DUBAI — Twenty-four girls, including a student from the Nahyan family, from the Gems network of schools received the Shaikha Fatima bint Mubarak Award for Excellence yesterday at the Gems Wellington International School.
Shaikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, gave away the annual awards to the girls from Grade IV to Grade XII.
Shweta Johri, Diandra Fernando, Ahana Nanda, Salama Al Majid, Vinaya Shah, Abigail Freeman, Shaikha Shaikha Saeed Saif bin Mohd Al Nahyan, Rhea Ganapathy, Angela Abraham, Maria Hasanali, Mina Nuqul, Aswathy Jayachandran, Shaziya Kalam, Ayesha Ahmed, Mansuda Arora, Ashna Gupta, Drishti Masand, Kirti Ramesh, Pooja Ramaswamy, Chithraa Raj, Krishnasruthi Srivalsan, Rama Kulkarni, Malak Benani, and Angeline Christy are the students who won the award.
Interestingly, Shaikha Shaikha Saeed Saif bin Mohd Al Nahyan, a Grade XI student, from the Shaikh Zayed Private Academy, Abu Dhabi, was one of the awardees. Her seven-year-old brother, Hamdan bin Saeed bin Saif Al Nahyan, came to receive the award on her behalf.
Shaikh Nahyan told the students, parents, teachers and principals from the 24 Gems schools, “Today, we are here to celebrate the winners who have demonstrated their abilities, their initiative, and their great potential as leaders for tomorrow. I am delighted that we have this opportunity to encourage and support these students in their efforts to excel and succeed.”
Lauding the students, he said, “ I congratulate each of you and wish you continued success. As recipients of this distinguished award, you have high expectations to meet. The true measure of your success will be the skills and abilities you display as successful students and, ultimately, as productive members of society.”
He also praised the efforts of teachers, parents and families who have helped the students win the awards.
The award, which includes a scholarship to cover a year’s tuition fee at a Gems school and a memento, was instituted by Gems in 2005 to honour Shaikha Fatima bint Mubarak, wife of the late President Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, for her contribution to the empowerment of UAE women, and her support for excellence in all areas.
Shaikh Nahyan observed that it was fitting the awards were named after Shaikha Fatima, whom he called “ a wise and visionary person, highly respected for her leadership and commitment to excellence.”
He noted that she was a great supporter of education and a strong believer in providing equal educational opportunities for men and women. “ Shaikha Fatima supports all efforts to achieve peace and prosperity in the United Arab Emirates, and is affectionately known as the Mother of Our Nation.”
The students have been nominated by committees from each school, based on outstanding academic success, significant contribution to environmental concerns, a high level of social or community service and commitment to world citizenship.
Gems Founder and Chairman Sunny Varkey congratulated the students, parents and teachers, and urged the winners to pursue excellence in all their future endeavours.
By Preeti Kannan (Our staff reporter)