Javed Siddiqui Receives Award from California State University Sacramento
By Ras H. Siddiqui
Every once in a while an event takes place that becomes a pleasure to report on. Especially noteworthy is one during which someone from within our community is recognized for his or her achievements by the American mainstream. When it was announced that Javed Tahir Siddiqui of Sacramento, California was one of the five recipients of the 2014 Sacramento State Distinguished Alumni Awards, Javed’s immediate and extended family, friends, employees, and leaders of the local Muslim community made it a point to attend the ceremony to share that honor with him.
Javed arrived in the United States during the 1960’s following in the footsteps of his late father Tahir Hasan Siddiqui, a scientist who had earlier attended Iowa State and then returned home. The Siddiqui family originates from the Amroha-Moradabad area in UP India, and later moved to Pakistan like many others after partition. Javed received his Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering from Sacramento State University (California State University, Sacramento) in 1970 and a Master’s in 1973. After working in the area for a while he started JTS Engineering Consultants in 1977, a company that has since become a local landmark with its offices on J Street in downtown Sacramento. JTS has done work on hundreds of infrastructure projects in the region including roads, water and sewer lines, drainage systems and parking lots.
But Javed’s contribution to the Sacramento community did not stop there. He added his expertise to the Sacramento State Campus itself, helping in planning Mendocino, Modoc and Placer Halls, the Capital Public Radio building and a campus parking structure. He has also supported the College of Engineering and Computer Science and has created an endowment for students and faculty. Another important contribution that JTS Engineering Consultants has made has been via the hiring of Sac State students and graduates as interns, to help get them started in their careers.
Javed graciously accepted his award from Sacramento State University President Alexander Gonzalez and gave a short acceptance speech in his usual dignified and humble manner. In attendance were his wife Amna Siddiqui and their four children Sarah, Mariam, Ali and Omar plus a granddaughter. Four of his siblings, all graduates of Sacramento State themselves, were also there with some members of their families. His sister Nasreen, and brothers Khalid, Riaz and Fareed live in the Sacramento area. Collectively this was a proud moment for all of them and for the local Muslim community to which the Siddiquis have been long-time contributors (e.g. the Downtown V Street Mosque and SALAM).
