Seventeen outstanding student-athletes at American University of Sharjah (AUS) were awarded athletic scholarships for Fall 2013 at a special ceremony held at the AUS Chancellor's Office today, October 23.

Dr. Thomas Hochstettler, Acting Chancellor of AUS, and Dr. Moza Al Shehhi, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, congratulated the students on their achievements. Also present at the ceremony were other senior AUS officials.

"Sports are an essential part of university life," said Dr. Hochstettler. "It is an honor for a student-athlete to represent his or her university and I extend my heartiest congratulations to all the winners of the scholarships."

"I am very delighted to know that more and more student-athletes are benefiting from the AUS Athletic Scholarship program," said Dr. Al Shehhi. "The Student Athletics and Recreation Department is dedicated to provide maximum possible assistance to the deserving students for attainment of their athletic goals while pursuing the selected academic branches," she added.

The recipients this semester are Bassel Khanafer, Hakeem Al Hashash and Ahmed Ewaida for men's soccer; Yousef Mousa Shatat for men's basketball; Rehan Ali Iftikhar, Musaab Khalid Khan and Muhammad Anwar Khan Nasir for cricket; Vahid Farbod and Shadi Hamati for men's volleyball; Samer M. Hijazi for men's badminton; Shady Waleed Gomaa for men's swimming; Ashley Ann Mansour and Doha Assem Tantawy for women's basketball; Sarah A. Aldosary and Noor Chehayber for women's volleyball; Shahdan Ibrahim Barakat for women's table tennis; and Jannah Al-Salim for women's swimming.

The scholarship program aims to encourage, improve and develop sports at the university and consists of a 50 percent tuition remission. The scholarship is granted on a renewable semester basis and aims to support the student-athletes who have limited financial recourses and who demonstrate athletic excellence as well as outstanding sports qualities.