Texas A&M At Qatar Graduates 105 Engineers

Texas A&M University at Qatar, a Qatar Foundation partner university, awarded bachelor’s and master’s degrees to 105 engineers May 7 in a ceremony recognizing all graduates.

The Class of 2020 includes 94 Aggies who received bachelor’s degrees in chemical engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering and petroleum engineering. Fifteen students were recognized as Undergraduate Research Scholars of Texas A&M’s main campus in College Station, Texas, and 34 students graduated with Latin honors. Texas A&M at Qatar also awarded 11 master’s degrees in chemical engineering. Of the total graduating class, 43 percent are female and 42 percent are Qatari. Graduates represented 23 nationalities.

To date, Texas A&M at Qatar has granted a total of 1,161 degrees.

Abdulkarim Mohamed, a Class of 2020 petroleum engineering graduate, addressed his classmates and fellow graduates on behalf of the student body. He came to Texas A&M at Qatar to start his freshman year after leaving his home in Yemen when war broke out during his senior year of high school. He credited the friends and family he made at Texas A&M at Qatar for his success.

“Texas A&M at Qatar has been my home for the past four years,” he said. “These years have not been easy, but we have learned and prospered so much. I made strong friendships that will last forever, and these people weren’t just classmates or colleagues — they were a second family to me. So thank you, Class of 2020, for never letting me feel like an outsider.

“The A&M community has always made sure we can reach our own goals while giving us a chance to make the best of our time,” Mohamed said. “This is a moment we have been patiently waiting for and tonight, we can all finally say we are done. I wish you all the best, wherever the road takes you.”

Texas A&M University President Michael K. Young sent his video greetings to the graduates and honored their parents, families and mentors who encouraged them during their studies.

“I want to offer my heartfelt congratulations to all of you,” Young said. “You’ve contributed to our university through your studies, participation, research and your extraordinary service, and now your journey continues as you represent our core values of excellence, respect, leadership, integrity, loyalty and selfless service. I know that the leadership team, faculty and staff of Texas A&M at Qatar join me in wishing you the best in your next exciting chapter.”

César Octavio Malavé, dean of Texas A&M at Qatar, presided over the ceremony. He congratulated the graduates while acknowledging the unusual and less than ideal circumstances the ceremony took place in.

“This is not how we wanted to celebrate this milestone,” Malavé said, “but I can send you into the world with the knowledge that you have achieved something remarkable: Not only have you earned a degree from one of the top engineering programs in the world, but you have done so under difficult and unprecedented circumstances. So much has changed in such a short time, and yet learning — and life — goes on. You adapted to your new normal, and you kept yourselves on track. You persevered, and more than that, you succeeded.

“The proof is that you’re here today, ready to leave university behind and head on to your next adventures,” he said. “With challenge comes change, and each of you has shown your strength and resilience, and your commitment to being an engineering leader in Qatar. Remember that you are now among more than 500,000 graduates of Texas A&M University around the world. Show the world how Aggies live their core values — not just in the workplace, but also into your communities and your families. We could not be more proud of you.”

The ceremony ended after Dhabia Al-Mohannadi — a Class of 2012 graduate of Texas A&M at Qatar and now an assistant professor in the Chemical Engineering Program — inducted the graduates into The Association of Former Students, Texas A&M’s alumni organization that comprises the more than 500,000 graduates of the university and is known worldwide as the Aggie Network.

Watch a recording of the event here.