The names of next year's Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Scholars, 20 "exceptional" students from higher education institutions in the UAE, have been announced by NYU Abu Dhabi. The Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Scholars programme, now in its third year, was established by NYU Abu Dhabi in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) to provide high-achieving university students with a unique learning and leadership development opportunity. The 2010-11 scholars are all students currently in their third or fourth year of study in one of the three national universities in the UAE: United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), Zayed University (ZU), or Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT). Top students are nominated by these institutions and are selected by a panel of judges after an intensive application and interview process.
Sheikha Mariam bint Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, co-chair of the program's steering committee, said: "I am delighted that after yet another rigorous selection process we can celebrate the nomination of this year's Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed scholars. The 20 students were exceptional in what was an extremely competitive and remarkable pool of applicants." The selected scholars will participate in one of two academic courses: a course on the relationship between religion and government, as seen through the lens of the US Supreme Court, taught by NYU President John Sexton; or a class on US presidential politics and foreign policy which is co-taught by Robert Shrum, a political strategist and senior fellow at NYU's Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, and James Traub, a journalist who contributes to the New York Times Magazine and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
In addition to their academic course, scholars will participate in special English language training, enrichment programs, and a leadership development course. They will also have the unique opportunity to travel to the US to visit the Supreme Court, meet distinguished leaders, and tour NYU's New York campus. Scholars are an important part of the NYU Abu Dhabi community and regularly attend lectures and programs sponsored by the NYU Abu Dhabi Institute. The 2010-11 Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed University Scholars are: Ahmad Khalid al Falasi (HCT); Amer Abdul al Marzouqi (HCT); Amira Ragab el Hamd (UAEU); Anood Ali al Mansoori (HCT); Ayesha Ibrahim al Marzooqi (ZU); Ayesha Saleh al Habshi (ZU); Dawood Abdulla al Hammadi (HCT); Eman Ibrahim al Zarooni (HCT); Fajer Tariq al Haidan (ZU); Fatma Saqer al Marri (ZU); Ghaith Ahmad al Banna (HCT); Haneen Jwid Darweesh (UAEU); Huda Khamis al Abri (HCT); Maha Ali al Dhaheri (UAEU); Mariam Obaid al Zaabi (HCT); Marwa Izzeldin el Sayed (UAEU); May Ali Khojali Mostafa (UAEU); Nawal Yousif Akbari (HCT); Zena Nyatichi Abdullahi (UAEU); and Zuhoor Mohamedal Meqbali (HCT).
The judging panel included Zaki Nusseibeh, deputy chairman of ADACH, and adviser at the Ministry of Presidential Affairs; Nadia Ibrahim, cultural specialist and senior educational advisor, US Embassy; Mariët Westermann, co-chair of the Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Scholars Programme; Diane Yu, executive director of the Sheikh Mohamned bin Zayed Scholars Programme; Mohammed Osama al Mahmoud, a member of the inaugural class of scholars; and three members of the scholars class of 2009-10, Fatma Abdulla Al Bannai, Nouf Tawfeeq Al Mubarak, and Mahaba Al Saleh.
