News

After 94 matches, stretched across 15 weeks of intercollegiate competition, the 6th University Championship Cup (UCC) has come to a close with the American University of Kuwait (AUK) on top. AUK is being crowned champion of this tournament for the fifth year now.

The UCC Champion is determined by the number of points earned in each sport and awarded to the university with the highest total number of points. To become the champion of the UCC, an institution must excel in multiple sports. UCC 2011-2012 offered athletic competition for seven different sports, with each having a male and a female league.

This year, student-athletes participating in the UCC had the opportunity to compete in soccer, basketball, volleyball, tennis, squash, table tennis, and swimming. Each sport had a seasonal competition, followed by a play-off phase. Points were awarded based on a university's rank at the end of the season and their end results in the play-offs. As UCC 2011-2012 entered its playoff phase; AUK was favored to win the overall competition. This year marks a special achievement in that AUK earned an unprecedented number of points; 14 points ahead of the closest ranking institution.

AUK won first place in the playoffs of the following sports: women's soccer, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's squash, and women's table tennis. AUK placed second in the playoffs of the following sports: men's and women's basketball, and men's volleyball. Congratulations to all the AUK student-athletes and special thanks to everyone that came out to support AUK Athletics.

Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 12th June 2012

Images from the UCC Championship

AUK welcomed its fourth pair of graduate interns, Zaynab Baalbaki and Paige Morton, who will spend eight weeks of their summer completing graduate internships within the Division of Administrative and Student Affairs. Baalbaki will be working with the Career Services and Wellness Center and Academic Advising Center. Morton will spend her internship working for the offices of Student Life and the Vice President of Administrative and Student Affairs.

Baalbaki is a graduate student from Milwaukee, Wisconsin attending Marquette University, where she is studying College Student Personnel Administration. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Wisconsin- Madison where she double majored in elementary education and sociology and double minored in educational policy studies and Chicano and Latino studies. Her research interests include diversity, equity and justice in education. In her free time she likes to watch soccer, her favorite teams are Mexico, Real Madrid and Arsenal. Baalbaki also enjoys cooking.

This is not the first time Baalbaki comes to Kuwait, but she views her experience this time in a different way "I have been to Kuwait before, but my experience at AUK has provided me a new outlook on Kuwait as a whole. Specifically at AUK, I have found the staff and faculty to be very welcoming and helpful. I am extremely excited to continue working here and contribute as much as I can to Career & Wellness, the Academic Advising Center and AUK community," said Baalbaki.

Morton is currently in the process of completing her Master's degree in Higher Education Administration at the University of Michigan. She works as a Graduate Intern with Living Arts, a residential learning community at Michigan that aims to encourage creativity and collaboration across the disciplines of engineering, art, music, theater, and architecture. Originally from Oregon, Morton completed her Bachelor's degree at Willamette University, a small liberal arts college located in Salem, Oregon. During her undergraduate career, she was able to pursue a number of diverse interests including playing the violin in Willamette's Chamber Orchestra and joining the women's lacrosse team. Morton also participated in Greek life and was elected as Vice President of Administration for the student body government. Morton's personal interests include cooking, baking, playing the violin, and traveling.

When asked about her reasons for coming to the Middle East, Morton said "I am grateful for the chance to work and learn in Kuwait. It provides the perfect opportunity for me to gain a better understanding of how the American model of higher education operates in the Middle East. I'm especially interested in learning about the unique student engagement patterns within the AUK context and how those patterns are similar and dissimilar from those of the student populations I work with in the States. I have thoroughly enjoyed the short time I've spent here so far. Everyone I've met has been so friendly and helpful. I'm looking forward to seeing what the rest of the summer brings!"

The internship program, which started in 2009, is designed to provide graduate students and recent graduates the opportunity to gain experience within professional areas of Student Affairs/Student Services, a deeper understanding of higher education administration, and to acquire specific skill sets which will help prepare them for a career in the profession.

Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 6th June 2012

Photography by the Office of Public Affairs (C) 2012

Mishref, Kuwait, May 31, 2012: The Graduation Ceremony of the Class of 2012 at the American University of Kuwait (AUK) took place at Kuwait International Fairgrounds (KIF) at 10 am on Thursday, May 31. The ceremony commenced with the Kuwaiti national anthem and a recitation of the Holy Quran. Graduates then began to march towards the stage waving to their friends and families as they took their seats. AUK President Dr. Winfred Thompson then welcomed students, and their families to the ceremony along with several board members and numerous dignitaries and diplomats.

Photo Gallery: AUK Graduation 2012 (Best viewed on Google Chrome, Safari and Internet Explorer)

In his opening remarks, Dr. Thompson spoke of the role AUK plays in contributing to Kuwaiti society saying, "The University presents itself to you as an important institution in Kuwaiti society, fulfilling a special role of providing a liberal arts education to a new generation of Kuwaitis and expatriate residents." He went on to congratulate the students and their parents on this great achievement as well as AUK faculty and staff for their contributions to the educational process.

The President then introduced the keynote speaker, Sheikha Al-Zain Al-Sabah. Al-Sabah is the producer of several award-winning news stories and feature films; as well as a prominent voice of social corporate responsibility and value-based leadership. As Chairperson and Managing Director of Eagle Vision Media Group, she is actively rallying to transform the local visual storytelling community into a quality-based internationally recognizable industry. Job creation and training are central to her mission, and she utilizes her experience in media to build viable platforms on which to support and nurture Kuwait's creative community. In her speech Al-Sabah drew on her experience and the life lessons. She stressed that each graduate should "dream big, and start small" because life is still full of unexplored opportunities. In her opinion, one can be creative in any field regardless of his/her educational degree. Al-Sabah encouraged graduates to be courageous enough to "reassess their plans" and follow their "heart & intuition". Finally, she advised graduates to stick to people who can "challenge and inspire" them and back them up during their future journeys.

Vice President of Administrative and Student Affairs Dr. Carol Ross-Scott then introduced the Class of 2012 Valedictorians, Amineh Eida, Rasha Abdelhadi and Nada Bedir. Amineh gave the valedictorian speech on behalf of the others, after a University Committee was convened to decide among the three.

Amineh rose to the podium to deliver her speech, which was both inspiring and motivational. She emphasized the importance of chasing one's dreams through hard work and dedication saying, "Believe in your dreams! Fulfill your dreams and create even more dreams! What got us here today was one of those dreams and what will get us somewhere in the future maybe a similar dream." Amineh concluded her speech by thanking all the parents, guardians and AUK faculty and staff members that have helped the graduates throughout their journey.

Amineh Eida is graduating with a BBA degree in Accounting and has earned a cumulative grade point average of 4.0 Summa Cum Laude (with the greatest honor).

Acting Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Dr. Nizar Hamzeh recommended the conferral of degrees for the graduates of the College of Arts & Sciences, while Dean of the College of Business and Economy recommended the conferral of degrees for the graduates of the College of Business and Economy, to President Thompson who then conferred upon the 435 graduates their respective degrees. Graduates were then presented with their bachelor's degree diploma by President Thompson, Dr. Doug Munro and Dr. Nizar Hamzeh, and in keeping with the academic tradition, the graduates were asked to move their tassels from right to left, thereby marking their official graduation from AUK.

The ceremony also included the traditional cutting of the Class of 2012 cake, and professional photography was provided for all graduates and their families and friends.

Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 4th June 2012

This year at the Missoni hotel, AUK rolled out the red carpet in a unique celebration of its 5-years of service employees. The unique theme of the evening this year was designed to treat each of the 300 invitees like a celebrity. Surrounded by photographer flashlights and autograph seekers, the AUK stars walked down the red carpet dressed in glamorous evening gowns and Tuxedos. In his opening word, Ronald McNeill, Director of AUK HR Department, greeted the attendees with an insightful statement, "Here today, you are stars".

Every year, AUK brings together its faculty and staff in celebration of dedicated service and hard work. Five-Years of Service awardees receive honorary trophies to recognize their years of achievement at AUK. This year, the iconic gold star trophies chosen for the event, perfected the red carpet experience and added to the charm of the evening. After dinner, the raffle ramped up the fun atmosphere as people excitedly observed the winners being called up to stage. This year's gifts were presented by Multitrend, Napket, Jazeera Holidays, KAPICO, Hotel Missoni, Burgan Bank, Gulf Net and Gulf Insurance Co. (GIC).

