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AUS Alumni Silver Jubilee Reunion

His Highness AUS President-1

Under the patronage and in the presence of our founder His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed AlQasimi, UAE Supreme Council Member, Ruler of Sharjah and Founding President of AUS, the AUS Alumni Silver Jubilee Reunion was held on Saturday, January 28, 2023 on the AUS Main Plaza.

This year's celebration brought the AUS community together under the theme #AUSis25, with around 4,000 alumni and high-profile delegates attending from all over the region.  

Thank you to our corporate sponsors

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Celebrating Our Founder's Vision

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It began with the light.

The dream of one person, a vision to create a place of education, a place that is fueled by passion and guided by knowledge, where bright futures are forged.

The story starts right here, in this place.

In this place, students carve their own path, guided by the light, luminous with innovation, and driven by the passion to transcend into the highest orbit.

In this place, stories are written, each engraved in our hearts and memories, generation upon generation of change-makers.

I am not just an engineer. I am the engine behind every problem solved, behind every road, and every bridge built, I forge my own path.

I am not just an architect. I am the pillar that holds every high-rise. I tame the wind and dance with light.

I am not just a scientist, a writer, an artist, a chemist, an accountant, an economist, an astronomer, I’m a proud AUS graduate.

I am a son, I am a daughter, I am a father, I am a mother, I am a teacher, I climb the highest peaks, I reach the deepest parts of space.

Twenty-five years, but the story is only young, persistent, and persevering.

The story never ends, it travels where the light goes.

The story is us.

Written by Associate Professor Dr. Sohail Dadhal from the College of Arts and Sciences at AUS, in collaboration with the Office of Advancement and Alumni Affairs, for the opening ceremony of the AUS Alumni Silver Jubilee Reunion. Click here to watch the interactive show.

Event Highlights

Words from Our Founding President

Honoring the AUS Pioneer Class of 2001

Guest Speaker: Anas Bukhas
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UAE interviewer, serial entrepreneur and mentor Anas Bukhash was invited as a special guest speaker to entertain and motivate AUS alumni, faculty, staff and friends of the university. 

With currently over a million followers on Instagram—from youth across the world to celebrities, ministers, business professionals, and key opinion leaders—he leverages his platform to provoke thought and a change for the better. Through his lectures and TEDx talks, Anas inspires people to take their chances and create a life fueled by their passion.

Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park

Through our Development and Donor Relations Unit, the Office of Advancement and Alumni Affairs (OAAA) at AUS constantly strives to establish and maintain significant partnerships and collaborations between AUS and key industry businesses, as well as prominent figures.

Watch the special video presentation that was featured at this year's alumni reunion to highlight AUS' subsidiary Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park.

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For more AUS Alumni Silver Jubilee Reunion highlights:

Awards and Recognition

AUSAA Gift to His Highness
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In honor of His Highness' passion for learning, knowledge and education, a gift was presented to Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed AlQasimi, UAE Supreme Council Member, Ruler of Sharjah and Founding President of AUS, by the board members of the AUS Alumni Association (AUSAA). 

The book features a Quranic verse that encourages the importance of education designed by AUS alumnus Hatim Al-Sharif. Hand-crafted from glass and gold, the gift was sourced by Keith Lipert Gallery in Georgetown, Washington, DC. 

  Watch Hatim's story below.

AUS Alumni Wall of Fame Award

Five alumni were inducted to the 2023 Alumni Wall of Fame, nominated by their alumni peers:

  • Laila Nooruddin Abdullatif (CAS, 2009)
  • Heba Nedal Al-Nabulsi (CAAD, 2011)
  • Dr. Shaima Mahmoud Al Harmoudi (CAAD, 2010)
  • Sulaiman Mohammed Al-Anbar (CAS, 2008)
  • Masa Osama Amir (CAS, 2009)

The Alumni Wall of Fame recognizes the outstanding achievements and legacy of AUS graduates after they leave the university, including professional achievements, academic achievements, work in the field of public service, and/or their active involvement with their alma mater.

AUS Volunteer Service Award
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Two individuals were recognized with an Alumni Volunteer Service Award:

  • Rola Faour (CAAD, 2002) for her design of the official AUS Silver Jubilee emblem
  • Karim Abou Ajram (CAAD, 2005; SBA, 2012) for providing branding and design services.

  Learn about the AUS Silver Jubilee emblem.

Most Active Council Members
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The 2023 Most Active Council Member Award went to:

  • CAAD Alumni Chapter Representative Maisa Jarjous (CAAD, 2006, 2021)
  • Canada Chapter Representative  Mahmoud Ghandour (CEN, 2010), in absentia.
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Sponsor Recognition
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In recognition of  their generous support and contribution,  the 14 sponsors of the AUS Alumni Silver Jubilee Reunion were presented with a commemorative plaque.  

