Abu Dhabi Women's College honors select partners with Tamayyuz Awards

The event to celebrate the College's outstanding community partners included the Desert Rose 2009 Art Exhibition, showing works done by the College's senior Applied Media students.

In addition, the ceremony provided an occasion to honor the first graduates from HCT's Master's of Innovation and Entrepreneurship program. Special guests were best-selling author Dan Clark and UAE-based ensemble Dubai Drums.

His Excellency delivered a keynote address and presented graduate diplomas to nearly forty new Masters of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, a master's degree which equips graduates with the business skills to identify and exploit new business opportunities.

Turning his attention to HCT's community supporters, His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan then presented the Tamayyuz Partnership Awards to organizations which have played a significant role in sponsoring various activities for Abu Dhabi Women's College students in 2008-2009. Support has included sponsorship of international trips for students, work placement assignments, and contributions and donations for several student projects.

The College established the Tamayyuz Awards in spring 2008 as a way to show appreciation for the support College students receive from selected organizations.

Awards were given to National Bank of Abu Dhabi; Sorouh Real Estate; Securities and Commodities Authority; Takreer; Abu Dhabi Police; Al Noor Hospital; Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce; BrandMoxie; Al Afaq Model School; Abu Dhabi Terminals; Embassy of Japan; Embassy of the USA; Hewlett Packard; SEHA; Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation; and ADGAS.

In addition, Dr. Ahmed Khoori accepted a Tamayyuz Culture and Heritage Award in recognition of his exceptional support for the College's efforts to preserve Emirati culture. A key Tamayyuz award went to the College's Alumna of the Year, Layla Saeed Al Dhaheri, a 2002 graduate who has helped the College strengthen its bonds with its thousands of alumnae.

"ADWC's students have had an outstanding year, both academically and in their extracurricular activities. They owe much of their success to the support of these significant community partners. We are pleased to have an opportunity to acknowledge our partners' contributions and to say 'thank you.',"

said Dr. Bradley Cook, ADWC's Director.

The assembly was delighted to hear from the author and motivational speaker Dan Clark. Clark, best known for his contributions to the ubiquitous 'Chicken Soup for the Soul' series of books, shared insights he's learned from his own challenging experiences to encourage his listeners to expect the best from themselves and those around them. One listener described Clark as 'a master storyteller.'

The hall was set up to show Desert Rose 2009, an exhibition of art and design which was displayed recently at Abu Dhabi's Ghaf Gallery. Desert Rose showcases the work of ADWC's graduating Applied Media students, with projects produced over the last three years. The pieces on display include posters, brochures, photographs, and public service announcements.

Abu Dhabi Women's College is part of the Higher Colleges of Technology. All media references to the organization should be noted as the Higher Colleges of Technology's Abu Dhabi Women's College or Abu Dhabi Women's College of HCT.