The 27 AUK members celebrating five years of service this year are:

The AUK community would like to extend thanks to the AUK HR team who put together this memorable and unique event.

Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 30th May 2012

Photography by the Office of Public Affairs (C) 2012

On Thursday May 3rd, the Multi-purpose Room at the American University of Kuwait (AUK) was transformed into a hospital-like setting from 11am-5pm to accommodate individuals who wished to donate blood. The spring blood drive was organized by the Voice of AUK, a student-run organization, and executed by Kuwait's Central Blood Bank staff. According to the estimates of Voice of AUK, 170 people had shown up and 140 had donated blood at the end of the day.

The room bustled with activity as dozens turned out, usually with friends, casual if they had done it before, hopeful to be deemed eligible if previously rejected, and often anxious if they were first-time donors. Each person had to first complete a lengthy questionnaire, await their turn at the data-entry station, and then get their hemoglobin level checked by a device similar to the one diabetics use. If it was lower than normal, they couldn't donate. Otherwise, they moved on to the last step of the screening process where a doctor asked a few questions and measured blood pressure.

Movable partitions divided the room into male and female sections, housing four blue recliners each. Male and female nurses floated around in their white uniforms, starting the 20-minute actual donation in some and ending it in others. They also monitored the machine for alarms and donors for any symptoms of discomfort, such as light-headedness, which was more common among females. Voice of AUK members and volunteers, easily identified by their red shirts, helped greet potential donors, managed traffic, and made sure every donor grabbed a donut and juice to up their sugar levels, and a special badge as a token of appreciation on their way out.

The event's organizer, Voice Business Manager Hala Ahmed, said that after months of preparation, she was "absolutely ecstatic" at the large turnout. Voice faculty advisor, David Hart, stated that "Hala has done a fantastic job; this just wouldn't have happened without her tireless efforts. It's great to see those efforts rewarded with such great support from the community."

This is the fifth time since 2008 that the Voice has organized a blood drive that one can safely consider it a trademark event. The idea of holding a blood drive was originally conceived by the AUK alumna, Dina El Zohairy, to raise awareness among the community about the importance of donating blood to help make it readily available for cancer, trauma and post-surgical patients, among others. The Voice of AUK board members also found it an excellent opportunity to recruit potential Voice members, particularly writers, and increase the organization's visibility on-campus to promote readership, according to Hart.

The Voice of AUK is the university's official student newspaper, operated exclusively by a student board in consultation with a faculty advisor. Issues are produced monthly and contain diverse sections such as News, Arts, Health & Science, Opinions/Editorials, and an Arabic Corner.

Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 27th May 2012

Photography by the Office of Public Affairs (C) 2012

As part of the International Labor Day Celebrations, the American University of Kuwait (AUK) held a Staff Appreciation Activity Day for its employees. International Labor Day is a day that takes place on the first of May each year, celebrating the many contributions to society made by laborers and honoring their dignity. This day is celebrated around the world and is also known as "International Workers' Day".

The event held at AUK brought together the housekeeping, security, maintenance, gardening, landscaping, and office facilitation staff in appreciation of their ongoing support all year round. The event started with welcome notes by AUK President Dr. Winfred Thompson, Vice President for Administrative & Student Affairs Dr. Carol Ross-Scott,; and Administrative Programs Officer Shirley Fox,. Campus Services Assistant Coordinator Mohammed Wagdy translated the speeches into Arabic. The event program included an awards ceremony, a lunch buffet, and an entertainment session, where employees dressed up and enjoyed the informal fun atmosphere away from the daily job routine and official uniforms.

During the four hour celebration, AUK community members volunteered to substitute for the AUK support staff in all critical locations. In a fun atmosphere, AUK faculty and staff formed teams of security guards, cleaners, and housekeepers to highlight the importance of these professions. Some other teams handled the lunch setup and cleanup, greeted and helped seat individuals as they arrived, and served food and drinks.

