New York University Abu Dhabi Welcomes 24 Accomplished Undergraduate Students to the Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Scholars Program

Abu Dhabi, July 13 2015: NYU Abu Dhabi has announced the 2015-2016 class of the Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Scholars Program, which recognizes outstanding undergraduate students in the United Arab Emiratesand provides them with specialized academic and leadership opportunities.

The Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Scholars Program (SMSP), established in 2008 by NYU Abu Dhabi in conjunction with the Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC), draws on high-achieving students in their third and fourth years of study in the UAE’s three federal universities - United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), Zayed University (ZU), and the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) - and aims to further prepare them for success in graduate and professional study.

Sixty students were nominated by the three institutions to be considered for the Scholars program. Following a rigorous selection and interview process, 24 were selected as Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Scholars by a distinguished panel of judges from NYU Abu Dhabi, NYU New York, and the local Abu Dhabi community.

The 2015-2016 Scholars will select one of two political science classes, one on religion and government, taught by NYU President John Sexton, and the other on U.S. foreign policy, taught by noted journalist James Traub. In addition, all Scholars are trained in leadership development, public speaking and public presentations, and critical thinking and writing. During the year, the program will travel to the U.S. to visit government sites in Washington, D.C., and hold classes at the Washington Square campus in New York while also touring cultural attractions in the cities.

Her Highness Sheikha Mariam bint Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, co-chair of the SMSP steering committee, said: “The Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Scholars Program recognizes exceptional Emirati students who are genuinely motivated by challenging educational and leadership development opportunities. I congratulate the students in this year’s class, who will no doubt continue in the tradition of past Scholars by succeeding in their higher education training and excelling in an increasingly globalized and competitive world.”

Diane C. Yu, SMSP Executive Director and Deputy President of NYU said: “We are delighted that these exceptional men and women will be part of this new class of Scholars. They represent the very best qualities of academic achievement, intellectual curiosity, leadership potential, creativity, skills, and accomplishments among the top university students in the UAE. They are a diverse and dynamic group, and we hope they will benefit greatly from what they will learn and experience through the program.”

The 2015-2016 Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Scholars are:

Abdelrahman Mohamed R. Deemas Alsuwaidi, Higher Colleges of Technology
Ahmed M.A. Radi, United Arab Emirates University
Amira Mohammad Abdulrahman Ahmed Almadani, United Arab Emirates University
Amna Abdulla Ahmad Mohammad Alameri, Higher Colleges of Technology
Ashfakur Rahman, United Arab Emirates University
Ayesha Ali Ahmad Awadh Mohammad, Zayed University
Aysha Fahed Nasser Saif Althehli, United Arab Emirates University
Bashaeir Khameis Ali Aldabani Aldhanhani, Higher Colleges of Technology
Hamada Abdul Sattar Mohammed Al-Ansari, Zayed University
Hanan Faiez Bahman Rahmatalla Almarzooqi, United Arab Emirates University
Jaafar Mohamed Abubaker Yahya Alhashmi, Higher Colleges of Technology
Layal J. M. Qeshta, United Arab Emirates University
Mariam Ahmad Ali Al Hamadi, Higher Colleges of Technology
Maryam Ahmed Abdulla Bnari Alawadhi, Zayed University
Maryam Ali Mohd Hassan Albelooshi, Zayed University
Mirfat Mohamed Mbarak, United Arab Emirates University
Naila Saeed Abdilrazaq Adam, United Arab Emirates University
Nailah Mahmoud, United Arab Emirates University
Omar Mohammad Ahmad Kahin Jame, Zayed University
Rawdha Rashed Khamis M. Almansoori, Zayed University
Reem Abdulkaddous Abdulkhaliq Khalid, Higher Colleges of Technology
Reem Fadel Abdulla Khamis Alshamsi, Higher Colleges of Technology
Shamma Ahmed Helal Thabet Alkuwaiti, United Arab Emirates University
Yasir Ali Abdulkareem Ali Alobeidli, United Arab Emirates University

The Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Scholars Program is one of two community programs operated by NYU Abu Dhabi. The other is the NYUAD Summer Academy for recipients of the Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Scholarships for Outstanding High School Students, which is open to Abu Dhabi-based high school students entering their 11th year.