For some graduates, the journey began with a dream of attending the American University of Beirut (AUB). For others, it started with a phone call informing them that a university education was finally within reach. Those journeys and dozens more were honored on June 2 as students from the Higher Education Scholarships (HES) program gathered to mark their graduation from AUB.
The ceremony opened with an instrumental interpretation of “Call It Fate, Call It Karma," performed by two HES scholars, before graduates, families, mentors, university leaders, and representatives from the US Embassy in Lebanon came together to honor the graduating class.
“Today, I don't simply see a graduating class. I see 93 success stories, stories of courage, resilience, and hope," says Dr. Samar Harkouss, director of the HES program and director of the University Preparatory Program (UPP). Speaking about the challenges many students faced throughout their university years, Harkouss adds, “AUB refused to let your dreams fade. And you refused to give up on yourselves."
Funded by the US government, the HES program expands access to higher education for students from less privileged and low-income backgrounds across the country, including Lebanese nationals and refugees residing in Lebanon. Since its launch in 2011, the program has supported 891 scholars at AUB, providing opportunities for academic growth, leadership development, internships, research, and community engagement.
During the ceremony, a video showcased the experiences of HES scholars from Beirut, Tripoli, Zahle, Baalbek, Saida, Sour, and other parts of the country. Students spoke about overcoming financial hardship, pursuing academic and professional goals, and giving back to their communities.
Among the graduates recognized during the ceremony was Jamila Abo Latifa, a medical laboratory sciences student who shared a deeply personal account of her experience. After losing both parents, Abo Latifa spoke about finding the determination to continue her education and pursue the future they had envisioned for her. Describing the moment, she learned she had been accepted into the HES program, she recalls, “For many people, it may have sounded like an ordinary phone call. But for me, it felt like life was giving me permission to dream again."
President Fadlo R. Khuri commended the graduating class for its perseverance and achievements. “Each and every one of you represents a widening circle of opportunity across regions, communities, and backgrounds that all too often remain underserved," he says. “You came here as individuals who needed the opportunity to break through an economic titanium ceiling, and you've done it."
Speaking on the profound impact of supporting future generations, U.S. Embassy Chargé d'Affaires Keith Hanigan delivered an inspiring message on the power of education: “It is not charity. It is investment. It is belief. It is proof that when we open doors to education, we open doors to possibility," he says. “You are the change. You are the hope. You are Lebanon's better tomorrow."
The event included an exhibition about the scholars’ volunteering and success stories and was followed by a dinner.