11 May 2018 – 9:48
The Peninsula
DOHA: VCUarts Qatar held a grand day of events on May 7 at the Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel as the University celebrated its 20th Anniversary, 2018 Commencement Ceremony, and several of its students were given prestigious awards by Arab Engineering Bureau.
The day began with the commencement as graduating students were conferred with their degrees, and was made memorable by inspiring and touching speeches that were given by faculty, graduates, and the keynote speaker as the event brought together families, friends, faculty and staff to celebrate the accomplishments of VCUarts Qatar’s graduates.
Shawn Brixey, the Dean of Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Richmond and the Commencement’s Keynote Speaker told the students: “Be the pioneer of those discoveries. Harness the creative daring to make the world a more verdant, imaginative, and better home to all of us.”
The university conferred 53 Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degrees in fashion design, graphic design, interior design, painting and printmaking, and art history, and four Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degrees in design. The 17th Commencement brings the number of VCUarts Qatar alumni to 677.
“As we end our 20th Year, we continue to be excited about the opportunities to cultivate a dynamic intercultural environment of research, learning and community engagement that provides the context for the holistic development of exemplary artists, designers and scholars to build vibrant communities and diversified economies” said Dr. Donald N. Baker, the Executive Dean of VCUarts Qatar.
The Class of 2018 Co-Valedictorians Asma Hasan, and Dimitri Salomão gave a well-received speech in which they thanked their families, fellow graduates, friends, and faculty, and looked forward to what comes next.
“Professors are the cornerstone of any educational institution. They are the people without whom we would not be the individuals you see standing before you today. They knew when, and how to give guidance, feedback, or constructive criticism. Then there are our friends. The knights in disguise that saved us and cheered us on when the going got tough,” Hasan told her fellow graduates.
“Graduation ceremonies are – at their core – a celebration of the past which then turns its attention to the endless possibilities of the future. They’re meant to acknowledge our achievements over the past few years, but it’s really about what comes next isn’t it? That’s why we come to university in the first place, right? To have a better future,” Salomão said.
Sheikh Abdulla bin Ali Al-Thani, Ph.D., Advisor, Amiri Diwan, said, “This significant institutional milestone — two fruitful decades of Qatar Foundation’s partnership with Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar, reflects the continuing commitment of Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani to education as a pillar of society and an engine of growth, prosperity, and security”.
Arab Engineering Bureau (AEB) presented the 2018 awards for Design Excellence, and Creative Achievement and Potential to two graduating and two junior students from VCUarts Qatar at the 20th Anniversary Gala.
AEB’s Group CEO and Chief Architect Ibrahim Mohamed Jaidah, a longtime supporter and friend of VCUarts Qatar, presented the Arab Engineering Bureau Award for Design Excellence in Graphic Design to graduating student Amira Natsheh, and for Design Excellence in Interior Design to graduating student Zeina Sleiman.
Jaidah is recognised as a pioneer of a new architectural movement that combines the far-reaching influences of Islamic art with modern styles to create memorable landmark structures that are shaping Qatar.
“VCUarts Qatar has achieved such milestone celebrating its 20th anniversary in Qatar. Personally, and as a firm, we are honored to be a part of such achievement with the Arab Engineering Bureau Design Excellence Awards which were instituted back in 2007,” he said.
“It is remarkable that VCUarts Qatar has educated and graduated nearly 700 young minds since establishing of its campus in Qatar. Having arts and design programs is of paramount significance as design permeates all aspects of our everyday lives,” he added.
The Arab Engineering Bureau Award for Creative Achievement in Graphic Design was presented to graphic design junior Hind Al Kuwari, and for Creative Achievement in Interior Design to interior design junior Naurin Parambil.
