News Highlights
Author:
Maha Al-Azar,
Media Relations Officer,
Office of Information and Public Relations,
ma110@aub.edu.lb
 President Waterbury's Remarks
Rima Khalaf's speech
Mohamad Elfakhani's speech
|
During its 140th year, AUB graduates 137th batch of students
 | The commencement ceremony this year took place at the BIEL
|
The American University of Beirut held its 137th commencement exercises on Saturday June 24, graduating 1804 students from five faculties. Of these, about 1669 attended Saturday's graduation ceremony (since a number of those scheduled to receive their diplomas had already entered the workforce, having completed their degrees sometime between October 2005 and February 2006.)
In a break from tradition, the ceremony took place in BIEL instead of AUB's Green Field, which is currently closed off because of construction works on two new buildings in the lower campus. |
 | The procession of students
|
Following the procession of students and then professors, President John Waterbury welcomed everyone, noting that the graduating students were not the only ones embarking on a new beginning, or a commencement. Dr Waterbury named three senior staff who were leaving AUB after long years of service: John Bernson who has been Vice President for Finance since 1999; Professor Nuhad Daghir who has been Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences since 1995, and led it out of war, reviving its commitment to research; and George Tomey, AUB's Vice President for Administration since 1987, who ran all AUB's crucial administrative units, even in the midst of war during which time he often received death threats because of the strategic position he occupied at AUB.
Proud parents and happy faces filled the seats in the audience, which also included Speaker Nabih Berri, who was there also in his capacity of proud father for his graduating daughter. Environment Minister Yacoub Sarraf was representing President Emile Lahoud and Minister for Administrative Development Jean Hogasapian was representing Prime Minister Fouad Siniora. |
 | President Waterbury's opening remarks
|
President Waterbury then introduced keynote speaker Dr Rima Khalaf, an AUB alumna who held a number of high-ranking positions in the Jordanian government, including the Minister of Industry and Trade (1993-1995), Minister of Planning (1995-1998) and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Planning (1999-2000). During her tenure in office, she pushed for economic reform while working for poverty alleviation. President Waterbury added that, beginning in 2002 and until a few months ago, Dr Hunaidi was Assistant Secretary General and Director of the Regional Bureau for Arab States, of the UNDP.
"From that position, she led the team effort to produce the path-breaking editions of the Arab Human Development Report," said Waterbury. "AUB is proud to claim Dr. Khalaf as an alumnus and as member of our Board of Trustees. We are equally proud to salute her for her professional achievements which should inspire all of you who are graduating. " |
 | Dr Rima Khalaf encourages students to "uphold values"
|
Dr Khalaf gave a thought-provoking and inspiring speech in which she encouraged students to uphold values, stick with their convictions and push for human rights and tolerance in order to make the world a better place than the one they are getting from the older generation.
"When I graduated, my excitement was diluted by a sense that the happiest days of my life might be ending," she started out by saying. "Little did I know that they were just about to start. When you graduate from AUB, you stop living within its protective walls, but if my experience is any guide, AUB continues to live with you. What you gained here will continue to light your road." |
 | AUB graduates 1,804 students in 2006
|
Highlighting the warm feelings she has for her alma mater, Dr Khalaf told graduates: "You may tour the most spectacular sites on the planet, but even the gardens of Versailles will not outshine the warmth and beauty of the Green Oval. You may sail the greatest oceans, but this tiny Mediterranean slip will always be the fairest of them all."
She then warned against two main groups in the Arab world, one of which, according to her, considers those who follow other religious beliefs as infidels; while the other group considers those with differing opinions as traitors. "Both groups are trying to create new, stifling and irrational norms of discourse," she said. "They want us to conform out of fear for our lives and they have become the biggest obstacles to an Arab renaissance." |
 | The VIP's seated during the ceremony
|
But Dr Khalaf told students not to give up, prodding them instead to fight for their rights in a region where human rights, including the right to life and to freedom of expression, are abused and suppressed. "Never let anyone intimidate you into giving up those rights yourself," she said. "What the powerful steal from us can be restored by redistributing power, but what we surrender by default may never be recovered."
"As tomorrow's entrepreneurs, scholars and professionals, if you want to live in a just, accountable and thriving society, you will have to make yourselves felt and heard against the wind," she added. "The values you developed at AUB will be your anchor in this storm and by holding fast to them; you will change society around you for the better." |
 | President Waterbury, the deans and the trustees on stage
|
Dr Khalaf then encouraged the graduating class of 2006 to embrace diversity, whether religious, ethnic or ideological. "Cultural diversity is not a cause for fear. It is a strength that should be protected, enriched and celebrated," she said, noting how few Arabs have spoken out against discrimination in their own countries, even though they might do so forcefully when there is an absence of tolerance in non-Arab countries.
"You have had the best learning experience in our region," she told students. "Instead, use the fine talents you polished at AUB as your compass to steer by the stars... And if each of you gives those goals your best shot, even if you sometimes fall short, you will have done all that anyone can reasonably expect of you. Better than that, you will have kept the promise you accepted for yourself when you set foot here, to find life, and have it more abundantly." |
 | Student speaker Elfakhani tells students to follow their dreams
|
AUB student Mohammed Elfakhani, who spoke on behalf of his graduating class, encouraged his fellow classmates to realize the dreams they made while at AUB, despite all the challenges they might face in the future. "Here, at AUB, we are taught that dreams are not to be put on the shelf. They are not to be put off or destroyed," he said. Referring to Greek mythology, Elfakhani noted that men were only considered to be heroes, when they showed courage when they or their loved ones had to face a challenge or obstacle. Indeed, Elfakhani told his classmates that they should consider all the competition and challenges they will face as their opportunity to prove they are heroes. "Overcoming the challenges and obstacles we will face will be key to our becoming heroes and thus living out our dreams," he said.
During the ceremony, the names of students receiving the Penrose Award were announced. The award is made on the basis of scholarship, character,
leadership, and contribution to University life, and is awarded to the most outstanding graduate of each faculty.
|
 | The graduating students applaud the winners
|
This year's awardees were:
Joumanna Ramzi Nasr, Faculty of Arts and Sciences (Economics);
Karim Abdul-Karim Karami, Suliman Olayan School of Business (Accounting);
Soha Rabih Frem, Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences (Landscape Design);
Rani Hani Daher, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture (Engineering) ;
Rima Antoine Habre, Faculty of Health Sciences;
Abdel Latif Mohammad Moghrabi Marini, Faculty of Medicine (Nursing);
Samar Naji Malaeb, Faculty of Medicine (Doctor of Medicine)
|
|
