The Academic Bridge Programme (ABP) held its 16th Graduation Ceremony in the presence of HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad al-Thani, vice-chairperson and CEO of Qatar Foundation (QF), ABP faculty, staff and parents.
Some 142 students graduated during the event, which was held at the Qatar National Convention Centre.
The ABP is a centre of QF that operates under its Pre-University Education section.
The Class of 2017 brings the total number of ABP graduates to more than 2,700. More than 80% of the graduating Class of 2017 are Qataris and the remaining 20% come from 17 nationalities. Girls account for 75% of students at the ABP this year.
Around 66% of this year’s graduating class have been accepted to one or more of Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s partner universities. Some graduates will also enrol at Qatar University or one of the other colleges or universities in Qatar. Around 30% of the class will be admitted to a university in the UK, Canada, or the US. Several others will enrol in universities in the Gulf.
“Overall, more than 80% of the 2017 graduates will eventually gain admission to a university; this has been the pattern for the past several years,” according to a press statement from the ABP.
Dr Bryan Lewallen, director of the ABP, welcomed the gathering and gave his comments on the Class of 2017. This was followed by a welcome speech on behalf of the Class of 2017 by Sara al-Hemaidi.
Khemara Chhorn, an ABP student with outstanding academic performance who came to study at the ABP from a village in Cambodia, spoke about her “Reflections on the 2016-2017 School Year”.
After a year at the ABP, Chhorn succeeded in getting accepted to Georgetown University – School of Foreign Service in Qatar. She concluded by thanking HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani for encouraging and providing her with a full sponsorship to study in Qatar, as well as her father, ABP faculty and staff, her high school principal and teacher in Cambodia and her first Qatari friend, Al Anoud, for helping her on this journey.   
Mohamed al-Otbey, who graduated from the ABP in 2008 and now works in Occidental Qatar, gave the keynote speech.
Dr Mark Newmark, assistant director of academic affairs, and Moza al-Boainin, assistant director of student services, recognised students on their special achievements.
This year’s valedictorian was Qatari student Maryam al-Badr, who was first in the class academically.