ABU DHABI // Sixty-two high-school students have been rewarded with cars or cash for their academic achievements at the Sheikh Khalid bin Tannaf Al Menhali Award for Innovation and Academic Excellence.
The ceremony took place at the Armed Forces Club on Thursday in Abu Dhabi and was attended by the founder of the award, Sheikh Khalid bin Tannaf, and Hussain Al Hammadi, Minister of Education.
“This award is one of the well known awards in the education sector,” said Mr Al Hammadi. “These type of awards have positive effect on students and encourage them to compete to achieve great results. As we can see, this year’s results were remarkable,” he added.
“This is the third annual ceremony of the award. The first ceremony was dedicated to Al Menhali tribe only, but the second and this year are at national level,” said Bakit Khaled Al Menhali, chairman of the award.
Prizes included three cars, and between Dh20,000 and Dh10,000 in cash.
“The students have achieved outstanding results this year, and they all deserve the best awards,” said Mr Al Menhali.
In first place was Emirati Hind Al Kaabi, who scored the highest grade of 99.9 per cent among this year’s graduates.
“I want to become a successful Emirati woman and represent my country in the best possible way,” said Ms Al Kaabi, who would like to work for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“Emirati women have shown us that everything is achievable with hard work, and we Emirati women can do it,” she said.
In close second was Emirati Sara Al Ansari, who scored 99.88 per cent.
“I gave it the best I could,” said Ms Al Ansari, 18.
They are from Dubai and were each awarded a Toyota Camry car.
Khalifa Alhosani, who scored highest among the boys, achieved 97.7 per cent and was awarded a Nissan.
“It was very critical last year, and I had to work very hard to achieve this high score,” said the 18-year-old Emirati.
“My ambition is to become a nuclear engineer. It is a unique major and I would love to end up working in such a field.”
The event was organised by Emirates Public Relations Association (EPRA) and Qimah Team, a group of volunteers from Sharjah.
Salmeen Al Menhali, general manager of EPRA, said: “This is our second time organising this event. We are very honoured to take part in such big event, especially one that it is dedicated to our honoured students.”
ealdhaheri@thenational.ae
