HE Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Saud al-Thani at the ceremony. RIGHT: Some of the graduates being honoured at the ceremony. PICTURES: Jayaram
Forty-seven seniors attending Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q) received their graduation diplomas at an official commencement ceremony held at Qatar National Convention Centre yesterday.
The graduating students - 19 men and 28 women - representing 17 different nationalities each received a Bachelor’s degree in International Politics, International Economics or Culture and Politics during the formal proceedings.
The ceremony was attended by friends and family members of the students as well as several Qatari dignitaries and Georgetown guests from the Doha and main Washington, DC campus.
Dr Gerd Nonneman, dean of GU-Q, said: “Georgetown University has been teaching the best and brightest students the world has to offer since 1789, and today we recognise the best and brightest from Qatar, the region and beyond, carrying on the Georgetown tradition.
“I am so proud of the success achieved here, and the success our graduates will each achieve with the knowledge and experience gained over the last four years.”
Dean Nonneman also praised HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, HH the Father Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani and HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, chairperson of Qatar Foundation, for their leadership and dedication to higher education.
The dean’s opening remarks were followed by a speech from the keynote speaker, HE Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Saud al-Thani, who is currently a Minister of State. He is also a member of GU-Q’s Joint Advisory Board and the Board of Trustees of Qatar Museums Authority. He has previously served as Qatar’s ambassador to the US as well as the chief of Emiri Diwan.
Congratulating the students, HE Sheikh Abdulrahman said: “My own career in the service of Qatar leads me to suggest that your talents, your commitment and your ideas are greatly needed in the arena of public service, particularly in our Arab region.
“I would like to encourage each of you to dedicate at least part of your career to serving the common good through public service, for this is where the leaders of the future are needed now.”
During the Tropaia award ceremony held earlier in the week, Georgetown’s traditional year-end event that recognises the top students in various fields, as well as staff and faculty recognition, International Economics major Touhami Abi received the Abu Hamid Al-Ghazali Award, which is given by the GU-Q faculty.
John J DeGioia, president of Georgetown University in Washington, DC, conferred the degrees to the graduating class and congratulated them for the successful completion of years of hard work and effort.
The GU-Q graduating Class of 2014 will join the 168 graduates who have already walked in commencement ceremonies since the Georgetown branch campus was established in Education City in 2005.
