Thursday December 16, 2010

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) awarded Master's degrees to 292 pioneering graduates, 15 months after the university opened in September 2009. The inaugural Commencement ceremony was held on the university's campus in Thuwal, Saudi Arabia on December 16, 2010.

Congratulating the Class of 2010, President Choon Fong Shih said, "Today we celebrate the beginning – the commencement – of a new chapter in the lives of 292 pioneering graduate students. Today we gather on the shores of the Red Sea, inspired by King Abdullah's noble vision of a university, a new House of Wisdom."

President Shih continued: "Today you go forth as KAUST's founding alumni. Take the name and spirit of our University and go forth and make a difference. Take the knowledge you gained here and go forth in fruitful service to Saudi Arabia and all peoples of the world. Through your life and work, you and those who follow in your footsteps can help grow our University as King Abdullah's living gift for this and future generations."

Students were conferred their degrees after speeches by the Chairman of the KAUST Board of Trustees, His Excellency Mr. Ali Ibrahim Al-Naimi, Student Commencement Speaker, May Alqurashi, of the Division of Chemical and Life Sciences and Engineering, and Commencement Speaker, KAUST Trustee and President Emeritus of Cornell University, Dr. Frank H.T. Rhodes.

His Excellency Mr. Ali Ibrahim Al-Naimi congratulated the graduating class and said that today is a historic and proud day for KAUST.

He said: "Today is the culmination of our efforts since 2006 to build KAUST and realize King Abdullah's dream to educate and train the next generation of scholars, scientists and engineers of the world.

"Rarely, do any of us have the opportunity to be a catalyst for far reaching good, but we have had that opportunity in KAUST. Graduates, this day marks a new beginning for the rest of your lives. My warmest congratulations to each of you and your families. God bless you all."

Commencement Speaker, KAUST Trustee and President Emeritus of Cornell University, Dr. Frank H.T. Rhodes also congratulated the founding class and paid tribute to The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah.

Dr. Rhodes said: "Today's commencement is one of historic significance. It is a day of celebration as one of the world's youngest and most ambitious universities graduates its first class.

"All of us here congratulate and thank the KAUST founder, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah on this historic occasion. We salute you and thank you for your generosity and unfounding support which you have given to this institution.

"Graduates, you are the foundation class, of which there will never be another. I thank you all for your gift of trust in our new university and wish you all the very best for the future."

Student Commencement Speaker, May Alqurashi, of the Division of Chemical and Life Sciences and Engineering said: "Life at KAUST also taught us how to extend our family. It was not all about academics. Here, we met friends from all over the world. We found that although we are different in many ways, we are so close and so similar. Anyone walking down the campus spine would see friends gathering together and feel the spirit of everlasting friendship all over the place."

The graduates were presented for the degree conferment by the Deans of their respective Academic Divisions - Professor Kenneth Minneman for Division of Chemical and Life Sciences and Engineering, Professor Mohamed Slim Alouini for the Division of Physical Sciences and Engineering, and Professor David Keyes for the Division of Mathematics and Computer Sciences and Engineering.

Almost one-third of the founding class intends to continue on to their Ph.Ds at KAUST. Of the remaining two-thirds, about half are hoping to remain in Saudi Arabia to contribute to the development of the Kingdom.