Hekma University hosted a ceremony on Wednesday to honor the donors and parents of outgoing students. Prince Turki Bin Abdullah, chairman of the university's Honorary Board, was also honored at the ceremony held at Prince Bandar Bin Sultan Auditorium. A total of 339 students representing the 15th bachelor's batch and the fifth master's batch, the biggest number in the university's history, graduated this year. Zuhair Fayez, chairman of the Board of Trustees and the owner and founder of Zuhair Fayez Partnership, made the opening remarks. Dr. Suhair Al-Qurashi, president of the university, made a brief presentation on the successes and achievements of the outgoing graduates. "Less than two decades ago there was no Dar Al-Hekma University, and tonight we celebrate the graduation of its 15th bachelor's batch and fifth master's batch. Not only that, but Dar Al-Hekma University provides high quality education that match with the most prestigious international universities," said Saad Al-Ghamdi, father of one of the graduates. The valedictorian speech was delivered by the honors student and law graduate Anan Al-Alwan, who directed her words to her fellow graduates saying, "Dear friends, we have eagerly waited for this day, the day of our graduation has come, the day of our farewell, our hearts are longing for the future, and our hearts will long for this university. And how could we not? Here we have been embraced and nurtured until we attained the knowledge we have today and the self-confidence that made us accomplished women, leaders and entrepreneurs." Khuloud Attar received this year's Outstanding Alumna Award. Attar graduated from the Graphic Design Department in 2007, and is the first Saudi woman to publish a design magazine in the Kingdom. Attar led many independent projects, trained talents from the next generation of designers, and supported creative activities to increase creativity in Saudi Arabia. "I stand on the same stage I graduated from 10 years ago, armed with the tools given to me by this place, inspired by the professors who taught me. I went out of our home Dar Al-Hekma University to change society. That is why I do not accept the pathway that was given to me, but I do what Dar Al-Hekma University taught me to do best ‘to design your life the way you dream it, and to dream big'," said Attar in her acceptance speech. Toward the end of the ceremony Dar Al-Hekma honored the donors and sponsors who stood by the university in the past 20 years, enabling the nonprofit institution to graduate accomplished women, leaders and entrepreneurs who were instrumental in the country's development. Finally, members of the university's Honorary Board and parents of the graduates were honored. — SG
