AUS celebrates outstanding achievements of its students

The American University of Sharjah (AUS) celebrated the outstanding achievements of its students at the Annual Student Appreciation Awards 2025, held in the presence of Sheikha Bodour Bint Sultan Al Qasimi, President of AUS.

During the ceremony, forty-nine awardees were honoured, comprising 21 individual and 28 group awardees recognised for excellence in leadership, athletics, volunteering and residential community engagement.

The event was attended by more than 650 AUS students, acknowledged for their contribution to extracurricular activities throughout the year.

Participating in extracurricular programmes is an essential part of the American University of Sharjah student experience, with more than 124 student clubs, over 30 sports teams and numerous community service opportunities open to students.

A performance during the American University of Sharjah awards ceremony.

The ceremony commenced with welcome remarks from the student hosts.

Guests then viewed a video presentation highlighting major initiatives and events organised by the Office of Student Experience during the academic year.

Speeches were delivered by Dr Tod Alan Laursen, Chancellor of AUS, and AUS alumnus Mahmoud Gaith, followed by a video highlighting AUS Global Day 2025.

Shaima Bin Taliah, Vice Chancellor for Student Experience, congratulated the award recipients: “At AUS, we believe that true achievement lies not only in personal success but also in the ability to uplift and inspire those around us.

“The students we honoured have demonstrated leadership, creativity, compassion and dedication to their community. Their accomplishments strengthen the spirit of AUS and serve as a powerful reminder of what is possible when ambition and purpose come together.”

The ceremony continued with the presentation of awards across various categories, including individual achievements, group recognitions, Global Day awards, and Student Council honours.

Cultural dance performances by the Jordanian, Indian, Sri Lankan, Palestinian, Pakistani and Syrian cultural clubs brought the celebration to a vibrant close, showcasing how cultural exchange enriches the AUS experience for students representing more than 90 nationalities.

Reflecting on her journey, Sanjana Bharwani, a management student and recipient of the Most Outstanding Student Leadership Award, shared her experience of growth and leadership development at AUS, taking on roles with the Indian Cultural Club, as a Peer Leader and as a trainer for delegates to the National Model United Nations conference in New York.

“Beyond results, what has mattered most to me is empowering others to see their potential.

“Leadership, to me, is about inspiring and supporting those around you to reach heights they never imagined. AUS has given me a community where mentorship, encouragement and personal development are part of everyday life.

“Being recognised with the Most Outstanding Student Leadership Award is a reminder of the incredible community we are all privileged to be a part of,” she said.

These extracurricular achievements align seamlessly with the UAE’s national priorities for developing future-ready graduates with both academic excellence and practical skills.

Through a wide range of student engagement opportunities, AUS continues to foster essential leadership, teamwork, communication and organisational skills among its students — equipping them to thrive in their future careers and to make a meaningful contribution to society.

Recently, WAM reported that AUS is collaborating with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to transform the university’s research environment and accelerate the adoption of advanced cloud technologies across the university.

Through this collaboration, AWS will provide AUS with technical, infrastructural and strategic support, enabling the university to strengthen its digital foundation and expand cloud fluency across its community.