The American School of Doha (ASD) yesterday hosted a Founders’ Day event, as part of the institution’s 25th anniversary celebrations.
The event showcased the ASD’s history through words and presentations as well as the unveiling of a sculpture donated by oil and gas producer Occidental Petroleum Qatar (Oxy Qatar) in honour of the founders.
The school was established in 1988 by the US embassy and former education minister HE Sheikh Mohamed bin Hamad bin Abdullah al-Thani.
The event was attended by original founder Dr Joseph Ghougassian, a former US ambassador to Qatar and first chairman on the board of trustees.
The event was attended by the founder board of trustees members Omar bin Hamad al-Mana, who was represented by his son Bader al-Mana, Jassim Mohamed Jaidah, and Hasan Jassem Darwish.
One of the original benefactors, Ahmed al-Mannai, was represented by his son Khaled al-Mannai.
Diane Douglass Quinn, who was the first principal of the school, and former ambassadors of the US to Qatar, Chase Untermeyer and Mark Hamley, were also present.
The sculpture donated by Oxy will honour the founders and contributors who had the vision and persistence to respond to a school that served the interests of the American, Qatari and international communities. It will be a permanent tribute to the legacy to those individuals.
“We are so proud of our school and appreciative of the support provided by the US embassy, the State of Qatar, the Supreme Education Council and our school community,” ASD director Dr Deborah Welch said.
“ASD started with 88 students in a villa, and today we are on a 20-acre land with more than 2,000 students with 75 nationalities. The sculpture represents ASD students encircling the globe but being united as one community, appreciating the diversity and uniqueness of other cultures.
“We thank Oxy Qatar for this generous donation, and we are proud of this partnership that has continued to grow with time.”
Oxy Qatar president and general manager Steve Kelly said: “Oxy Qatar has been a supporter of the American School of Doha for many years and is proud of this long-standing partnership.
“Our connection with the school – as trustees, board members, volunteers and parents – means we have been able to witness first-hand the school’s evolution through the years to become the outstanding educational centre of excellence it is today.
“We are delighted to have played our part in the creation of this unique sculpture, symbolising the school’s cultural diversity and global reach.”