February 28, 2019,

The American University of Ras Al Khaimah’s (AURAK) Language and Literature Department concluded their creative writing competition with an awards ceremony highlighted by a presentation from AURAK’s own Assistant Professor of Linguistics, Dr. Khaledah Yousef Ghareeb Al Mansoori.

The annual creative writing competition, which is aimed at fostering the development of student writing skills, commenced in September with the “Creative Writing Competition Workshop.” Any AURAK student was allowed to enter a short story, over any theme, for the competition, which ran through December 15, 2019. Dr. Sanaa Benmessaoud, Assistant Professor of Translation and Comparative Studies, initiated the awards ceremony by welcoming the audience and student participants and introducing the speaker, Dr. Khaledah, who recounted her personal experience in contributing to the recent publication of Memories of the Fragrant Past. The throng was then treated to a musical interlude performed by AURAK student musicians, Mohab Hamada, Majid Nasser, and Mohammad Adnan Altaher, and a video featuring the writing contestants. Awards were then presented to the winners by the Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, Professor Daniel Kirk, and the Dean of the Office of Academic Support Services, Professor Steven Zani.

The top three stories received monetary awards, a certificate, and their stories were published. Mohamed Emam’s “The Insult of Loss” won first place and 800 AED, Ghada Shalaby’s ”Perks of Living on the Edge of Land” won second place and 600 AED, and Marwa Qabille’s “Between Somewhere and Nowhere” won third place and 400 AED. Nadia Osman placed fourth for “Raven,” Basel Al Tawil placed fifth with “Asmma,” and Sharon Asuareneme placed sixth for “Safe.” All three contestants were awarded appreciation certificates. The ceremony was brought to a close with pleasant communion and refreshments.

AURAK President, Professor Hassan Hamdan Al Alkim, was pleased with the department’s continued devotion to supporting powerful initiatives that provide engaging instruction, cultivating essential skills such as creative writing, for creating global citizens.