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Professor Kevin Nawn, Acting Chair of the Liberal Arts Department welcomed the audience and set the tone for the event that recognizes students who have strongly contributed to the well-being and prosperity of AUD in curricular and extracurricular domains.
Ms. Bushra Finaish, Assistant Dean of Student Services and Student Support Manager at AUD, introduced the awards, which include the Student Leadership Award, Student Service Awards, Student Government Association Award, Student Ambassador Awards, Best Student Organization, Best Student Event, and the Best Male and Female Student Athletes. The awards were presented by the administrative members of the AUD Student Services Department.
The President's Awards for Student Excellence, Teaching Excellence, Institutional Effectiveness, and Distinguished Service were also awarded and were presented by Dr. Lance de Masi, President of AUD.
Following the Awards Ceremony, the Palestinian Cultural Club, winners of Outstanding Student Organization entertained the crowd with their beautiful oud, organ and drums playing along with Ms. Azza Zaarour, first year Communication & Information Studies student who charmed everyone with her singing.
After dinner was served, The Vibe Dance Club performed a remarkable show, kicking off the evening with their dancing; students, faculty and staff members, quickly joined in the celebration of the graduating class of 2009.
The President's Award for Student Excellence, the university's highest student honor was presented by Dr. Lance de Masi, President of AUD; this award is given to the student who has excelled at AUD through academics, leadership, participation and involvement in many divisions and activities at AUD, thus emulating the values of the University.
This year's recipient is Ms. Zoia Khan, a Banking and Finance senior student described by President de Masi as having a 'quiet 'can do' attitude and a disposition always to go beyond the call of duty.'
Dr. Tarek Mady, Chair of Marketing and Marketing Communications and Assistant Professor of Marketing received the President's Award for Teaching Excellence, granted to a faculty member who has excelled in his / her teaching.
"A scholar who through on-going research regularly contributes to a professional discipline. He is as comfortable delivering in front of a group of corporate executives as in front of a group of undergraduates. What I believe bonds him to both groups is a concern for how people learn and what role he can play in the transference of that knowledge," said President de Masi while introducing Dr. Mady.
The President's Award for Institutional Effectiveness was received by Dr. Ali al Hajj Mahmoud, Assistant Professor of Computer Engineering for his work with the accrediation process.
"The initiative and collaborative skills possessed by this individual have facilitated the unit's adoption of a number of direct and indirect assessment measures. To speak to a regulatory body on behalf of an academic discipline can be tricky business, but this year's honoree has risen to the occasion - confidently and with the required knowledge and capability," says President de Masi.
The President's Award for Outstanding Service, a reward bestowed upon a faculty or staff member who has made significant ongoing contributions to AUD above and beyond the call of duty, was exceptionally assigned to a department this year, the Department of Visual Communication, chaired by Prof. Roberto Lopardo.
President de Masi praised, "Behind all the exhibits, shows and displays, successful participation in contests, workshops given by leaders in the professions, sponsorships and faculty and student grants, I see Service spelled with a capital "S" and the recognition to AUD that comes with it."
The President also distributed the yearly International Advertising Association Diplomas to 24 Marketing Communication and Creative Advertising Students, reminding everyone that AUD is the pioneer university in the Gulf to offer this Diploma.
Student Services Award recipients
• Student Leadership Awards: Sareh Ameri-Mills, Shurooque Baloch, Rany Metry Deskoores, Flavio Faustini, Alia Saleh.
• Student Services Awards: Abeer Al Haj Hassan, Shilpa Asnani, Amin El Hajj, Abhilash Raj, Osama Mohammad Shuaib
• Student Government Award: Paddampat Bhatia
• Outstanding Student Organization: Palestinian Cultural Club
• Outstanding Event of the Year: Wooden Bridge Competition, organized by CESA
• AUD Ambassador Awards: Sareh Ameri-Mills (LOFT competition), Fatemah Banizaman (APID Dornbracht competition 3 day trip to Germany), Mostafa Khojah (Clinton Global Initiative University), Mahnaz Mohammadpour (LOFT trip to Milan/Italy famous Milan Furniture Show), Madonna Morgan (Clinton Global Initiative University)
• Female Athlete of the Year: Yasmine Al Kandari
• Male Athlete of the Year: Navid Eshghi.
IAA Diplomas awared to: Abir Nabil Achkar, Lina Mazen Abou Chaaban, Layal Abu Khalil, Tamara Mohammed Al Azab, Mohamed Helal Al Balooshi, Anna Maria Antoine Aoun, Dalia Helmi Badawiyeh, Waad Rami Barghouti, Rana Refaat Behairy, Fatima Suliman Dockrat, Joyce Hassan El-Amil, Lama Atef Helweh, Ritu Suresh Jadhwani, Kavitha Kanakar, Maya Isam Kusybi, Zeeshan Ali Merchant, Monisha Mirchandani, Ahmad Mohammad, Moustafa Mohammed, Zenia Mowdawala, Jihad Nehme, Neha Patel Malda Talal Smadi, Phoebe Erian Youssef.
Student Awards
Students who have strongly contributed and brought glory to AUD through athletics, club activities, community service, leadership and academics are honored every year at the AUD Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony.
Student Leadership Awards
Awarded to students who have demonstrated outstanding leadership on campus
Student Service Awards
Awarded to active students who have volunteered regularly and consistently over the course of the academic year and/or intensively for a particular project
Student Government Awards
Awarded to any student, who through an active role in the SGA for the current academic year, has truly made a difference to university life
Outstanding Student Organization
Awarded to the one student organization who met regularly during the course of the academic year, hosted at least two activities per semester, had an agenda for development, officers, a faculty advisor and an organizational plan.
Outstanding Event of the Year
Awarded to the one student-created and executed activity that was the most spectacular
AUD Ambassador Awards
Awarded to student who have brought honor to the University through their first place achievement in competitions and projects in the community
Outstanding Male Athlete
Awarded to the one male athlete who has excelled athletically, deemed to be the most valuable to the team and embodies the spirit of AUD Athletics (sportsmanship, citizenship, team work and understanding the spirit of the game)
Outstanding Female Athlete
Awarded to the one female athlete who has excelled athletically, deemed to be the most valuable to the team and embodies the spirit of AUD Athletics (sportsmanship, citizenship, team work and understanding the spirit of the game)
President's Award for Student Excellence
Awarded to a student who has excelled at AUD through academics, leadership, involvement in several university activities, and emulates AUD's values and beliefs
President's Award for Teaching Excellence
Awarded to the faculty member who has contributed to the University through extraordinary performance as a teacher and has contributed to student development through student service and mentoring outside the classroom
President's award for Institutional Effectiveness
Awarded annually to a faculty or staff member for a superlative contribution to AUD's institutional effectiveness initiatives. The basis for this Award will be an outstanding achievement within the IE sphere (e.g., assessment/measurement, continuous improvement, strategy formulation, establishment of learning outcomes, etc.) resulting in a significant enhancement in the achievement of AUD's Mission.
President's Award for Distinguished Service
Awarded to a faculty or staff member who has made significant ongoing contributions to AUD above and beyond the call of duty and whose impact on the institution is formidable and universally recognized.
Posted by Rana Mesbah
