Dr Bryan Lewallen, Director of the ABP, addressing the graduating class.
Doha: The Academic Bridge Program (ABP) of Qatar Foundation (QF) awarded diplomas to a unique set of young men and women during a graduation ceremony held yesterday. They included those from the ABP, Qatar Armed Forces Academic Bridge Program (QAF-ABP) and pilot cadets.
The graduates consisted 136 of ABP, 138 officers from the second batch of QAF-ABP and 23 from the first batch of Qatar Airways’ Cadet Pilot Program.
The ABP, a center of QF’s premier pre-university program, prepare high school graduates from Qatar and other countries in the region for university admission. The ceremony, held at the Qatar National Convention Center, was attended by Buthaina Ali Al Nuaimi, President of Pre-University Education at QF and several other dignitaries.
With the new batch of graduates, the total number of alumni from ABP and QAF-ABP has reached a total of over 3,000. More than 90% of the graduates of this year are Qataris and many of this year’s graduating class have been accepted to one or more of QF’s partner universities in Education City.
Additionally, as part of an agreement signed earlier this year the pilot cadets from Qatar Airways’ Cadet Pilot Program successfully completed the ABP program, designed to strengthen their academic skills in English and mathematics and prepare them for flight school in Europe and the US.
“Tonight the number of ABP graduates from the Education City campus will surpass the 3,000 mark, bringing the total number of alumni to 3,102,” said Dr. Bryan Lewallen, Director of the ABP.
Dr Bryan Lewallen, Director of the ABP added: “We are very proud to welcome our 138 graduating cadets from the Academic Officer Program who will join the 286 cadets who graduated in 2018. The Academic Officer Program, now in its second year, is a joint venture between Qatar Foundation, the Ministry of Defense, and the Qatar Armed Forces, that prepares cadets for success at the university level and a future as an officer in the Qatar Armed Forces.”
138 officers graduated from the Qatar Armed Forces Academic Bridge Program at the ceremony.
The ABP-Education City’s Class of 2019 valedictorian, Sara Yousef Al Muftah, who has been admitted to the Northwestern University in Qatar said, “This year has flown by so fast – I feel like I walked through ABP’s doors for the first time just a couple of weeks ago, but we’ve finally made it. However, we wouldn’t have succeeded without the support of our teachers and parents, of course. They helped us get back up every time we fell down, stronger than before.”
Dr Mark Newmark, Assistant Director of ABP Academic Affairs and Moza Al Boainin, Assistant Director of Student Services at ABP, recognized students for their achievements, which was followed by Dr Lewallen presenting the ABP-EC’s graduation certificates. Dr Lewallen, together with Hamza Duhaini, Assistant Director of Academic Affairs, QAF, also presented the ABP-AOP graduating students with certificates.
Sariya Al Mannai, who has got admitted to Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar told The Peninsula, “The experience at ABP was great. I have gained confident on how to talk and express myself in English. ABP is a perfect choice any student can make to gain pre-university qualification and experience.”
Ghaya Al Suwaidi with an interest to study medicine has applied to the Qatar University and several institutions in the UK. “I haven’t decided yet whether to travel abroad or study here. But I look forward to continue my higher studies with great confident and enthusiasm with the experience gained from ABP,” she said.
Abdullah Abubakkar from the QAF-ABP who intends to study electrical engineering in the UK said, “The course has helped me develop skills and given me the exceptional experience to move on to the next level of education. Upon finishing my studies in the UK I will return and serve the country.”
Rashid Al Khater also shared similar thoughts and said that he will be going to the UK to pursue higher studies in civil engineering.
