, and will be graduating this coming May. He began learning music at a very young age — focused on kirtan, gurmat sangeet and Indian classical music — and then began playing the guitar and western music over the last year-and-a-half. Gurpreet plans to continue his studies in technology but additionally plans to focus on music with hopes of making that a career.