AUIS Awards Recognize Students for Academic Excellence and Service Learning
The American University of Iraq, Sulaimani (AUIS) held its bi-annual AUIS Awards ceremony on Tuesday, March 30th, 2023. The event, which recognizes students for their academic excellence and service learning, was attended by faculty members, staff, and students.
The program has two main categories of awards: Academic Excellence Awards as well as Service Learning Program Awards. The President’s Award is given to students who have earned a GPA of 3.75-4.0, while the Dean’s Award is given to students with a GPA of 3.5-3.74. The Service Learning Program Award also recognizes students who have contributed a significant amount of voluntary hours to the community. The Service Learning Program Awards are divided into five categories: Regular, Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Diamond. The Regular Award is given to students who have contributed 10-25 voluntary hours, while the Diamond Award is given to students who have contributed more than 100 hours.
In his speech, Dr. Bruce, AUIS President, stated that the university is proud of its students. Dr. Barin, Dean of Students, also gave a speech, reminding students that the memories they make during their time at AUIS are as important as the certificates they receive. He also added that not being awarded on this day should not be a cause for concern. He pointed out that over time, the certificate itself may even be lost, but the experiences and memories gathered during one’s time here will always be remembered.
Rania, an AUIS MLS student, received two awards, the President’s Award for her academic excellence and the Regular Award for donating voluntary hours. When asked how she balances her academic life with extracurricular activities, she said, “Time management is all I need. I make sure to grab any opportunity to do something useful.” For example, she mentioned, instead of just waiting for an appointment, she uses that waiting time to study or read something useful. Avesta, a law major, received a 4.0 GPA. When asked what motivates her, she said, “I make sure that my time away from my family is used for its utmost advantage, and not a second of it goes to waste.”
The AUIS Awards ceremony is a testament to the university’s commitment to academic excellence and service learning. It recognizes students who have made outstanding contributions to their community and encourages others to follow in their footsteps