A number of AUK departments and clubs contributed to the event. The AUK Community Club gave away gift bags, the Drama Club put up a play titled "White Heart" about the importance of maintaining open heart, trustful relationships among friends. Other contributions included game sessions organized by Student volunteers, as well as comedy videos and music played by Munawar Mullaji, AUK Multimedia Technician.

The AUK support staff expressed delight and appreciation to the efforts of AUK in organizing this event. Nooruddin Majid, an AUK Office Support staff member commented on the event saying "No other place in Kuwait appreciates & celebrates Labor Day like AUK. We are truly very grateful". President Thompson thanked the AUK support staff for their tireless efforts and handed each a certificate of appreciation along with a gift from the university and its faculty/staff.

Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 23rd May 2012

Photography by the Office of Public Affairs (C) 2012

The Hope Club of AUK hosted one of the University's largest events of the year, the Hope Carnival. Under the theme "Draw a Smile on Children's Faces", the carnival was dedicated to raising awareness about patients in different hospitals and those less fortunate. During the carnival, the AUK campus was transformed into a children entertainment park, with bouncy castles, Party Land's and Fun Zone's exciting games, clowns, magicians, and many other fun-filled events at every corner.

In addition to the AUK Office of Student Life and the Student Government Association, the event was sponsored by Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, Scoopa Cone, Burger. Co, and Saj. Co, providing food and beverages; Barakat Airlines, providing free tickets to Dubai; as well as Sable and The Italian Lighting, providing shopping vouchers.

Overall the Hope Carnival was an attraction to many visitors from the AUK community and the general public. The AUK and Hope Club extends gratitude to all those contributing to the success of the carnival, including student organizers, clubs, AUK departments, and sponsors.

Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 20th May 2012

Photography by the Office of Public Affairs (C) 2012

In collaboration with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Kuwait Environment Public Authority (KEPA), the Environmental Club (Al- Akhdar) at AUK hosted a talk entitled "Every Breath You Take: Understanding Air Quality". The event was part of the Environmental Month that took place in April 2012. The Environmental month was held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, Prime Minister of Kuwait, and organized by Edara Group & Vision Company.

The lecture was conducted by Brian Freeman, Team Leader of Air Regulatory Management Systems for the Kuwait Integrated Environmental Management project funded by the UNDP. During his lecture, Freeman talked about air pollutants in Kuwait, how they are generated, and their impact on health and environment. The lecture also brought up the newly approved amendments to Kuwait's environmental regulations dealing with air quality and their impact on Kuwait.

Freeman's lecture proved both a technical and informative perspective into the different components of air and how they interact with the natural and industrial surroundings. Focusing on Kuwait's environment, Freeman discussed the coastal effect and the land erosion caused by wave action. He explained the difference between the sea breeze and land breeze and their effects on temperature.

According to Freeman, the human body has been equipped to tolerate certain levels of toxins so long as it doesn't get exposed to them too much or too long. Freeman defined the different sources of pollutants Kuwait is exposed to including, power plants, fossil fuel combustion, waste disposal, industrial pollutants, road vehicles and area sources among others. There are many schemes and methods to measure and monitor emissions, according to Freeman. These include, software monitoring, process monitoring, stack monitors, engineering models and continuous emission monitoring systems. Adopting any of these methods relies on economic and technical considerations. Concluding his discussion, Freeman shed light on Kuwait's action plan to control and reduce air pollution and how the public could contribute to this through awareness.

Freeman holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts and a Masters of Science in Environmental Management from the Air Force Institute of Technology in Ohio. His twenty years of experience include service with the United States Department of Defense and international environmental regulatory authorities. Freeman lived in the region for over seven years including Kuwait, Iraq and Jordan.

Al Akhdar Environmental Club, led by Rasha Abdelhamid, is a student organization at AUK that aims to implement schemes that enrich appreciation for the environment, demonstrating the link between environmental and social relations and enhancing environmental sustainability within Kuwait and the Arab vicinity. Under the supervision of its Academic Advisors, Dr. Ali Al Jamal and Dr. Aly Mansour, Al Akhdar Environmental Club aspires to precede its reputation as a non-profit environmental organization and to become a leading figure in accordance to ecosystem conservation and ecology.

Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 20th May 2012

Photography by the Office of Public Affairs (C) 2012