By Ross Jackson/Staff Reporter
The fifth graduating class of 34 student-athletes of the Aspire Academy was felicitated yesterday at a special ceremony at the Aspire Dome.
A graduate receives a merit certificate
The two-hour ceremony, attended by Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, Secretary General of the Qatar Olympic Committee, as guest of honour, celebrated the outstanding achievements of the Class of 2012.
Among the 34 student-athletes are 17 football players, three athletes, two swimmers, one gymnast, one fencer, two golfers, two squash players, two shooters, two tennis players, one table tennis player, and one equestrian athlete.
All 14 footballers have already joined professional clubs in Qatar. Two graduates, who are both gold medal winners in the Junior Asian Championships, were not able to attend the ceremony as they are in training camps.
One graduate is a high jumper and the other is a hammer thrower who has already established a new Asian record.
The graduates were accompanied by their parents and other family members, as well as key people from the Academy, as they were taken on a virtual journey of their time at Aspire via a film broadcast on giant screens around the venue.
The graduates with guests and officials at the felicitation ceremony held at the Aspire Dome. PICTURES: Jayan Orma
A total of 153 student-athletes in different sports have now graduated from Aspire, and those previous graduates were also honoured, in a special celebration in the academy.
In his address to the graduates, Aspire’s Director General, Ivan Bravo, said: “Tonight, we gather here to celebrate a remarkable event for the Aspire Academy, the auspicious graduation ceremony of the Aspire class of 2012. We are celebrating your commitment to excellence and hard work; your inspirational demonstration of perseverance and spirit. We hope to contribute to your further individual development in both personal and sporting career as athletes; through a new alumni programme that is made to pave the way for a future together. ”
Aspire’s Director of Education and Student Care, Bader al-Hay, also spoke to the students, stressing the importance of them acquiring technological skills to complement their educational and sporting ones.
“Our celebration tonight,” he said, “is the result of hard work and great effort, which distinguish all staff, teachers, coaches and administrators. This fifth class of graduate student athletes coincides this year with the graduation from universities of some of our first graduate athletes. And I am proud to share with you a survey showing that around 70% of graduates from previous classes have easily continued at universities for post graduate programmes which reflects our commitment to excellence.”
Commenting on his own journey at Aspire, graduate Abdulla al-Tamimi, said: “Aspire taught me self-discipline, passion towards education and hard work; it has helped me plan for my future.”
Fellow graduate Abdulrahman Mohamed Ali al-Korbi, a footballer, said: “Aspire changed my mentality. I was able to understand the real world and see the future better.”
Graduate Mohamed Nasser al-Khinji, added: “Aspire influenced my life greatly. It helped me manage my time and made me grow as an individual. It helped me develop my sporting and academic performances and taught me life-skills and how to deal with hard times.”