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Al-Ahram Weekly 3 - 9 February 2000 Issue No. 467 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 3 - 9 February 2000 Issue No. 467
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Features Special Profile Travel Living Sports People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters Honouring 'a woman of great distinction'
By Dahlia HammoudaThe American University in Cairo is awarding Mrs Suzanne Mubarak an honourary degree in Humane Letters today, which is also the mid-year commencement for Bachelor of Arts students. Some 365 undergraduate students will be receiving their diplomas at the Cairo International Conference Centre. After being adorned with a sash and presented with the degree by AUC President John Gerhart, Mrs Mubarak will address the graduating class of February 2000.
"From time to time, the AUC recognises men and women of distinction in the fields of scholarship, science, public affairs and the arts who have made a lasting contribution to the life of Egypt, the Arab world, US-Middle East relations, or to AUC itself. This year, we are fortunate to have a woman of great distinction," Gerhart stated. "In honouring Mrs Mubarak with the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, we honour ourselves and give our graduates a symbol of pride and achievement towards which they can aspire."
Traditionally, the AUC president presents three awards during mid-year commencement to outstanding students. The recipients -- whose names are to be announced at the ceremony -- will be presented with their awards by Mrs Mubarak this semester. The first award is the President's Cup, presented to the student achieving the highest grade point average during his or her years of study at the university. The second is the Parents' Association Cup, given to the student who has demonstrated unusual capability in blending academic achievement with a major contribution to student activities. The third is the Ahmed El-Mahallawi family award -- started by the late Al-Ahram journalist Nawal El-Mahallawi -- presented to a graduating senior who has demonstrated strong academic achievement with outstanding community service.
Mrs Mubarak received her Bachelor's degree in Political Science in 1977 and her Master's degree in Sociology in 1982 from AUC. The title of her MA thesis was Social action research in Egypt: A case study of primary school upgrading in Boulaq.
The degree of Doctor of Law was previously awarded to Mrs Mubarak by Westminster College, New Wilmington, in recognition of her outstanding achievements for the people of Egypt and in causes highly valued by the international community. In April of last year Mrs Mubarak also received an honourary doctorate from Korea's Ewha Women's University in appreciation of her efforts to promote social work and women's issues in Egypt.
Today's ceremony will be attended by Prime Minister Atef Ebeid, who is also a former AUC professor and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Moufid Shehab, alongside many public figures and parents. Also attending will be the members of AUC's board of trustees, including Nobel Laureate Ahmed Zuwail, Arab League Secretary-General Esmat Abdel-Meguid, former Prime Minister Mustafa Khalil, businessmen Ibrahim Kamel and Moataz El-Alfi, Ambassador Nabil El-Arabi and former US Ambassador to Egypt Frank Wisner.
