AUS honors graduates of 2020 with in-person commencement event

American University of Sharjah (AUS) graduates from the Class of 2020 were given the opportunity to celebrate together yesterday, December 11, with the university hosting a physical commencement ceremony in University City Hall in Sharjah.

The pandemic prevented the Class of 2020 from enjoying a traditional commencement at the time of their official graduation. However, both the university and the graduates were keen to mark the occasion with an in-person event now that circumstances allow. The graduates were honored in two sessions to comply with ongoing COVID restrictions; a morning event was held for the Class of Spring 2020, and an afternoon event was held for the Classes of Summer and Fall 2020.

The occasion was the cause of much excitement among graduates and their families, along with faculty and administrators from AUS. Dr. Susan Mumm, Chancellor of AUS, praised the graduates for the resilience they showed in completing their degrees under such unprecedented circumstances.

“Congratulations on your well-deserved success. We are proud of what you have achieved, and as you move on to the next phase in your lives, we know that you will find guidance in the knowledge and wisdom you have gained. One thing we have learned from the pandemic, which you have strongly demonstrated, is resilience. So, keep going, achieve greatness and remember that you will always be welcome at your alma mater, your second home,” she said. 

The current celebrations were held in addition to the tributes made to the graduates via digital platforms during the height of the pandemic. AUS honored the 560 students in the Class of Spring 2020 and the 468 students in the Class of Fall 2020 on the official dates of their graduation in 2020 with celebratory websites showcasing videos, photographs and stories that featured members of the graduating classes. 

For Spring 2020 graduate Taha Ameen ur Rahman, Saturday’s event was an opportunity to reflect on his own achievements, as well as those of his classmates. The electrical engineering and mathematics graduate received the President's Cup during the ceremony, an honor bestowed on the graduate with the highest grade point average. He said of his AUS experience:

"I am grateful for the many opportunities I received at AUS, which provided a platform to shape my professional life. The strong academic preparation received from courses in both my majors set a strong foundation for me and inspired me to pursue research as a career. These research opportunities were instrumental in my admission to the graduate program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where I am currently pursuing my PhD in electrical engineering,” he said.

Chemical engineering graduate Mariam Siddiqi received the Chancellor's Cup, which is awarded for academic excellence and outstanding general character and service to the university.

Siddiqi, who is currently working with Henkel as a R&D Chemist in Laundry Care Products Development, said she was grateful for the guidance and recognition she received at AUS. 

"A year on from my last exam at AUS, I want to say I'm grateful. Grateful to every part of AUS that I was able to utilize—Career Services, Student Affairs, Student Leadership Program, Library, research labs, Sports Complex and all facilities. Grateful for the guidance and recognition. And if there's one message I could give as a 'Corona Graduate,’ it would be to be grateful!” she said.

To view the celebration webpages for the Class of 2020, visit: aus.edu/celebrating-our-graduates