CEN honors excellence in academics, research, leadership and engagement at annual awards ceremony

The American University of Sharjah (AUS) College of Engineering (CEN) has long been known for nurturing strong academic minds as well as engineers who lead, innovate and give back. This commitment was proudly showcased at the recent CEN Awards Ceremony, where more than 29 students and alumni were recognized for excellence across academics, research, leadership, community service and alumni engagement.

“These awards reflect the diverse paths our students have taken—marked by dedication, curiosity and a desire to create meaningful impact,” said Dr. Fadi Aloul, Dean of CEN. “Whether advancing research, leading student initiatives or serving their communities, each recipient embodies the values we uphold at CEN. Our graduates are equipped with the knowledge, mindset and sense of responsibility needed to shape a better future.”

The 2025 CEN Undergraduate Academic Excellence Award was presented to the graduating students who achieved the highest cumulative GPA for their major. The recipients are: Omar Musameh (Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering), Malak Allan (Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering), Omar Farrag and Yousef Irshaid (Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering), Omar Ibrahim and Ahmed Aljabar (Bachelor of Science in Computer Science), Hamze Soueid (Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering), Reem Awwad (Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering), and Omar Shaghnoubi and Amro Alatasi (Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering).

For Malak Allan, the award is a culmination of a journey defined by perseverance, intellectual curiosity and a commitment to continuous growth. As a senior civil engineering student, she balanced the rigors of coursework with extensive involvement in research and leadership roles. She worked as a research assistant, secured research grants and explored practical solutions in her field—all of which deepened her academic foundation and real-world insight. She also served as President of the Institution of Civil Engineers Student Chapter, represented her major in the Engineering Dean’s Team and was an active contributor to outreach and community service efforts.

“Receiving this award is both humbling and deeply rewarding,” she said. “It is a recognition of years of discipline, persistence and long nights spent pushing through the pace, pressure and everything in between. It reflects my daily decision to keep showing up and hold myself accountable, even when it felt overwhelming. I’m grateful to AUS for creating an environment that demanded excellence and gave me the tools to rise to it.”

At the graduate level, the 2025 CEN Graduate Academic Excellence Award recognized students who achieved the highest cumulative GPA in their programs. The recipients include Reem Senjab (Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering), Zeina Elshahawi (Master of Science in Chemical Engineering), Lara Sabobeh (Master of Science in Civil Engineering), Nada Abdalgawad (Master of Science in Computer Engineering), Yara Elenany (Master of Science in Construction Management), Yousef Serag, Saif Almansoori and Youssef El Gohary (Master of Science in Electrical Engineering), Haya Alastal (Master of Science in Engineering Systems Management), Mohamed Mohamed (Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering), Ismail Raslan (Master of Science in Mechatronics Engineering), and Areej Mohammed and Sarah Kandil (PhD in Engineering – Engineering Systems Management).

In addition to academic excellence, CEN also recognized outstanding achievements in research. Areej Mohammed (PhD in Engineering - Engineering Systems Management), and Habibelrahman Hassan (Master of Science in Civil Engineering), received the CEN Graduate Research Excellence Award for their exceptional research achievements.

The college also presented several special awards. Muhammad Vidha (Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering) received the 2025 Outstanding CEN Student Leadership Award for his dedication to campus leadership. Haya Taifour (Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering) was honored with the 2025 Outstanding CEN Student Community Service Award in recognition of her volunteerism and campus engagement. Kareem Morsi (Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering) was named the 2025 Outstanding CEN Graduate Teaching Assistant for his contribution to supporting undergraduate instruction. Ilyas Babayev (Bachelor of Science in Chemical and Biological Engineering) received the 2025 Outstanding CEN Student Talent Award for showcasing creative skills that enhanced the student experience.

The 2025 Most Engaged CEN Alumni Award was presented to Tala Seif who earned her Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering in 2018, and has remained closely involved with AUS through mentorship, alumni events and continued support of student initiatives.

For more information about the CEN Annual Awards, please visit www.aus.edu/cen/annual-award.