American University of Sharjah (AUS) honored more than 600 of its students for their extracurricular achievements during the Annual Student Appreciation Award ceremony held yesterday night, May 8, 2017. Students from the AUS Student Council, sports teams, student clubs and organizations, community services volunteers, and the leadership program were recognized for their efforts at a special event held at Al Jawaher Reception and Convention Center, Sharjah.

The Annual Student Appreciation Awards honor students' activities outside the classrooms and promotes their success by recognizing their achievements and encouraging them to explore their interests.

Speaking at the ceremony Dr. Björn Kjerfve, AUS Chancellor, said "Since its inception, AUS has earned renown as a teaching institution established through a mandate of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan. It has two main objectives: one is to become a leading research university and the other to educate students like you to excel both inside and outside the classroom. We are proud of your achievements and to have you as students at AUS."

Dr. Moza Al Shehhi, Dean of Students, congratulated the students on their success and expressed her pride in the students' participation in events and activities provided by the AUS Office of Student Affairs. "I am proud to say that students being appreciated in today's function aspired and attained their academic and nonacademic goals. We are pleased to celebrate your achievements," she said.

"Our student leaders have set inspirational examples locally and internationally and bought the university fame, worldwide through their achievements," she added.

Eight students received the Most Outstanding Active Student Award for their contributions to extracurricular activities in the Academic Year 2016-2017. The awardees were:

1. Most Outstanding Active Students awards:

a. Student Athletics and Recreation

Raees Rizwan

Habiba Khalifa

Salem Herzallah

b. Student Clubs and Organizations

Siddhant Manjunath Iyer

Bassim Younis

Sameed Khalid

c. Leadership Program

Ahmad Azari

d. Community Services

Zulfikar Qaidzohar

2. Global Day Best Corner Awards

a. 1st Place: Egyptian Cultural Club

b. 2nd Place: Indian Cultural Club

c. 3rd Place: Emirati Cultural Club

d. Best Corner Idea: Palestinian Cultural Club

e. Best Teamwork (Corner): North African Cultural Clubs (Algerian, Tunisian, Libyan and Moroccan)

3. Global Day Best Performance Awards

a. 1st Place: Indian Cultural Club

b. 2nd Place: Jordanian Cultural Club

c. 3rd Place: Palestinian Cultural Club

d. Best Performance Idea: Pakistani Cultural Club

e. Best Teamwork (performance): Sudanese Cultural Club

4. Global Day Best Sustainable Pavilion Awards

a. Best Large Sustainable Pavilion: India

b. Best Small Sustainable Pavilion: Sri Lanka

c. Best Group(Team) Sustainable Pavilion: Korea and Japan

5. Club of the Year Awards

a. Ethnic: Indian Cultural Club

b. Interest-oriented: American Society of Mechanical Engineers Club

Also present at the awards ceremony were Dr. Leland Blank, Interim Provost and Chief Academic Officer at AUS; AUS deans and other senior officials; faculty, staff and students.