As Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q) celebrates the Class of 2025, four local graduates – Waad al-Maadeed, Ghanim al-Kubaisi, Jood Ikram Sheikh and John Carlos Burog – stand out for their exceptional leadership, cultural advocacy, and dedication to community-building.As a Qatari, *Waad al-Maadeed was shaped by a society that "values hospitality, tradition, and community while also embracing innovation and global engagement”.She credits this dynamic environment for inspiring her academic and leadership journey, which included serving as president of both the Al Liwan Qatari Club at the GU-Q and the Qatari Association of Qatar Foundation (QF), where she organised major events, built local partnerships, and expanded student engagement across Education City.Graduating with honours in International Politics with a minor in Arabic, al-Maadeed chose the GU-Q because she wanted to immerse herself in different cultures and ideas while staying connected to home.Hands-on internships with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, United Nations Doha Hub, and Qatar Investment Authority, among others, furthered her understanding of how to advance her nation.A sports enthusiast, al-Maadeed’s honours thesis explored Qatar-Saudi bilateral relations around the Qatar FIFA World Cup 2022, and she founded the GU-Q’s first fencing club which grew to 83 members."I introduced Qatar’s first and only women-only fencing training sessions offering a comfortable environment for women to participate,” she shared.Al-Maadeed represented Qatar at the Innoclimat Conference in Switzerland, presenting on national sustainability innovations as part of an official delegation.For Georgetown’s Model United Nations, she served as chair for both the English and Arabic iterations, co-ordinating the committees and welcoming more than 1,000 participants.She also led her peers on a "Women as Changemakers” trip to Washington, DC, connecting with influential female policymakers.With a major in International Politics, a minor in History, and a Certificate in Media and Politics, *Ghanim al-Kubaisi has used storytelling as a powerful vehicle for impact.His certificate research project explored Saudi Arabia’s media makeover under Vision 2030.On campus, al-Kubaisi led the Georgetown Leadership Ambassador society, enhancing outreach strategies and student engagement through hosting VIP guests on campus, including Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė, and organising a community festival about the Suhail season.He moderated panel discussions featuring diplomats, scholars, and thought leaders at GU-Q and QF events.With plans to continue in global communications and public diplomacy, he is committed to using media as a tool for connection and social good.International Economics major *Jood Ikram Sheikh graduated from Qatar Academy.At the GU-Q she served as a senior class representative, and on the Academic Council, and Student Liaison Committee, where she advocated for evaluation improvements and senior resources.Sheikh welcomed new students through the Admissions Ambassador programme, "Hoya Welcome Week”, and the First Year Experience programme, and mentored high school students through Model United Nations events and the Georgetown Pre-College Summer Programme.She also served as a peer tutor and teaching assistant in economics and math.Drawing from her experience of leadership on campus, and academic focus on the region – for her Certificate in Media and Politics, she drew on her local knowledge to study cyberfeminism and digital activism in the Gulf – she is preparing for a life of service.For Culture and Politics major *John Carlos Burog, education at the GU-Q was a journey of self-definition and cultural affirmation.Born in the Philippines and raised in Qatar, he co-founded Katipunan, the Society of Filipino Students."There are approximately 270,000 Filipinos in Qatar, and I feel it is my responsibility to raise awareness of their importance to the region,” he said.Graduating magna cum laude, Burog also received a minor in French and a Certificate in American Studies.A semester abroad in Washington, DC inspired him to study the Filipino diaspora more broadly: his certificate portfolio compares experiences of Filipinos/x in America to his own experience "growing up Filipino in a foreign country", while his honours thesis explored digital activism among the diaspora.He plans to pursue these topics further through a graduate degree in American Studies, with the goal of becoming a professor.From representing the university during new student Welcome Week, and as a GU-Q choir member, to winning awards for his participation on the debate team, and hosting the Model United Nations, Burog wove his academic work and co-curricular life into a larger narrative of inclusivity and agency – ensuring that his community’s stories are not only told, but understood.
May 05, 2025 | 12:07 AM