AUS concludes the thrilling Battle of Colleges 2024 edition with CEN crowned as Champions

American University of Sharjah (AUS) was buzzing with excitement following the announcement of the College of Engineering (CEN) as overall champion at the AUS Battle of the Colleges Sports Tournament for the fifth year.

After two weeks filled with friendly rivalry and high-energy competitions, over 660 students showcased their talents in more than 120 group and individual matches across 13 sports. Participants from the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), College of Architecture, Art and Design (CAAD), School of Business Administration (SBA), CEN, and the Achievement Academy Bridge Program went head-to-head, making this tournament a spectacular celebration of athleticism and team spirit.

Organized by the Student Athletics and Recreation Department (SARD) in the Office of Student Experience (OSE) from October 14 to 24, the AUS Battle of the Colleges is an annual event that recognizes AUS’ sports spirit, promotes fair play and celebrates diversity.

Men’s and women’s teams competed in soccer, volleyball, basketball, cricket, powerlifting, table tennis, badminton, tennis, squash, chess, Jiu-Jitsu, swimming and track events. Students were recognized by Dr. Tod Laursen, Chancellor of AUS; and Shaima Bin Taliah, Acting Vice Chancellor for Student Experience; at an award ceremony in five main categories: overall champion, ideal athlete, individual sport (college), individual sport (students) and team championship.  

“The significance of the Battle of Colleges extends beyond mere competition,” said Salma AlBusaeedi, Manager of SARD. “It serves as a platform for students to develop essential life skills such as teamwork and leadership, while also fostering connections with their peers from across the university. We wanted to promote healthy competition and encourage students to showcase their athletic abilities in a fun and engaging environment. We also hope that we have inspired students to adopt healthier lifestyles through physical activity and to build a culture of collaboration.”

In addition to the athletic competitions, the Battle of Colleges also showcased the efforts of 17 dedicated student volunteers from the four colleges, who played a vital role in bringing the tournament to life by promoting it within their colleges, assisting with registration, and ensuring that teams arrived on time for their matches.

Nelly Karim Abdalla and Mohammed Ausaaf Akram both exemplified the spirit of teamwork and leadership at the event, each representing their respective colleges with pride and enthusiasm. Abdalla, as a junior majoring in electrical engineering, took on the role of a CEN Representative, ensuring students are registered and informed about the competition while also captaining the swimming team. Meanwhile, Akram, a senior majoring in biology, served as the male representative for CAS, focusing on selecting players and organizing the teams for the tournament.

"Having been the college representative for the past two years and having previously participated in these events as a player myself, I feel like it really brings a sense of camaraderie and community. There’s a healthy rivalry between teams, but the fact that everyone—whether they are students, professors or even alumni—can play together is amazing," said Akram.