Friday December 16, 2011

Thuwal, Saudi Arabia – King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) welcomed 244 more alumni to its ranks this week.

The students, from Saudi Arabia and around the world, graduated at the institution’s Second Commencement Ceremony, Friday December 16, on the Academic Campus.

Graduates by division

• Chemical, Life Sciences and Engineering (CLSE), 99
• Mathematical, Computational Sciences and Engineering (MCSE), 65
• Physical Sciences and Engineering (PSE), 80

New ambassadors to humankind

Applause, cheering, smiles and the tears of proud parents filled the ceremony as hundreds of families, University staff, faculty and members of the community gathered together to watch as the new graduates were conferred Master's Degrees.

University President, Professor Choon Fong Shih, congratulated the new graduates and thanked their families and loved ones for “traveling from near and far” to join the campus community for the commencement celebrations.

He said: “Class of 2011, you have received a KAUST education. You have worked with your professors in research that seeks to address some of today and tomorrow’s challenges – relating to water, food, energy and the environment. In your time here, you have written theses and published articles. These publications will not be the final chapter.

"In fact, some of you will continue working on these research projects for your PhD dissertations. Some among you have been tinkering with and perhaps even prototyping new devices, aspiring to become entrepreneurs who will bring innovative solutions to the marketplace. In your own ways, you are contributing to finding solutions for the challenges of today and tomorrow."

President Shih continued: “Your next challenge—as is ours as a University—is to look ten years down the road and beyond. I see you building careers and nurturing families. Through your endeavors in building your careers and nurturing your families, you help educate the people.

"As you give your best in all that you do, I see your KAUST education multiplying through the people you work with and come to influence positively. I see your education also multiplying through your children, through your children’s children, and for future generations to come. Indeed, your ideas and values, shaped by your KAUST education, hold the promise, in turn, to shape our collective future.

"Class of 2011, today you turn the page and start a new relationship with your alma mater. Today, you become our cherished alumni, the pride of the collective labors of our faculty, our staff and our community. Today, you become ambassadors for our University in our mission to bring knowledge in fruitful service to humankind."

The moment we've all been waiting for

Commencement Student Speaker, Ali Adalwood, from Saudi Arabia, remarked that he was thankful for the unique, multi-cultural and life experience the University had given him.

Addressing the audience, he said: "This is it, the moment we have all waited for and worked so hard to enjoy. I see happiness and smiling faces all around me because shortly we will be honored and presented our degrees.

"Believe me, it's not only the certificate that matters. It's the science and knowledge that we obtained; it’s the skills of problem solving and communications that will make us competent professionals. Our degrees are keys to open doors to the many opportunities and challenges waiting for us.

"KAUST was established here in Saudi Arabia for the very noble objective of training top scientists who will contribute to science through remarkable achievements. We are those scientists. We are the pioneers for this noble objective. As pioneers, we all need to work hard to build the reputation of our institution."

Adalwood, a graduate of Earth Science and Engineering, plans to pursue further studies in geophysics and a career at Saudi Aramco in the future. "I don't see this as a job from seven to four any more," he said. "Now I see it from a KAUST perspective."

Keep on moving

New KAUST Trustee, Professor Charles Vest, former President of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, was the ceremony's distinguished guest speaker.

During his address, he shared some advice with the students in the form of an anecdote of another former MIT President, Professor Jerome Wiesner. He said: "One day long after his (Professor Wiesner) service came to an end, an MIT alumnus approached him and said: 'Professor Wiesner, do you remember me? You shook my hand as I walked across the stage at my graduation ceremony several years ago and you shared with me, some very profound advice.'

"Now Professor Wiesner had shook thousands of graduates hands in his term as president and couldn't remember the alumnus, but in a very diplomatic way he asked, 'Well what was this profound advice?'

"The alumnus said you looked at me, you shook my hand, you waved your arm and said, 'keep on moving, keep on moving'. And that's my advice to you new KAUST alumni, keep on moving, keep on moving."

Graduate programs at KAUST are designed to give students a multidimensional scientific skillset that enables interdisciplinary "without walls" research and innovation. To find out more and register your interest click here.