Texas A and M at Qatar welcomes chemical engineering honor society

Dr. Mohamed Nounou, associate professor of chemical engineering and OXE faculty advisor, says he joined OXE at Texas A&M University's main campus in College Station, Texas, in 1995. He commented on the purpose of the society, saying, "One objective of Omega Chi Epsilon is to recognize the academic achievements of exceptional chemical engineering students. Other objectives include promoting original investigation, comradeship and professionalism, and supporting the University's Chemical Engineering Program and its student body. So, in addition to the individual recognition students receive by joining OXE, they also gain the opportunity to contribute towards accomplishing these objectives."

Dr. Mark Weichold, dean and CEO of Texas A&M at Qatar,tied the honor society's introduction on the campus to the University's core values."Excellence is one of Texas A&M University's core values," he said. "Welcoming the honor society Omega Chi Epsilon to Texas A&M at Qatar is a mark of excellence for the campus as a whole and will provide the University's chemical engineering students with an opportunity to be recognized for exhibiting excellence in their field."

Twenty-five Texas A&M at Qatar chemical engineering students were initiated at the campus' first initiation ceremony.

Joseph Costandy, chemical engineering student and OXE president, said, "Honor societies greatly enhance a learning environment because of the motivation they give us as students to work harder. OXE will also improve the Texas A&M at Qatarcampus environment as a whole because the society's events and goals will benefit everyone, whether or not they are chemical engineering majors. For these reasons, I am very excited to be part of this honor society and look forward to representing the society as its president for the coming year."

Costandy added he is proud the society will provide students with a venue for exhibiting and upholding important values including professionalism, service and comradeship.

Chemical engineering students at the University of Illinois founded OXE in 1931. The society currently includes over 20,000 members and is a member of the Association of College Honor Societies. Texas A&M University founded an OXE chapter in 1970, and the chapter is currently one of the society's largest.