Northwestern University in Qatar honored its third graduating class at graduation exercises Sunday, May 4, in a ceremony where students heard an address by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Jehane Noujaim.
More than 900 people were in attendance at the Qatar National Convention Centre as Northwestern University President Morton Schapiro extolled the achievement of the graduates of NU-Q, which offers bachelor’s degrees in journalism and communication.
Thirty graduating seniors received their Northwestern University diplomas in the presence of family, friends and leading international figures in the fields of media, filmmaking and journalism. Noujaim—the filmmaker behind the nominated documentary entitled The Square, which follows characters in Cairo through the January 2011 uprising—engaged NU-Q’s graduating class, sharing unique insights from her background and diverse successes in the field of media.
In addition to President Schapiro, Northwestern University’s highest-ranking officials were present at the ceremony, including the chair of the Board of Trustees, William Osborn, and Provost Dan Linzer. Schapiro called the new graduates “engaged global citizens who are prepared to succeed here and anywhere due to their exceptional academic preparation and performance—as well as their professional achievements.”
The Class of 2014 included 14 different nationalities, demonstrating Northwestern University’s historical role in promoting global understanding and developing a multinational alumni network for its graduates.
“Nineteen of the 30 graduating seniors have made it on to the Dean’s List at least once in their four years here at NU-Q, while two exceptional graduating students have made the Dean’s List every one of their semesters here at Northwestern,” said NU-Q Dean and CEO Everette E. Dennis. “These students exemplify the culture of academic excellence we seek to cultivate here at NU-Q.”
