Muscat: ABA Oman International School celebrated the Class of 2024 graduation with His Excellency Ahmed Mohammed Al Humaidi, Chairman of Muscat Municipality as the esteemed guest of honour.
His Excellency Ahmed Al Humaidi expressed his delight in being an integral part of the graduation ceremony, especially as his daughter Dareen Al Humaidi was among the graduating cohort. Addressing the Class of 2024, he encouraged the graduates to “go forth into the world with a positive outlook; which has the power to transform challenges into opportunities and setbacks into success.”
Puja Khimji, Chair of the ABA Board of Directors, complimented the graduates on successfully completing the rigorous IB Diploma Programme. “At ABA, you have learnt to value diversity, embrace challenges, and lead with compassion. May these lessons be your armour, and your compass as you navigate the complexities of the modern world. I urge you not to just chase success, but to strive for significance through your actions and your choices.”
Sharing words of wisdom and encouragement with the graduating cohort, Craig Williamson, ABA Head of School said, “Graduates, as you embark on the next chapter of your lives, equipped with the knowledge, skills, and values instilled both at home and during your time at ABA, we are confident that you will continue to make a positive impact on the world around us. We are immensely proud of your accomplishments and look forward to witnessing your continued personal success and contributions to society, as you develop a legacy that reflects the betterment of all.”
Simon Walker, Assistant Head of School and High School Principal, commended the graduates for their dedication and perseverance throughout high school. “We are very proud of our graduating students and it has been our privilege to celebrate their academic achievements and contributions to our community. We wish them success and happiness in their journey forward.”
ABA valedictorians Ayman Al Busaidi and Arathi Aneesh resolutely stated, “In the different paths that we may take in the future, we hope to carry forward The ABA Way, as global citizens who strive for impact to make the world a more peaceful, socially just, and sustainable place for all. An impact that you will feel, an impact that generations to come will remember, and an impact that starts here, today.”
Ayman Al Busaidi received the International Understanding Award for furthering the cause of internationalism in the community and beyond, while the High School Philippa Leggate Award for Citizenship was presented to Maria Rodriquez for her valuable contribution to the ABA community.
Other notable awards, including The Duke of Edinburgh International Award - Gold was presented to Yousof Zarrabi, Julia Klefasz, Zoey Groen, Sam Bramley and Christian Sutton. The DofE Gold Award presented to young people over 16 years of age, requires 12 months of preparation, an adventurous journey of four days and three nights, a residential project and a minimum of 32 hours towards physical recreation, skill development and voluntary service.
Furthermore, our athletes of the year have shown leadership in sport and have both been outstanding ambassadors as ABA Vipers. Christian Sutton received the Male Athlete of the year award, while Julia Klefasz was declared the Female Athlete of the year, for their exceptional performance during MESAC and other sports events.
Through the coordinated efforts and guidance of University Counsellor, Jinane Traboulsi Helou, and IB Diploma Coordinator, Samantha Cole, ABA graduates have been accepted into leading universities around the world, illustrating the value globally of the gold standard IB qualification. Stanford University, GeorgiaTech, Georgetown University, University of Pennsylvania, University of Toronto, Waterloo University, McGill University, University of Melbourne, King’s College London, Trinity College Dublin, Florida International University, Ecole Polytechnique Paris and the University of Groningen are some of the prestigious universities where ABA graduates will be continuing their educational journey. They will pursue various fields of study, including International Business, Artificial Intelligence, Finance, Law, Computer Science, Psychology, and Architecture, to name a few.
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