His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan presents Sheikha Fatima Awards to 30 GEMS students

The fifth annual award includes a scholarship to cover a year's tuition fee at a GEMS school and a memento. The Awards were started by GEMS in 2005 to honour Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, wife of late President His Highness Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, for her contributions to the empowerment of the UAE women, and her support for excellence in all areas. The event acknowledges Her Highness' role as mother of the nation, and her vision to celebrate, and support women's achievements and self determination.

The award has traditionally recognised young women from GEMS schools in the UAE. This year the award was extended to all female students from GEMS schools around the Middle East. Six young women from Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan, Libya attended today's award ceremony.

Under the patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, today, 30 young women received this award. They are: Alya Sultan Hasan Al Zaabi, Alyzae Feroze, Ammu Joshy, Ayesha Naseem, Besiana Sinanaj, Charu Jangid, Diya Kattukaran, Felicia Wetterlin, Geradine Supriya Suresh, Hafsa Zia, Hasangi Imasha Karunamuni, Jasmine Stoltzfus, Jumanah W. Mohammed Al Ayoubi, Leanna Shuttleworth, Lisa Paravano, Megan Elizabeth Smit, Merlin Elizabath Thomas, Karishma Sabarigiri, Lekshmi Vijayamohanan, Olivia Tonner, Priyanka Basawaraj Hongal, Raghavi Naidu, Reem Mattar Khalifa Al Mazaina, Riya Susan Mathews, Safa Siddiqi, Sana Farooqui, Shalaka Laxman, Shreya Mary Kuruvilla, Sohier Mobin, Yara Hazem Hussein Mohamed.

In his speech, His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, said:

"I am very pleased to be here today to share the celebration of the winners of the fifth annual Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Award for Excellence. These prestigious academic awards recognise the achievements of our students and serve to encourage them to continue to excel."

"I want to thank everyone who made today's ceremony possible. First I thank the winners of these awards for their accomplishments. Second, these awards relate strongly to the educational mission of the GEMS schools who serve their students by promoting innovation and excellence in education. Third, I thank the teachers, the staff, and the principals of the schools. Fourth, I greet the parents and family members who are with us to celebrate the achievements of their children," His Excellency added.

These outstanding girls were nominated by their schools and were chosen based on outstanding academic success, significant contribution to environmental concerns, their high level of commitment to the communities they live in and their demonstration of world citizenship.

GEMS Founder and Chairman Sunny Varkey congratulated the students, parents and teachers, and urged the winners to pursue excellence in all their future endeavours. "I congratulate these young girls for their exceptional academic achievements and their significant contributions to their schools and the community."

"The Sheikha Fatima Awards celebrate promising students in our schools and encourage them to maintain their social commitment as well as academic and extra curricular excellence. We are committed to promoting talent and supporting our youth for their contributions to society," Varkey added.

The Award is another example of the commitment by GEMS schools to recognise and celebrate the achievements of GEMS students, while providing them with quality education.