Effat University Announces Winner of Queen Effat Citizenship Award

Under the patronage and in presence of HRH Princess Lolowah Al Faisal, Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees and General Supervisor of Effat University, and with the attendance of students’ parents, community members and media, Effat University honored  the winner of Queen Effat Citizenship Award.

The ceremony was held at the Effat Library and Cultural Museum on Monday, 23rd of October, 2017. And the award was won by student Rula Mousaed Al-Ghamdi, from the department of Computer Science at Effat University and was presented by HRH Princess Lolowah Al Faisal, together with Dr. Haifa Jamal AlLail, President of Effat University.

The ceremony included a speech by HRH Princess Basma bint Majid bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Member of the Board of Heritage Arts, as well as a speech by the guest of honor Sheikh Hussein A. Al-Banawi, Chairman of Al-Banawi Industrial Group and Chairman of the Advisory Committee of the Effat Ambassadors Program.

Also speaking at the event, Dr. Malak M. Abu Nar, Dean of Students Affairs at Effat University, welcomed the guests and highlighted the role of women in social welfare, saying - "I am proud of all the students  who spared no effort to enter the nominees list. Winning this prestigious award creates an excellent opportunity for the winner to represent herself and her university; she will become the president of the Students Shura, a position through which she will be able to influence change and provide support to others.”

The winning student said, “I am honored to receive this award, which entails great responsibility for me to become the voice of the students.” She added: “I truly express my thanks and gratitude to my university and teachers, without whose help and support I would not be standing here today.”

As the winner, Rula will enjoy various benefits including being appointed president of the Students Shura, which is the students’ legislative body which serves them through close cooperation with the Students Council.

For her part, Dr. Haifa Jamil AlLail stated that Effat University is committed to producing active society members by developing the social and personal skills of the students in order to enrich them with the knowledge and the ability to innovate. This is achieved through applying Effat’s core values, which stem from the word IQARA (Read).

Dr. Haifa went on to say: “The award reaffirms that our core values are fundamental for the development of ambitious leaders who contribute to national and global progress. Our values are complemented by innovative educational curricula, in an environment that fosters a culture of knowledge, research contribution and constructive community partnership.”

Adding his comments, Sheikh Hussein Al-Banawi, said: “I am thrilled to be back at Effat University and being among so many talented young women. Behind this truly remarkable landmark educational institution is a living example of women’s leadership at its best - Princess Lolowah, who is exemplary to all of us for her vision, her nurturing leadership, her perseverance and her selfless dedication to the cause of women’s education.”

The university’s Queen Effat Citizenship Award is sponsored by the Banawi Industrial Group for the fourth year in a row. In addition, with Sheikh Hussein’s founding vision, the Banawi Scholarship for Personal Development was developed at Franklin University in Switzerland with the unique purpose of providing financial aid to outstanding students in-need, who reciprocate by acting as academic mentors for other students facing language, learning or cultural challenges.