Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar (VCUarts Qatar), a Qatar Foundation partner university, recently held a virtual social gathering online to honour the graduates of the Class of 2020.
This year, 67 students are intending to graduate from the art and design university, which is located in Education City.
The virtual gathering, organised by Student Development Senior Specialist Sarah Faheem, brought together the graduating students from VCUarts Qatar’s Art History, Fashion Design, Graphic Design, Interior Design, MFA in Design, and Painting and Printmaking programmes.
It was also attended by VCUarts Qatar’s dean, Amir Berbi?; interim associate dean for Academic Affairs, Dr Cherif Amor, assistant dean for Atudent Affairs, Dr Valerie Jeremijenko, the chairs of the university’s many programmes and departments, and the faculty and staff, some of whom wore their traditional graduating regalia of gown and cap to honour the Class of 2020 who have not yet had the chance to wear theirs formally.
“Artists and designers feed off adversity,” Berbi? said, "and this has been known throughout the history of art and design. I reiterate the point that I count on all of you to come out of the current difficult situation, first of all healthy and strong, but also perhaps with a new perspective on the world and how you can contribute to it in meaningful ways, despite the circumstances.”
Berbi? also reminded the Class of 2020 to thank all those who supported them along the way, including their family, friends, colleagues, and the faculty and staff of VCUarts Qatar.
“It is important to recognise those who contributed to your success. Of course, we are here to celebrate you, but you had help, you had parents, you had siblings, you had other family members who were supportive of you, and have being cheering you on for all of these years, and it is important to say thanks to all of them.
“It is also an opportunity to recognise your professors and all of the faculty and staff who have stood by you and have guided you throughout this journey. I know how much heart is involved in the work that our faculty and staff do, so take the time to reach out and offer them your gratitude. I can tell you this as a teacher that nothing will make them happier to hear they had a positive impact on a student. Congratulations. You made it. I am super proud of you.”
The Class of 2020 includes 18 Graphic Design graduates, 18 Interior Design graduates, nine Painting and Printmaking graduates, nine Art History graduates, eight Fashion Design graduates and five MFA in Design graduates.
Salutatorian and Painting and Printmaking major, and Art History minor graduate Yara Elfouly said, “This community is very special, and I am so grateful to have been lucky enough to be a part of it. Being with you like this, I continue to realise what I have been missing for the last month and what I will continue to miss for a long time. So, thank you for making it very difficult to part. I will always carry VCUarts Qatar with me wherever I go.”
The acknowledgement of momentous times and of being on a journey was felt strongly by everyone, and those sentiments were emphasised by Valedictorian and Art History graduate Daniah Farooq, who said, “I know that none of us ever imagined that we would bid farewell to VCUarts Qatar like this, virtually. I would like to congratulate all of my fellow graduates for making it to the end without failing or giving up despite the unprecedented circumstances. I believe that it is a testament that we all have matured enough to deal with the difficulties of life with a better sense and with the attitude of a warrior.”
Dr Jeremijenko, the long-serving assistant dean for Student Affairs, who is retiring this year after joining VCUarts Qatar in 2002, and who put in place many of the programmes for students that didn’t exist when she arrived to VCUarts Qatar, said, “It’s amazing to be together in spite of the fact that we are not together, and to have this pre-celebration of an amazing celebration that will happen in the future.”
Liam Colquhoun, the interim chair of Interior Design, said, “The fact that you are graduating into such challenging times, while it is not ideal, points to your resilience and your ability to face adversity and overcome it, and these are really important characteristics. It speaks well to your ability to adapt and to face a challenge and find ways to overcome it. Thank you for participating in our programme, and for giving as much to us as we gave to you.”
Rab McClure, the director of the MFA in Design, VCUarts Qatar’s postgraduate programme, said, “The things that categorise and characterise this class have to start with laughter. Every time this group got together there was so much joy and so much support for one another. You inspired us."
The virtual gathering, organised by Student Development Senior Specialist Sarah Faheem, brought together the graduating students from VCUarts Qatar’s Art History, Fashion Design, Graphic Design, Interior Design, MFA in Design, and Painting and Printmaking programmes.
It was also attended by VCUarts Qatar’s dean, Amir Berbi?; interim associate dean for Academic Affairs, Dr Cherif Amor, assistant dean for Atudent Affairs, Dr Valerie Jeremijenko, the chairs of the university’s many programmes and departments, and the faculty and staff, some of whom wore their traditional graduating regalia of gown and cap to honour the Class of 2020 who have not yet had the chance to wear theirs formally.
“Artists and designers feed off adversity,” Berbi? said, "and this has been known throughout the history of art and design. I reiterate the point that I count on all of you to come out of the current difficult situation, first of all healthy and strong, but also perhaps with a new perspective on the world and how you can contribute to it in meaningful ways, despite the circumstances.”
Berbi? also reminded the Class of 2020 to thank all those who supported them along the way, including their family, friends, colleagues, and the faculty and staff of VCUarts Qatar.
“It is important to recognise those who contributed to your success. Of course, we are here to celebrate you, but you had help, you had parents, you had siblings, you had other family members who were supportive of you, and have being cheering you on for all of these years, and it is important to say thanks to all of them.
“It is also an opportunity to recognise your professors and all of the faculty and staff who have stood by you and have guided you throughout this journey. I know how much heart is involved in the work that our faculty and staff do, so take the time to reach out and offer them your gratitude. I can tell you this as a teacher that nothing will make them happier to hear they had a positive impact on a student. Congratulations. You made it. I am super proud of you.”
The Class of 2020 includes 18 Graphic Design graduates, 18 Interior Design graduates, nine Painting and Printmaking graduates, nine Art History graduates, eight Fashion Design graduates and five MFA in Design graduates.
Salutatorian and Painting and Printmaking major, and Art History minor graduate Yara Elfouly said, “This community is very special, and I am so grateful to have been lucky enough to be a part of it. Being with you like this, I continue to realise what I have been missing for the last month and what I will continue to miss for a long time. So, thank you for making it very difficult to part. I will always carry VCUarts Qatar with me wherever I go.”
The acknowledgement of momentous times and of being on a journey was felt strongly by everyone, and those sentiments were emphasised by Valedictorian and Art History graduate Daniah Farooq, who said, “I know that none of us ever imagined that we would bid farewell to VCUarts Qatar like this, virtually. I would like to congratulate all of my fellow graduates for making it to the end without failing or giving up despite the unprecedented circumstances. I believe that it is a testament that we all have matured enough to deal with the difficulties of life with a better sense and with the attitude of a warrior.”
Dr Jeremijenko, the long-serving assistant dean for Student Affairs, who is retiring this year after joining VCUarts Qatar in 2002, and who put in place many of the programmes for students that didn’t exist when she arrived to VCUarts Qatar, said, “It’s amazing to be together in spite of the fact that we are not together, and to have this pre-celebration of an amazing celebration that will happen in the future.”
Liam Colquhoun, the interim chair of Interior Design, said, “The fact that you are graduating into such challenging times, while it is not ideal, points to your resilience and your ability to face adversity and overcome it, and these are really important characteristics. It speaks well to your ability to adapt and to face a challenge and find ways to overcome it. Thank you for participating in our programme, and for giving as much to us as we gave to you.”
Rab McClure, the director of the MFA in Design, VCUarts Qatar’s postgraduate programme, said, “The things that categorise and characterise this class have to start with laughter. Every time this group got together there was so much joy and so much support for one another. You inspired us."
from Gulf Times https://ift.tt/3cFfpjx
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