University of Dammam awards 427 degrees

The prestigious University of Dammam awarded degrees to 427 students at a colorful 33rd graduation ceremony on Tuesday. Deputy Gov. Prince Jelawi bin Abdul Aziz bin Musaed was the chief guest. Rector Abdullah Al-Rubaish, senior government officials, academics and hundreds of parents of the graduating students attended the ceremony conducted inside the Sports City stadium. Addressing the new graduates, Prince Jelawi commended the university\'s great contribution to the Kingdom\'s development in the fields of scientific research and community service. \"I congratulate you for what you have achieved,\" he told the students. \"It is my pleasure to share this memorable moment with you all.\"  The prince said the level and quality of education has gone up phenomenally during the prosperous era of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and Crown Prince Naif. The government, he said, was committed to enhancing and developing all educational institutions with a view to putting them on par with other institutions in the world. Prince Jelawi thanked Al-Rubaish and his team of professors and doctors at the university for their efforts in making the University of Dammam a prestigious one.  The University of Dammam has a variety of colleges including College of Medicine, College of Dentistry, College of Applied Medical Sciences, College of Architecture and Planning, College of Arts and College of Health Sciences for Boys. During his address Al-Rubaish highlighted the university\'s efforts in providing quality education to Saudis. \"Our university has always been and is continuously contributing to the Kingdom\'s development through research and by training qualified leaders for different sectors,\" he said. Saeed Mardhi Al-Ghamdi delivered an impressive \"Thank You\" address on behalf of the graduates. He was all praise for the university\'s professors, and especially Al-Rubaish, the rector. The new graduates were thrilled. Among them were Muwafaq Al-Mansori, Abdullah Al-Turki and Abdul Aziz Ismail who expressed their happiness at having realized their lifelong dreams. \"This is the biggest moment in my life,\" Al-Mansori told Arab News. \"I am very happy and excited, and I am delighted at the presence of my family members here ... They came all the way from Jeddah to attend and share this great moment with me,\" he said.  Al-Turki couldn\'t express his feelings in words. \"I just can\'t describe my feelings at this moment,\" he said. \"Since I reached an important landmark in my educational journey, I am very happy.\"  Abdul Aziz Ismail was happy for it being his last year at the university. \"I am from Jubail and I majored in general medicine ... Of course, I am happy at my achievement,\" he said.