If you think you have an extraordinary skill or achievement that you would like to share with students across the UAE, then it is time you speak up. Salaam Awards, a new initiative organised by a group of graduates in the UAE, aim to award students who are intelligent, popular, talented or innovative in their own ways.
So how can you join?
Simple. You nominate yourself through the web, or you nominate someone you know who has an outstanding characteristic, has achieved something commendable or falls into one of the eight categories being awarded that are listed in the bottom box.
Idea origins
Kasmani and Ali are among a group of 30 students organising the awards. The students who come from different universities decided that rather than receive awards from their superiors, for a change they should award each other.
"We wanted to leave behind something after graduation, so we came up with the idea of the magazine first. We started the students' quarterly publication called SALAAM (Arabic for ‘hello'). Then we came up with the concept of the awards to recognise the achievements of students," said Ali.
The aim, they said, is to unite all universities in one competition and to award students in all fields.
Who is eligible?
Students nominated for any of the categories except special needs have to be university students attending college or university within the UAE and enrolled in a course of minimum two-year.
How to vote
Since the competition is web-based, everyone can vote on the Salaam website http://salaam.ae. The nominee's friends, family members, tutors, mentors, or people who are introduced to their work through the net, can all vote online. They just have to register and create a profile that can be tracked and counted.
The voting begins on April 20; at this point, students can still give in nominations.
Those who register at the site have the right to vote as many times as they want. However, the vote must be requested in an online format and approved by the organisers.
Special needs is not a different category
One of the categories is dedicated to students with special needs. Kasmani and Ali said they saw amazing talents among special needs students while working at the hospital.
"We wanted to make it a focus. There are more than 30 special needs institutes in the UAE and more than 2,000 students enrolled in them. . . . If we can recognise their achievements, we create awareness and help them find employment in the future," Ali said.
Kasmani added: "Special needs is never a mainstream category; it's always different. We wanted to say that it is part of the competition like any other category."
For the special needs awards category, nominees must be above 12 years of age and must be students within the UAE.
Professors count too!
You can also nominate your favourite professor or vote in the Professor of the Year Award category.
The teacher qualifies for nomination if he or she has been employed in a university or college within the UAE for a minimum of two years.
"There is absolutely nothing to award the professors; they are usually humble and this is our way of thanking them and making them involved in a fun way," Kasmani said.
Popularity counts
The organisers said that victory to a large extent depends on student popularity. Those who want more chances of winning must campaign harder and familiarise voters with their work.
They can all post their portfolio or anything they would like to share with voters online. However, applicants must first pass the qualifying criteria for each category. Details in the application form have to be endorsed by the student council or the student administration at their universities for applicants to be able to qualify.
The prizes
The winners will be announced next month and awarded at a gala dinner. Among the prizes are academic scholarships.
Voters with the highest number of registered votes will win laptops, iphones and motorbikes, with the main prize being a full-size quad bike.
According to Ali, the awards are proving popular among the student community. "In 20 days, we received 30,000 hits on the website," she said. "I got into this because it is innovative and should be encouraged. Other awards are given by big people. In this, students decide. When we first started this, no one took us seriously. . . . But now I feel I am part of something great," she said.
Meet some of the nominees
Sana Abdullah, medicine student at the Dubai Medical College for Girls, is nominated for the academic achiever award.
Abdullah graduated among the 98th percentile in her secondary school and maintains a high average at college. She is optimistic of reaching the final stage.
"I will make brochures and distribute them in my college. I will also inform all my friends on the internet that I am a nominee so that they vote for me," she said.
Touseef Ashraf of SZABIST University has nominated himself in the art category. Currently studying for his MBA, he said that although he is pursuing a technical field, he has always had a passion for art and has worked as an art director.
The most intriguing category has to be the daredevil of the year. It has so far received an enthusiastic response. "I would say I am daring. I never say no to a challenge," said Rishab Harinian, a nominee. Harinian is a skier, a paraglider and a diver.
Dates to remember
Registration is open from March 15 to April 19
Voting begins on April 20
The last votes must be in by May 25
Elimination round 1: May 5
Elimination round 2: May 15
Final elimination: May 25
By Maysam Ali, Staff Writer