Alumni Newsletter, Issue 6

Alumni Affairs
Newsletter
November 2011, issue 6
Alumni Affairs Newsletter
Greetings Fellow Alumni,
With Homecoming Week around the corner, I am happy to welcome our newest members, the Class of 2011
into the Alumni Association. You are proud members of the pack and are joining a very special cohort of the
AUK community. This year will mark the five year reunion for the class of 2007! We have come a long way as a
group and I hope to see all of you on Dec 7, 2011. Homecoming is a great tradition at AUK and you will all get to
experience the joy of reuniting with old classmates and the sense of camaraderie that comes along with it.
Our campus has been busy with construction to allow for the increasing number of students, new departments
and new programs. AUK is growing and we will share these updates in this edition of our Alumni Newsletter.
We have had music recitals, a talent show supporting breast cancer awareness, a health fair and lots of sports
activities. Some of you have joined us for these events and we appreciate your support, I would like to take this
opportunity to extend an invitation to all alumni to stop by campus and see what we’ve been up to. Wether it is
to say hello to some old friends, staff and faculty or to attend one of our events on or off campus: we welcome
you with open arms.
Your are part of the AUK family: Welcome Home!
Looking forward to seeing you soon,
Dana H. Taqi ‘07
Coordinator of Alumni Affairs & Employment Programs
dhtaqi@auk.edu.kw
Content by:
Design:
Dana H. Taqi
Saba Al Fadhalah
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Campus News
AUK-Dartmouth Music Recital:
An Evening of Enchantment
The Music Program of the American University of Kuwait (AUK) in collaboration
with Dartmouth College, one of the premiere “Ivy League” universities of the
USA, presented a stellar music recital at 7pm on Monday 14 November in the
AUK Auditorium Liberal Arts Building, Salmiya Campus. Before a packed house
of an audience of over 300, advanced student musicians from both distinguished
institutions, accompanied by faculty, performed an exciting repertoire of vocal and
instrumental solo and chamber works, demonstrating the continued success of AUK’s
cultural collaboration with Dartmouth. The concert, which was the fourth AUKDartmouth recital, featured great variety, including works by Chopin, Haydn, Fauré,
Mozart, and Verdi. Music professionals, Drs. Elena Tsenkova
(piano) and Feruza Kadirova (violin), and Professors Anna
Karadimitrova (voice), Agnieszka Fajga (cello), and Dagmara
Galas (flute) showcased both their and their students’ talents.
The Dartmouth intern at AUK Shloka Kini, playing guitar,
accompanied AUK student Sara Suliman (flute) on two
pieces. Ms. Kini went on to perform a Kuhlau solo piano
sonatina, and then joined the full ensemble as a singer in the
finale Schubert Serenade.
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AUK Hosts 7th Annual Health Fair
For the seventh year, the American University of Kuwait (AUK) hosted the Annual Health Fair in its
Salmiya campus on November 15th. The full day popular exhibition was sponsored by the Career Services
and Wellness Center and hosted a variety of health and wellness participating companies including, gyms,
healthy restaurants, organic product companies, clinics, spas, hospitals, and health related societies. During
the event, participating companies provided health education literature and information about mental health
issues. Clinics provided free checkups for teeth, eyes, skin, blood pressure, and diabetes. Food companies
provided free samples of healthy foods and drinks. Gyms provided free trials of exercise equipment. In
addition, doctors and nutritionists on site provided free consultations. The Health Fair provided students
with knowledge of how to utilize resources in Kuwait to create and maintain a healthier lifestyle. The five
sponsoring companies, Al-Yasra Foods, Firin Gluten-Free Bakery, Fit Football, Hassan’s Optics, and Maidan
Clinic, presented memberships, vouchers, and other interesting prizes in an effort to encourage and promote
such lifestyle choices.
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Trademark and Logo Design Exhibition at
AUK
The Graphic Design Program at the American University of Kuwait hosted a design exhibition featuring
the works of Stefan Kirov Kanchev on October 24-27, 2011. The exhibition, which presented a large
variety of trademark and logo designs from Kanchev’s extensive career, was appreciated by students, staff
and faculty alike who enjoyed the works of one of the worlds most prominent logo designers. Kanchev’s
designs are inspiring, educational and continue to be significant to graphic design practice and history.
Stefan Kirov Kanchev, (Aug. 6, 1915 - Aug. 22, 2001) was an applied graphic artist born in Kalofer,
Bulgaria. He studied mural painting under Dechko Uzunov at the National Academy of Arts in Sofia.
Kanchev is best known for his logo design work and been referred to as the “father of Bulgarian graphic
design” and the “master of the trademark”. In total, Kanchev has authored around 1,600 logos and his
work spanned most varieties of applied art, though he was most productive in his trademark and logo work
and as a designer of book covers, posters, greetings cards, print advertisements, stamps, product labels and
packaging. As a designer, Kanchev was often inspired by traditional Bulgarian art and folklore. His works
are imaginative, with calm and clear composition, felicitous relation between fonts and shapes, clear forms
and creative ideas.
