Responding to suggestions by American University of Sharjah (AUS) students and alumni on honoring the legacy of the late Dr. Ibrahim El Sadek, former Associate Dean of the AUS College of Arts and Sciences, the university has established two scholarship funds to commemorate the memory of this legendary professor.

Following his sudden passing on the morning of July 1, 2012 at his residence on campus, AUS students, alumni, faculty and staff took to social media to express their condolences for his passing and to pay their tributes to this much-loved and respected professor. On social media, AUS students and alumni suggested a number of ways to keep his memory alive.

"The AUS administration has received many excellent suggestions from community members about how best to honor the memory and service of Dr. Ibrahim El Sadek," said Dr. Peter Heath, AUS Chancellor.

According to Chancellor Heath, the university administration has also decided to launch, with immediate effect, the Dr. Ibrahim El Sadek Memorial Scholarship Fund. "This endowed scholarship fund will be devoted to meeting the needs of AUS undergraduate students.  In order to encourage contributions to this fund, AUS will match the fund's annual revenue from its own scholarship funds, in order to increase its financial impact. Contributions may be as large or small as the donor determines," said Dr. Heath.

Additionally, the AUS Alumni Association is also creating another scholarship fund called the Dr. Ibrahim El Sadek Alumni Scholarship Fund in order to commemorate Dr. El Sadek's unwavering devotion to education. According to the AUS Alumni Association Board, proceeds from this scholarship fund will help deserving students.

Throughout his career, Dr. El Sadek helped many students find their educational niche. "In this way, the values that he dedicated his life to will continue under his name at AUS," read the statement issued by the alumni board. The earnings of the Dr. Ibrahim El Sadek Alumni Scholarship Fund will also be matched by the university so that the impact of the scholarship is magnified and the amount allocated to its awardees is doubled.

"Dr. Ibrahim El Sadek represents the model of what an AUS faculty member should be and the kind of positive impact one individual can have on an entire community.  I hope that you will join me in commemorating the valuable contributions that Dr. Ibrahim El Sadek has made to the growth and development of American University of Sharjah," said Dr. Heath.

Community members who wish to honor Dr. El Sadek's service to AUS may contribute to one or both scholarship funds through a number of payment methods, including online credit card payment, wire transfer, cash or check deposit at the AUS cashier's window, or salary deduction for employees. The donor need only identify that the payment is for the Dr. El Sadek Memorial Scholarship Fund and the donation will be deposited it into the correct fund.

Dr. Heath said that the administration will also recommend to the Board of Trustees during their meeting in early December that Dr. El Sadek be awarded emeritus status posthumously. It will also be recommend to the board that a campus academic space, yet to be identified, be named in Dr. El Sadek's honor.