Academic achievement and personal growth celebrated at AABP Award Ceremony

American University of Sharjah (AUS) celebrated the academic excellence and extracurricular achievements of 48 students at the recent Achievement Academy Bridge Program (AABP) Award Ceremony for Spring 2022.

Hosted by the AABP Club Officers, the ceremony honored students who achieved significant progress in their Bridge Program courses and increased their language proficiency. It also recognized those who showed personal growth and improvement in academic and study skills.

The Achievement Academy Bridge Program helps new AUS students refine their English language skills to prepare for the demands of courses taught in English, while being encouraged to take advantage of everything AUS student life has to offer. The program provides a transition to higher education and helps students explore the wide range of opportunities that are available to them within the AUS community.  It enables students not only to discover new interests and strengths, but also to gain confidence and make lifelong friendships.

At the awards ceremony, AABP student Ahmed Abu Touk received the Achievement Academy Director’s Award for his outstanding academic achievements and extracurricular work. He will be joining the College of Engineering to major in industrial engineering.

“I started my journey in the AABP keeping in mind a saying I heard on my first day at university, ‘Don’t call it a dream. Call it a plan.’” I stayed there for two amazing semesters, learning

new information, making new friends, and of course, meeting my lovely instructors. I made a lot of effort and stumbled then got up again. Thinking about my parents seeing me pass the IELTS and how that would make them feel gave me a strong push to focus and study more. Winning the Director’s Award was a moment full of happiness and it left me speechless. I know I deserve the recognition after all the work that I did,” said Abu Touk.

Civil engineering student and AABP Student Council Representative Muhumed Ahmed was a motivational speaker at the ceremony. Offering advice to the students, Ahmed said: “Don’t miss the chance to be active. Your focus should not be limited to academics alone. Remember, there are no U-turns. Focus on the good things and try to have a positive mindset towards everything you do." 

Among those recognized at the event were former Director’s Award winners computer science student Saif Darwich and industrial engineering major Haya Al Masouri, who participated in the UNESCO Education for Sustainable Development Bootcamp teams. The bootcamp is a specialized training program designed for multidisciplinary teams of students and instructors from higher education institutions to meet and develop new ideas for seeking solutions to specific challenges. For three months, the participants carry out different activities to obtain in-depth knowledge on Education for Sustainable Development and transformative pedagogies, and receive online training and work sessions with their mentors.

The award ceremony also featured an entertainment segment by AABP instructor Raja Mallek Bahloul and Shouq Al Nakhi. Jessica March, Director of the Achievement Academy at AUS, acknowledged the achievements of the students through the many facets of their learning and development during the semester. She highlighted the enriching opportunities that had been offered through collaboration with various departments within AUS and international exchanges through the Soliya Global Connect Express program. She thanked the academy’s instructors who contributed to the students’ success during the semester.

For more information about the AABP, please visit www.aus.edu/achievement-academy.