2024 Awards Gala: Seeds of Hope
On December 6th, 2024, the Al Rashid Education Foundation hosted the Seeds of Hope gala, an evening dedicated to reflection, resilience, and remembrance. This event celebrated the achievements of scholarship recipients while honoring the profound loss of scholars and educators taken during the ongoing genocide in Gaza. The gala marked the return of an in-person gathering after last year’s postponement, welcoming both last year’s and this year’s scholarship recipients. These students embody the resilience and hope that education brings, carrying forward the legacies of those we have lost.
The evening included a moving keynote address by Dr. Ghada Akeel, who spoke on the Resilience of the Education System in Gaza. Her insights shed light on the unwavering determination of educators and students amidst immense challenges, inspiring all in attendance to reflect on the power of education as a tool for resilience and renewal.
The evening featured powerful symbols of renewal, including tree centerpieces representing the olive tree of Palestine and the Arz tree of Lebanon, alongside Icelandic poppy seeds as take-home favors, symbolizing resilience and growth. Seeds of Hope served as a reminder of the enduring power of knowledge and the responsibility to nurture hope and renewal, even in the face of unimaginable loss.
2024 Scholarship Recipients
Top Student Awards
Abdullahi Mohamed, recipient of the OES LLP Top Male Memorial Scholarship ($5,000)
Bushra Anjum, recipient of the Iyshie Mariam Kazeil Memorial Scholarship for Overall Top Female ($5,000)
Post-Graduate Research Scholarships
Mohammed Nazmul Arefin, recipient of the Intissar Mourad Memorial Scholarship in Post-Graduate Islamic Studies ($2,000)
Muktadir Mir, recipient of the BIE Engineering's Postgrad Research Scholarship ($3,000)
Mohammed Khurshed, recipient of the Masters of Public Health Scholarship by the University of Alberta School of Public Health, R&M Real Estate Development (Riad Elwinni), and Tyler Foley ($4,000)
Impact Awards
Ella Rahime, recipient of the Northside Dental Leadership Scholarship ($3,000)
Rawaan Ibrahim, recipient of the Momen Alsubaihee Leadership Scholarship ($3,000)
Rama Al Sheikh Ali, recipient of the Nazir Ahmed Khatib Memorial Leadership Scholarship ($3,000)
Hussain Alhussainy, recipient of the Ameen & Samia Aboughoche and AREF Resiliency Scholarship ($2,000)
Nada Kaddoura, recipient of the Dr. Shameeza Khan Inspiring Hopefulness Award ($1,500)
Omer Subasi, recipient of the Zeher J. Chadi Inspiring Hopefulness Scholarship ($1,500)
Rajia Fayad, recipient of the AREF Inspiring Hopefulness Scholarship ($1,500)
Specialized Undergraduate Awards
Aimen Khan, recipient of the Riad & Buthyna Assaf Endowment Scholarship in Education ($1,000)
Abrar Alam, recipient of the Fyith Education Scholarship in Health Sciences ($1,000)
Olanrewaju Halimat Adenusi, recipient of the Fyith Education Scholarship in Health Sciences ($1,000)
Ayesha Hashmi, recipient of the Halal Jomha Scholarship in Sciences ($1,000)
Serag El Gamal, recipient of the Jawdah Jorf Scholarship in Sciences ($1,000)
Marwa El-Mustapha, recipient of the Islam 101 (Khalid Househ) Scholarship in Sciences ($1,000)
Deem Aamer, recipient of the Shabbir Pathan Scholarship in Kinesiology ($1,000)
Habiba Elrefaei, recipient of the Dr. Tarek Hatoum Scholarship in Nursing ($1,000)
Sumayya Taher, recipient of the Ahmad Ibrahim Rahime Memorial Scholarship in Computer Science ($1,000)
Yousef Moussa, recipient of the AMAN Builders Inc. Scholarship in Engineering or Computer Science ($1,250)
Basma Ebeid, recipient of the AMAN Builders Inc. Scholarship in Engineering or Computer Science ($1,250)
Abdulrahman Khafagy, recipient of the AMAN Builders Inc. Scholarship in Engineering or Computer Science ($1,250)
Muhammad Aziz, recipient of the AMAN Builders Inc. Scholarship in Engineering or Computer Science ($1,250)
Hadeel Mohamed, recipient of the Dr. Fatima Mraiche Scholarship for Women in Health Sciences ($1,500)
Areen Khan, recipient of the Dr. Fatima Mraiche Scholarship for Women in Health Sciences ($1,500)
Kian Kyars, recipient of the Taliani Group Scholarship in Computer Science ($2,000)
Sobiya Siddiqui, recipient of the Momen Alsubaihee Scholarship in Fine Art ($2,000)
Safaa Bashir, recipient of the Mohamed & Ahmed Damra Scholarship in Medicine or Dentistry ($3,000)
Samir Abou-Taha, recipient of the Mohamed (Ron) Jomha Memorial Scholarship in Business ($3,000)
AREF Entrance Scholarships
Basma Hussain, recipient of the Abu Rachied Tarrabain Memorial Entrance Scholarship ($1,000)
Eman Sana, recipient of the Almas and Shiraz Mithani & Family Entrance Scholarship ($1,000)
Aya Mohieldein, recipient of the Drayden Insurance Entrance Scholarship ($1,000)
Jana Barri, recipient of the Hussine & Nagla Aboughoche Memorial Entrance Scholarship ($1,000)
Sara Iftikhar, recipient of the Sevda Ciplak Memorial Entrance Scholarship ($1,000)
Edmonton Islamic Academy Entrance Scholarships
Issra Gill, recipient of the Edmonton Islamic Academy Entrance Scholarship ($1,000)
Amira Noseir, recipient of the Edmonton Islamic Academy Entrance Scholarship ($1,000)
Areej Rehman, recipient of the Edmonton Isalmic Academy Entrance Scholarship ($1,000)
Shefaa Guerbes, recipient of the Edmonton Islamic Academy Scholarship - Honourable Mention ($500)
Arowa Yahia, recipient of the Edmonton Islamic Academy Entrance Scholarship - Honourable Mention ($500)
Zahra Fiandika, recipient of the Edmonton Islamic Academy Entrance Scholarship - Honourable Mention ($500)
Somaia Osman, recipient of the Edmonton Islamic Academy Entrance Scholarship - Honourable Mention ($500)
Hussein Akeileh Super Math Award
Issra Gill, recipient of the Hussein Akeileh Super Math Award ($500)
Reyann Shmoury, recipient of the Hussein Akeileh Super Math Award ($500)
2022 Award Recipient Photos
