By Mahed Bafaqeeh
UNIVERSITY CITY, SHARJAH – The American University of Sharjah’s College of Architecture, Art and Design presented awards Thursday for academic excellence, student service to the college, and other contributions.
Dean Varkki Pallathucheril moderated the event, streamed online, and praised the CAAD community for its performance during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Awards for academic excellence (computed by having the highest GPA in a department) went to:
- Architecture: Julia Najah Fhaili
- Interior Design: Dania Hasan
- Multimedia Daesign: Zain Firas Junidy
- Visual Communication: Leen Mohammad Jameel Albaz
- Design Management: Trisha Saxena
- Master of Urban Planning: Marwan Salah Saksook
Each department also hosted a Motivation, Attitude and Dedication (MAD) Award winner:
- Architecture: Arian Saghafifar
- Interior Design: Lama Al Shaheed
- Multimedia Design: Lama Kadri
- Visual Communication: Saba Khalid Yousef
- Design Management: Rouda Matar AlKetbi
- Master of Urban Planning: Osama Jamil
Jana Shehata received the Dean’s Service Award for improving the quality of student life.
Pallathucheril also oversaw the awarding of certificates of appreciation to leaders of student organizations and AUS chapters, noting the college wanted to recognize them for work under the “difficult circumstances” of the pandemic. Those members of student organizations and AUS chapters that CAAD honored were:
- American Institute of Architecture: President Sakina Qaid Johar and Vice President Nadine Abdelfetah
- American Institute of Graphic Arts: President Mariam Shamma and Vice President Trisha Saxena
- Interior Design Student Association: President Dania Hasan and Vice President Razan Hussein
- Design Management Association: President Daniella Fernandes and Vice President Rouda AlKetbi.
Pallathucheril closed the ceremony by honoring Professor Phil Sheil with an Award for Excellence in Teaching.
