Graduates Take Top Student Honors At EED Awards

November,2008

Two students from the class of 2008 have won Platinum Medals from The Supreme Education Council (SEC) of Qatar. Jehan Al Rayahi, MD and Khalid Al Khelaifi, MD nabbed the top honors at the SEC’s prestigious 2007-08 Education Excellence Awards on November 11.

As winners, Dr. Al Rayahi and Dr. Al Khelaifi demonstrated high standards of leadership, academic performance, communication skills, personal development, and a high level of involvement in educational, community, and recreational activities. Each is a member of the inaugural graduating class of WCMC-Q, and both are currently in residency at Hamad Medical Corporation.

“Our graduates continue to make us very proud of their achievements,” said Dr. Maya Hammoud, Senior Associate Dean for Education at WCMC-Q. “These awards are a testament to the caliber of our students and the quality of our educational program.”

Only four college graduates in the country received this high honor this year. The award, in addition to its prestige, provides the student a cash reward of 35,000 riyals. The other two Platinum Award winners were also Education City students, both graduates of Texas A&M - Qatar. Another ten students were awarded Gold Medals. In all, 49 candidates had applied for the outstanding university student award.

The Education Excellence Day (EED) awards were created to encourage and recognize outstanding Qatari students, and to advance education and scientific research in the country. The awards aim to recognize achievements in education across six categories: high school graduate, university graduate, scientific research, PhD holder, teacher, and school. A total of 37 awards were given this year across all categories.

Education Excellence Day is held under the patronage of HH the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who spoke at the ceremony. Afterwards, student winners were invited as a group for a private chat with him.

Dr. Al Khelaifi said: “It was an honor to be honored by His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.”

“This is not just an award for us, but for the country,” said Dr. Al Rayahi. “It is proof that the country has wisely invested its resources in education, and that we are on the right track.”

The EED Board of Trustees sets high standards for the awards, and the process of evaluation and analysis is objective, transparent and rigorous. Winners in each category are selected by committees, and HE Sheikha Al Mahmoud, Minister of Education and Higher Education and chairperson of the EED Board of Trustees, approves the finalists.

“The EED honors outstanding Qataris and the competition this year was very stiff, reflecting the efforts of Qatari leadership in the education reform,” said HE Sheikha Al Mahmoud. “The educational efforts are headed in the right direction and they are bearing fruit.”

The annual event exemplifies the commitment of Qatar’s leadership to education and the development of a knowledge-based society. This year’s ceremony is the third annual Education Excellence Day. The event builds on the tradition of Education Day, which has been celebrated in Qatar for 44 years.

Report by Nora Minor