Doha: Hamad bin Khalifa University (HBKU), recently held the 3rd Annual Takreem Awards. The ceremony at the HBKU Student Centre, recognised achievements from the past academic year and served as a rallying point for community members to engage and inspire each other towards further success. This year, 12 awards were presented in the areas of leadership, community service, healthy sportsmanship, academic success, diversity, and sustainability.
Nominations were open for three weeks, encouraging Education City community members to take a moment to reflect upon the past academic year and consider the contributions and accomplishments of their peers and colleagues. The award ceremony was the largest yet and saw over 100 nominations. Award winners were identified not only by their contributions to the collaborative spirit at Education City, but also for their commitment to ethical action, innovative thinking, and civic engagement.
Ameena Hussain, Director of Student Life at HBKU, said: “Every year, I am amazed at the growth and breadth of new programmes and activities initiated by students of HBKU and its partner universities. The Takreem Awards is one way in which we wish to highlight the achievements of the Education City community as a whole and instil a sense of pride within those who study or work here.”
She added: “By taking a moment to pause and reflect on the past year, we not only celebrate our successes, but also identify where there is room for improvement. As a wider community, we want to be known not only for the academic rigor of our degrees and programs, but also for the talent, creativity, leadership, and altruism of our student bodies.”
Bilal Shakir, a Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar student, affiliated with Not Your Average Spring Break (NYASB), accepted the award for Service Project of the Year. The annual service learning trip, sponsored by HBKU and Reach Out to Asia, took 24 students to Bayyat, Indonesia, this year. Shakir said: ““NYASB programme is essentially a year-long community service program that culminates in an international student service learning trip. We had semester-long workshops every week to educate participants about the difficulties and challenges of service learning, and to familiarise themselves with the region and the community we would be serving. Like any group, in the beginning, some people were shy and we had to develop trust, but by the end, everyone was laughing together and enjoying each other’s company. It was very rewarding to see that change happen in front of me.”
Other award winners included Siwon Kim (Promising First Year Student), Francine Dingaslan (Student Leader of the Year), and Ali Najeeb (Athlete of the Year). A Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar alumnus, Basil Mahfouz, was recognized with the Safeer Award for his continued involvement in local and international events, ongoing participation in EC community events and activities, and professional career track record of leadership skills.
The Peninsula
