JUBAIL — UCMAS Abacus Center of Jubail and Dammam felicitated at Marafiw Beach Camp in Jubail recently the students who had won championship trophies at the 23rd UCMAS Abacus & Mental Arithmetic International Competition - 2018 that was held last December at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Welcoming dignitaries and guests, center director Samina Mazher Hussain recollected her journey and shared the success story of the center in sharpening mental math skills in thousands of students besides training them to compete and bring laurels for the Kingdom. The key to success of students at the annual international competitions year after year had been the center's emphasis on "Believe in Yourself" theme, she added. The address was followed with a video presentation reminiscing the glorious achievements attained by students of the center at different international competitions held in Malaysia and in other countries during the past one decade. The presentation also highlighted comments of several current and past students and their parents who shared as to how Abacus has helped them in their studies and other spheres of life. Guest speaker Syed Abdallah Rizvi spoke on brain power. He highlighted different aspects, attributes and capabilities of brain and the power of intellect vested in it. The audience was treated to a live show of mental math skills where students of the center performed calculations of long series of numbers at lightning speed. Though, some of the attendees tried to keep pace with the numbers on their mobile phone calculators, ultimately, they were no match to the skills of the students. At the end of each session, the audience was left with awe and admiration about the way each of the participants returned correct answers. The keynote speech was delivered by the principal of International Indian School, Jubail, Dr. Syed Hameed. Highlighting the importance of determination, he urged the students to always have a firm belief in their capabilities and should carry the attitude of ‘I can do it'. All of the 22 winners were called on stage individually, along with their proud parents, to receive the plaques of felicitation awarded by the center amidst thunderous applause. The youngest of the winners, Yusra Firoz who had won the grand championship in the ‘B' category of the competition and who was not able to bear the sheer weight of her huge championship trophy, was specially greeted and congratulated by dignitaries and audience. Mohammed Rafi, who had introduced the UCMAS Abacus in Saudi Arabia, was the chief guest. The event was also attended by a host of renowned academicians and community leaders of the Eastern Province, including Parvaiz Akhtar from Pakistan International School, Jubail, Naushad Ali, vice principal, Indian International School, Jubail, Amir Khan, Dunes International School, Jubail, Anzar Alam, Anees Baksh, Aziz Siddiqui, Ateeq ur Rahman and Abdul Haleem, Safare Mohammed. The event was anchored by course instructors of the center, Farida Taher Attar and Sabiha Moiz .
