Northwestern University in Qatar (NU-Q) has announced that six graduating students from the Class of 2016 have received Latin Honours, which are awarded to students who have achieved the highest academic honours.
The class valedictorian and highest-ranked student, Layan Amin Abdul Shkoor, was accorded summa cum laude. Receiving magna cum laude recognition were Syed Owais Ali and Tamador Mohamed al-Sulaiti. Three graduates, Alya Hilal Ahmed al-Harthy, James Thomas Copplestone Farmer and Malak Ahmed Monir were designated as cum laude.
“Each of these students compiled an enviable record of academic achievement in their designated major and in humanities and social science courses across the curriculum. They have achieved excellence in formal course work and by completing research projects and demonstrating proficiency in journalistic writing, strategic communication, and/or film studies,” said Everette E Dennis, dean and CEO at NU-Q.
Northwestern graduated its largest class on May 1 with 41 students representing 14 countries. In addition to Latin Honours, 10 students in the Class of 2016 achieved academic honours by being named to the Dean’s List between five and seven times during their time at NU-Q.
The honoured students and their classmates heard famed journalist Lyse Doucet, chief international correspondent at the BBC, speak to the Class of 2016 where she told them to “dream big” and to tell their story well.
With the 2016 class, NU-Q has graduated 181 students since its first ceremony in 2012.  NU-Q alumni, new and old, have notably achieved successes regionally and internationally in both media and communications - and in academia.