HBKU honours six students for their commitment to excellence

Hamad bin Khalifa University granted six exceptional students the ‘President’s Award’ on Saturday in recognition of their academic excellence and commitment to making a difference both on campus and within the wider community.

The six winners from HBKU partner universities were honoured for their exceptional academic, service leadership and professional achievements during a celebratory ceremony that was held at Qatar National Convention Centre.

His Excellency Sheikh Dr Abdulla bin Ali Al-Thani, President of Hamad bin Khalifa University and Vice President of Education at Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, and Dr Khalid Mohammed Al Khanji, Vice President of Student Affairs at Hamad bin Khalifa University presented the six winners with certificates of achievement and a commemorative medallion to acknowledge their outstanding efforts. 

The President’s Award has been created to recognise the achievements and excellence of students graduating from HBKU partner universities. Beyond showing appreciation for the academic success of students, the award aims to acknowledge the students who have made a deep commitment to improving their communities by combining their educational excellence with other efforts in areas like student leadership, community service, arts, and research.

Dr Al-Thani expressed his pride in the students and congratulated them for engaging in community development initiatives and taking advantage of all the opportunities that are available to them.

“This is an exciting day for us to be celebrating the achievement of students so let me congratulate the winners of the 2013 President’s Award. Those students really showed an example not only through their outstanding academic achievement, but they really set an example by being role models for other fellow students, which has made us all proud,” said Dr Al-Thani.

The President’s Award strives to demonstrate HBKU’s appreciation for the students. As an emerging research university committed to excellence through learning, discovery, teaching and scholarship at all levels, HBKU is eager to honour their contributions as future global leaders, scholars, and citizens.

Dr Al-Thani explained, “It was not only their academic achievement that we looked at – we looked at many things, among them their participation on campus and in community development initiatives, their research efforts and what they would like to do in the future. We sought to find all-rounded students, and I am looking forward to them becoming productive members of our community.”

Twenty exceptional students with a Grade Point Average of 3.6 and above were nominated by their respective university deans this year. Each of the students completed an extensive application process that demonstrated how they took advantage of everything that their university, HBKU and Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development had to offer. A diverse committee reviewed and carefully assessed each application.

In the presence of university deans, family members, and donors, each of the six students was called on stage to collect their certificates as proud parents looked on. The event was also an opportunity for HBKU to recognise and award the organisations that have contributed to the students through scholarships.

The graduates chosen this year are AlJawhara Hassan Al-Thani, Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar, Dana Atrach, Northwestern University in Qatar, Eilin Liz Francis, Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar, Fadwa Ali, Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, Leila Natsheh, Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar, Mohammed AlShammasi, Texas A&M University at Qatar.

AlJawhara, a bright Qatari national, is determined to make a positive contribution to the nation and has a particular interest in education policy. She has always excelled as a student, and is now keen to embark upon the next chapter of life. The 22-year-old has earned a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service with a major in Culture and Politics. She expressed sincere gratitude for the opportunities afforded to her throughout her studies.

“It is amazing to be amongst such company and in a group with such people, because looking around they are the people who inspire me to do better, so to be chosen amongst them is a real honour,” said AlJawhara. “When someone recognises the hard work that you put into something, it is heartwarming. It is great that people really do pay attention to hard work.”

The exemplary student has participated in various extracurricular activities, such as Model United Nations, and travelled as part of a university programme called Zones of Conflict, Zones of Peace, to both Cambodia and Rwanda. She says, “It really opened my eyes to the ways in which post-conflict societies pull together and find innovative ways to mend the fractures between different parts of society… it was an all around wonderful growth opportunity and I got to know some of the other students on a more personal level.”

AlJawhara says she has socially matured by interacting and debating with students who have had completely different life experiences which has opened her eyes to a range of perspectives and realities. “The unique thing is the diversity of the population on campus. The range of beliefs, nationalities and experiences really mirrors the diversity found in an increasingly globalising world. Being a Qatari and choosing to study in Qatar instead of travelling, I was worried that I may have a limited experience, however that was not the case.”

The young graduate praised her parents for imparting upon her what she calls, “an incredible work ethic”. Likewise, AlJawhara’s parents expressed their delight that their daughter has made the most of the education she has received in Qatar. “I am really happy and very proud of my daughter’s achievements. I am glad that she chose to complete her undergraduate education here in Qatar. I just want her to achieve whatever she aspires to do in life, because as a parent I will always be proud of all her accomplishments,” said her mother, Lolowa Jassim Al Thani.

Another model student is Mohammed AlShammasi from Saudi Arabia, who has worked extensively in various areas of research within Chemical Engineering and participated in a host of extracurricular activities during his time at TAMUQ.

“After I joined Texas A&M University at Qatar and learned more about Chemical Engineering, my interest in research has grown. Thanks to the generous funding from Qatar Foundation, I have been exposed to research in various areas of Chemical Engineering and with excellent faculty and facilities.”

Mohammed, 24, believes that volunteering and tutoring fellow students has enriched his time at university. “Over the course of my undergraduate education, I spent a great deal of time in extracurricular activities that helped me develop my organisational, interpersonal and leadership skills,” says the promising graduate, who now holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering, with a minor in Chemistry. “My undergraduate education and service to the community have enriched me at both personal and academic levels.”

Mohammed has a proactive approach to fulfilling his future goals. Both his excellence and positive mindset have helped him gain acceptance into a number of prestigious postgraduate programmes in the United States. “I have this theory that you do not really sit down and dream of what you want to be, you see your options and when it is time, you choose something that you value and have a passion for.”

Dana Atrach, 21, who is graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Communication from NU-Q, echoed similar sentiments. She stressed that her extracurricular and volunteering activities as a student have helped to prepare her for the real world.

“Being on such an international campus has taught me how to respect and appreciate other cultures. It has taught me to collaborate and work with different kinds of people. The education I have received has given me skills that I can use and apply in the real world and instilled a confidence within me that will help me achieve success in work,” said the American graduate.

Dana’s self-discipline is evident in her outstanding achievements. She has worked tirelessly to build a community at NU-Q and recognising the importance of sports, she helped start the women’s basketball team and participated throughout her four years at university.