Pre-medical students celebrate end of program
A closing chapter: Students in the Class of 2010 celebrate the end
of their pre-medical studies with faculty and staff.
WCMC-Q celebrated completion of the two-year Pre-medical Program by the Class of 2010 with presentation of certificates at the Medical College followed by a gala dinner at the Intercontinental Hotel, May 18.
Among the highlights of the evening was the premiere of a short film – “Without Walls” – commissioned by WCMC-Q, in which many of the students appear.
The celebration was an essentially happy event tinged with a little sadness, as this close band of friends reflected that some of them might not be back in the fall. All now hinges on the decision of the Committee on Admissions of Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City, whose members decide who will be successful in gaining entry to the Medical Program.
Dean of WCMC-Q, Dr. Daniel R. Alonso congratulated the students for their achievement in completing the program, and paid tribute to their “perseverance, dedication, motivation and great spirit.” He remarked on their progress since entry in fall 2004, and assured them that he, and the pre-medical faculty, would continue to follow their progress in the years ahead.
“You have the world at your feet… You will be leaders in society, and the community,” Associate Dean for Pre-medical Education, Dr. David Robertshaw told the students, gathered with family members, faculty and staff in Lecture Hall 4 for the presentation of certificates. “You have got to set an example, because society will look to you for help and guidance.”
A night to remember: Beshoy Sidrak, Hassan Mohsen and
Tala Rifai sign their name on class photographs.
Rockin’ the night away: Class of 2010 band members
Midhun Mukundan on keyboard and Nigel Pereira on guitar.
Soha Abdel-Aleem and Tala Rifai present their classmates
with marks of recognition for everything from best smile to
smartest dress-sense.
Students presented a certificate to each faculty member who had taught the Class – including the TAs; and then a certificate and Cornell medallion were presented by Dr. Alonso and Dr. Robertshaw to each student.
Later on, the gala dinner took the awarding of certificates in a rather different direction, with students presenting one another with marks of recognition for everything from best smile to smartest dress-sense.
The atmosphere was full of laughter – and a few tears. “The Class of 2010 are the ‘essence’ of life at Cornell in Qatar,” Mohammed El-Shazly said. “They are an amazing Class!”
For Mohammed Al-Hijji, the two years of pre-medical studies have been a life-changing experience: “I think Cornell changed my way to see problems,” he commented. “How we react to problems we face in real life, and how we start thinking about finding solutions to them.”
Hala Mint El-Moctar summarized her experience: “Although we are from different nations and different backgrounds, there is a spirit of friendship and bonding that connects us. In addition, we went through some hard things together and we found support and guidance from each other. I think a combination of all these brought us closer.”
Dr. Alonso presented students with certificates to mark their
completion of the Pre-medical Program. Here, he
congratulates Nayera Guirguis.
