As many as 109 new engineers received their diplomas yesterday during the largest ever graduation ceremony for Texas A&M University at Qatar (Tamuq).



HE the Minister of Energy and Industry Dr Mohamed bin Saleh al-Sada addressing the graduates.

While 89 Aggie engineers, including 43 Qataris, earned bachelor’s degrees in chemical, electrical, mechanical or petroleum engineering, 20 received their master’s degrees in chemical engineering.


Student speaker Jassim Khalifa A A al-Sowidi.

At the annual commencement exercises held on the Education City campus, Tamuq interim dean Dr Ann Kenimer expressed confidence that the graduates would become leaders in their field and dedicate themselves to lifelong learning. 
HE the Minister of Energy and Industry Dr Mohamed bin Saleh al-Sada, the invited speaker for the ceremony, congratulated the graduates on their achievements, recognising the pressures and challenges the students faced during their academic years. 
He described the ceremony as an affirmation that the graduates had the skills, determination and vision to go forth and make a difference for Qatar, the region and the world. 
“Now that you will be stepping out into the multifaceted world, which has its own challenges, I urge you to always uphold the ethics, professionalism and moral character you have developed at university; and always keep in mind your obligations to yourself, to your family and to your country.”
“Qatar is looking to you graduates to lead ahead the decades of growth, development and prosperity,” he continued. “You need to dream to contribute to the achievement of Qatar National Vision 2030; Qatar is here to help you realise your dreams.”  
Texas A&M’s president Michael K Young, making his inaugural visit to the branch campus, pointed out to the graduates that Texas A&M University was known worldwide as a leader in engineering education.
“These students represent the future — not only for our university, but also for the State of Qatar and the rest of the world. The impact these Aggies will have adds to Texas A&M’s legacy as these graduates carry on the traditions that are the heart and the hallmark of a world-class Aggie education.”
The May 2016 graduating class is diverse, with 20 graduate and 17 undergraduate chemical engineers, 24 electrical engineers, 30 mechanical engineers and 18 petroleum engineers. The graduating class is 35% female and represents 24 countries.
VIP student speakers included Meera Mohamed Amin Abu Soufah, a Class of 2016 chemical engineering graduate; student speaker Jassim Khalifa A A al-Sowidi, a Class of 2016 graduate in mechanical engineering; and Loganathan Lokesh, a Class of 2017 chemical engineering major who led the Aggies in singing “Spirit of Aggieland”.
Dr Mark H Weichold, former dean and CEO of Texas A&M at Qatar from 2007 through 2015, formally inducted the graduating Aggies into the Texas A&M University Association of Former Students, which now comprises more than 436,000 graduates of the university worldwide. Dr Weichold is a Class of 1978 electrical engineering graduate of Texas A&M.
Since 2007, Tamuq has awarded a total of 725 degrees, including 43 master’s degrees. This year’s master’s batch of 20 was Tamuq’s largest ever batch in chemical engineering.