Photo Gallery

AUS Gratitude Park Opening

The AUS Gratitude Park was inaugurated on Saturday, January 28, 2023 by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed AlQasimi, Member of the Supreme Council of the United Arab Emirates, Ruler of Sharjah and Founding President of American University of Sharjah, as part of the AUS Alumni Silver Jubilee Reunion.

The Gratitude Park was commissioned to mark the 25th anniversary of the university and pay tribute to the contributions AUS alumni and friends of the university have made to AUS, helping it to become one of the region’s leading institutions.

The park’s design comes from two notable architects who are AUS alumni, Eman Shafiq and Samrakshana Suresh. The architects graduated from the AUS College of Architecture, Art and Design (CAAD) in 2019 and 2020, respectively.

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The Gratitude Park acknowledges the achievements of AUS, with its field of rising columns anchored by a foundational stone wall at its center.
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Set in a 310 square meter space on the AUS campus, the columns rise as they radiate away from the center wall, representing the commendable work of AUS students and alumni.
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The timber columns display the names of notable alumni and friends of AUS to the university’s success over the past 25 years. New columns will be added in future years to mark the new contributions alumni and other supporters will inevitably make to the university.
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Employing a non-invasive landscape strategy with a landscape palette consisting of plants suited to the environment of Sharjah, the park has a reduced environmental impact, consistent with AUS’ position as an international leader in sustainability. 

Networking opportunities

A major benefit for AUS graduates is being part of a global network of alumni who are professionals in their respective fields. The annual AUS Alumni Reunion provides valuable opportunities for individuals to reconnect and network with faculty, staff and alumni from the college or school in which they studied, as well as from across the university community. Here are some of the opportunities that were provided at this year's reunion.

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The College of Architecture, Art and Design hosted a symposium for alumni, faculty and current students titled CAAD at 25: Taking Stock. Special guests took part in a panel discussion reflecting on the successes and challenges of the past 25 years, both within the various disciplines of architecture and design and beyond.

Part two of the symposium, CAAD at 25: Preparing for the Future, will be held on March 18, 2023.

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The School of Business Administration hosted a reception to welcome alumni back to campus. Alumni attended from across the UAE and abroad and were given a heartfelt welcome from Dean Narjess Boubakri and faculty. 

Reflecting on the evening, Dr. Boubakri said she was touched at how eager SBA alumni were to share how the faculty and staff had impacted them and made them so proud to represent AUS in society.

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All AUS alumni who own their own business or are in CEO positions were invited to join the inaugural AUS Alumni CEO Club meeting and launch event.  

The AUS Alumni CEO Club aims to bring together accomplished business leaders and chief executives who graduated from AUS and who each bring along a wealth of perspective, ideas and expertise in their respective fields, and who collectively strive to grow in all aspects of their lives. 

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To showcase our 14 generous event sponsors, a Sponsors Village was set up in the Main Plaza, allowing them to engage with members of the AUS community throughout the evening’s festivities.

Giving opportunities

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As part of our Silver Jubilee celebrations, the Office of Advancement and Alumni Affairs spearheaded the #AUS25for25 initiative with an ambitious aim to raise the equivalent of 25 scholarships for 25 AUS students. 

By participating in specific initiatives, friends and supporters of the AUS community have had the opportunity to contribute to AUS Silver Jubilee Scholarship Fund—an unrestricted non-endowment fund that will be used to address the critical needs of our students. The students who benefit from this fund will be selected for their good academic standing and demonstrated financial need as determined by the university’s financial grants and scholarships review process.

For more information about the AUS Silver Jubilee Scholarship Fund, please email oaaa@aus.edu.

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To mark our Silver Jubilee, AUS in collaboration with the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) issued 1,000 commemorative silver coins. 

AUS alumni were able to acquire the commemorative coins, and the proceeds were allocated towards the Silver Jubilee Scholarship Fund.  The coins were sold out within 24 hours of announcing this initiative, and distributed at the AUS Silver Jubilee Alumni Reunion.

Each coin weighs 40 grams. The front side includes an image of AUS with the year of its establishment in 1997, surrounded by the name of the university in Arabic and English. The reverse side of the coin includes the official AUS Silver Jubilee emblem with the name of the Central Bank of the UAE written in both Arabic and English. Learn more.

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A collection of limited edition AUS Silver Jubilee merchandise was available for purchase at the reunion event.

The merchandise features the official AUS Silver Jubilee emblem designed by CAAD alumna Rola Faour, along with original watercolor artwork by Hatim Al-Sharif,  CAAD alumnus and Senior Graphic and Multimedia Designer in the Office of Strategic Communication and Marketing at AUS.

Proceeds from the sales of all official AUS merchandise go directly to the AUS Silver Jubilee Scholarship Fund as part of the #AUS25for25 initiative.  View our selection of apparel, gifts, accessories and more in the online AUS Merchandise Shop. 

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Contact Us

Rania Morsi
Interim Executive Director
Office of Advancement and Alumni Affairs
American University of Sharjah

rmorsi@aus.edu
+971 6 515 2829