Excellence Shines Bright at AURAK

The American University of Ras Al Khaimah (AURAK) hosted its Academic Honors Convocation and Student Recognition Award Ceremony 2019 to honor its students possessing the drive to excel in both areas of academics and athletics.

AURAK’s Academic Honors Convocation and Student Recognition Award Ceremony 2019, held to honor their most outstanding student achievements, opened with the UAE National Anthem and the recitation from the Holy Quran by Mr. Maswood Hafiz Sakur. The Masters of Ceremonies, Ms. Wiktoria Aleksandra Szydlak and Mr. Rashid Sabil Emoron, welcomed students, faculty, and family to the ceremony and introduced Vice President of Academic Affairs and Student Success and Provost, Professor Stephen Wilhite.

“Tonight we are acknowledging AURAK’s best and brightest in academics and sports activities. These awards recipients share a common attribute, the drive to excel,” were the words of AURAK’s in his welcoming address, kicking off the night’s festivities. As he faced the faculty, family, and friends of the night’s shining stars, he expressed AURAK’s expectations for them to reach their full potential, “We expect great things of you. We expect you to be nothing less than world changers.”

Students demonstrating excellence received awards from Professor Wilhite and a representative from their school. The School of Engineering was represented by Dr. Hamed Assaf, the Associate Dean of Engineering and Associate Professor of Civil Engineering, the School of Business was represented by Dean Joseph Wallis and the School of Arts and Sciences was represented by the Professor of English, Arabic, and Translation Studies of the Languages and Literature Department, Professor Kamal Abdel-Malek. The Associate Provost for Academic and Student Affairs, Dr. Denise Gifford, and the Manager of the Department of Student Life, Ms. Reema Abu Hilal, bestowed Student Recognition Awards and Student Sports and Athletics Awards. The evening concluded with a group photo of the students and a reception.