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‘Refuse to be Ordinary’ at AUK
The Office of Student Life launched AUK’s Volunteer Program ‘Refuse to be Ordinary’ on October 18,
2011. This event provided AUK students with the information and opportunity to become significant
contributors to the Kuwaiti community through service. Six organizations that perform exemplary service
in Kuwait came to AUK. They were Kuwait Red Crescent Society, K’s Path, Operation HOPE, PAWS,
KACCH and the Kuwaiti Team 4 Global Warming (KT4GW).
The event was attended by over 120 students, as well as others who came to the sign up tables. All those
who attended the event were treated to frozen yoghurt from Pinkberry. Overall about 130 students signed
up with the six organizations and will soon begin to engage in meaningful service, thus showing that they
‘Refuse to be Ordinary’.
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AALE Awards Program Accreditation to
AUK
The American Academy for Liberal Education’s (AALE) Board of Trustees awarded the American
University of Kuwait International Program Accreditation for its Arts and Humanities Division, Social
Sciences Division as well as the University General Education Program.
The Academy certifies and accredits institutions and programs worldwide that are concerned with
liberal education and the liberal arts. Accreditation by AALE signifies institutional integrity and a strong
commitment to liberal education. Membership certifies that the institution meets or exceeds the Academy’s
independently established Education Standards.
The AALE Board, Council of Scholars and Site Evaluation Visit Team all agree that, “The University’s
commitment to provide liberal education extends from AUK’s administrators and Board of Trustees to the
faculty and students.” They added that AUK students “are strongly enthusiastic about inquiry, reflection,
critical evaluation, debate and preferring thoughtful critique over memorization.” Further, the Visiting
Team Report added that “the AUK Faculty is commended for the many ways they seek out and implement
additional learning opportunities that enhance the quality of education and global experiences of their
students.”
AALE accreditation demonstrates that AUK utilizes the best traditions of liberal education, and certifies
that the Divisions of Arts and Humanities and Social Sciences as well as the General Education Programs
meet International Accreditation standards. AUK President Dr. Winfred Thompson recognized the
significance of this step forward saying, “Our aim is to aspire to the highest standard of quality, and with
this award we are one step closer to ensuring that AUK provides the highest quality education in Kuwait and
the region.”
The Academy’s Education Standards provide stakeholders in higher education, including parents and
prospective students, with a clear means of identifying colleges and programs with focused, well-articulated
goals for liberal learning in areas such as history, mathematics, science, literature, languages and philosophy,
and with coherent approaches to liberal education.
Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Professor Nizar Hamzeh, thanked all those who have contributed
to the AALE Self-Study, and in particular members of the AALE Steering Committee chaired by Dr. Rawda
Awwad, Assistant Dean for Accreditation and Curriculum. He added, “From my own experience, receiving
international program accreditation is not only a tremendous academic achievement but is a testimony
to the excellent qualifications, hard work, and leadership and integrity enjoyed by the university faculty,
administration and staff.”
The American University of Kuwait (AUK) is an independent, private, equal opportunity, and co-educational
liberal arts institution of higher education. The educational, cultural and administrative structure, methods
and standards of AUK are based on the American model of higher learning. The lanuage of instruction is
English.
AUK and Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire (USA) have worked closley together since 2003,
when the two institutions signed a Memorandum of Understanding that facilitated a serios of advisory,
consultative and cooperative projects. Dartmouth College is a member of the group of universities in the
United States known as the “Ivy League”, more information on Dartmouth College can be found at www.
dartmouth.edu<http://www.dartmouth.edu/>.
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Alumni Tips
Leaving the comfort of University life can be daunting for some alumni. It’s a start of a new life, new
career and new responsibilities. Yes we are all professionals now but some of us might need a helping
hand every now and then, this is when your alumni status comes to the rescue.
Looking for a job?
Stop by the Career Services & Wellness Center for:
•Career Counseling
•Resume Editing
•Career Fair
•Or if you just need to see a friendly face!
Applying to Graduate School?
The Career Services & Wellness Center offers:
•Graduate School info
•Resume Editing
•Help with applications & Personal Statements
OR..
Take advantage of the classes offered by CCE to help you get better results on standardized testing:
•TOEFL
•GRE
•GMAT
•IELTS
In Graduate School and need resources while on holiday?
Stop by the AUK Library to study, browse or checkout books for your research paper!
The campus community is here to assist you. Take advantage of the resources available to you as AUK
Alumni.
