32 girls receive Shaikha Fatima bint Mubarak Award for Excellence

It was a special recognition for a group of 32 girls selected from Gems schools across the world when UAE’s education minister, Humaid Mohammed Al Qattami presented them with the Shaikha Fatima bint Mubarak Award for Excellence.

Each of the 32 students was presented a scholarship covering a year’s tuition fee at a Gems school. The award has traditionally recognised young women from Gems schools in the UAE. Since 2009, the award has been extended to all female students from Gems schools around the Middle East and India.

The youngest award winner this year was Rohanna Helen Myers, from year 4 of Royal Dubai School. At 8, she has proved herself to be a highly motivated and independent learner who is keen to get involved in any opportunity offered to her. Her sporting skills were demonstrated when she joined the Manchester Soccer School in September as the only girl in the team.

Emily Rawlings, a year 6 student at the Gems Jumeirah Primary School was one of the younger award recipients. Brimming with excitement, she said: “This is the first academic award I have won.”

Jude Abdelhaq, a Grade 4 student at the Gems World Academy in Abu Dhabi said: “I’ve got good grades and taken part in a lot of student campaigns at school.”

The awards are hosted under the patronage of Shaikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, to honour Shaikha Fatima, wife of the late Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, for her contributions to the empowerment of the UAE women, and her support for excellence in all areas. -muaz@khaleejtimes.com