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ALUMNI MEMBER BENEFITS:
•
•
•
•
•
You get a distinguished AUK Alumni University ID Card
A copy of our quarterly newsletter
Library access and database privileges
Staying in touch with former classmates
Expand your networking
CCE offers all alumni 15% discounts on all courses, below is a list of some of the
courses/programs/diplomas offered:
•
•
•
•
Business English Program (10 levels)
Cambridge International Diploma in Business (6 modules)
Exam Preparation Courses (IELTS, TOEFL, GRE, GMAT, SAT, ICES, GED)
Leadership and Supervisory Skills (7 workshops)
For Further information please feel free to visit our link on the AUK website http://www.auk.
edu.kw/cce/cce_main.jsp or contact us at (965) 2224-8399 ext. 137 email cce@auk.edu.kw.
We would like to remind our alumni that the fitness room and classes are open to
alumni. Please find the schedule below and we hope to see some of you sweating it out
with us!
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Where Are They Now?
Noura Al-Nusif ’11 - The Bus Stop: Advertising Agency – Creative Director
Abdullah Al-Qatami ’11 – Burgan Bank – Customer Relation Officer
Hana Al-Arfaj ’11 – United Real Estate Co - Corporate Communication
Specialist
Jawharah Sulaiman ’11 - Kuwait Oil Company - Assistant Analyst
Abdullah Al-Ghanem ’11 - Protivity Internal Audit Risk Advisory – Analyst
Mohammed Al-Wazzan ’10 - Ahli United Bank - Relationship Officer
Ghaida Al-Muhanna ’10 - Crowe Horwath - Business Manager
Mohammad Al-Saqer ’10 - State Audit Bureau – Auditor
Mohamed Hassan ’10 - Noor Capital Market – Trainee
Ahmed Husain ’09 – Kuwait Municipiality - IT Programmer
Nour Mansour ’09 – AUK – Admin Specialist at the Division of Business & Economics
Taibah Al-Mershad ’09 – Pursuings a Master of Arts at Bond University in Australia
Nouf Al-Nafisi ’09 – ZAIN – PR Coordinator
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Alumni Feature
Saba Al-Fadhalah ’11
Saba, a recent AUK graduate and a former student worker is
one of our brightest alum working at ZAIN. Hired just two
months after Graduation, Saba, a Branding Coordinator at
ZAIN is overflowing with creativity. She recently worked on
a ZAIN Disability Day awareness campaign, which will be
featured in newspapers and billboards in Dec.
Describe a typical day at ZAIN.
I arrive at 8 am, get my morning coffee, through the security gates, up the elevator and onto the Marketing
floor. My office is essentially a large conference room with a conference table, a white board and a few
cubicles. After checking my work email it’s time to check the ZAIN website, update and maintain ZAIN
branding. Some days are spent in and out of meetings while other are spent in my cubicle designing,
designing, designing!
I also have to make branch visits for branding and quality control.
How has your experience as a student worker at AUK helped you?
I was hired as a graphic designer although my major was not
in graphic design. The department saw my portfolio and liked
my work! The experience I got designing flyers, invitations and
newsletters such as this one helped show ZAIN my range of work.
I learned skills that I never would have just from books and design,
skills as simple as greeting a “customer” or just answering the
office phone.
Do you have any advice to share with your fellow alumni?
I don’t have advice to our alumni but I hope that AUK students
read this and know how wonderful life at AUK is! As a recent
graduate, I miss the campus a lot and try to visit whenever there’s
a big event, any excuse to be back on campus. There is a level
of comfort and security that comes with being a student. GET
INVOLVED, you never know what you might learn outside the
classroom.
We are very proud of Saba and hope to hear more success stories
from here and all our other alumni
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Workshops
These are some of the
workshops offered for
students and alumni, if
you are interested in the
content please contact
the Career Services and
Wellness Center for our
workshop archive.
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Upcoming Events
December 4th
Sign-Up Booth: Investment 101 & Portfolio Management Workshop
AUK Table Tennis Team Games
December 6th
Senior Launch
Paintball
The Financial Chef: The Brains Behind The Food Phenomena
The Tunisian Arab Spring: Lesson Learned
L.E.A.D. Worshop: “Launch It: Secerets behind MEGA Launchers”
Academic Skills Workshop: “Presentation Skills”
“Wedding Crasher” Auditions
December 7th
Investment 101 Workshop (Day1)
AUK Women’s Table Tennis Team Game
AUK Men’s Soccer Team Game
December 8th
Dribble, Shoot, Score & Juggling Competition
Student, Faculty/Staff, Alumni Soccer Tournament
AUK Under The Stars
Raad & Afyouni Marketing Seminar
Investment 101 Workshop (Day 2)
AUK Backetball Team Games
Auk Women’s Table Tennis Team Game
Got Stuff ?
We encourage and welcome submissions of articles, stories or any personal or professional news
from our Alumni for the upcoming issue. Please send your submissions by email to dhtaqi@auk.
edu.kw
American University of Kuwait
Phone: 1-802040/ (+965) 2-224-8399 ext.478; Fax: (+965) 2-571-5863
Email: dhtaqi@auk.edu.kw
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