VCUQ held its sixth graduation ceremony in the presence of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad bin Suhaim Al Thani on May 26, 2007 at The Ritz Carlton.
The ceremony marks the culmination of four years of hard work and perseverance. Students, their families, faculty and staff came together to celebrate VCUQ graduates' accomplishments and rejoice in their venture into professional status. The graduates have spent the past four years fulfilling an intensive and rigorous curriculum—one designed to foster not just first-rate designers but well-rounded individuals prepared for the challenges and responsibilities of a highly complex world.
"VCUQ is graduating its sixth class of new designers whose work will impact the development of Qatar for years to come." said Richard E. Toscan, Vice Provost for International Affairs & Dean, School of the Arts Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia.
"The 6th Commencement will bring the number of VCUQ alumni to 145 and we are continually delighted at the success they are finding in their careers." added VCUQ Dean Christina Lindholm.
John Hockeberry, an experienced journalist who has worked in all aspects of the broadcast profession for a quarter century delivered the commencement address to 37 graduates of VCUQ during the afternoon ceremonies.
As correspondent and anchor for NBC News/MSNBC in 1996 to 2005, Mr. Hockenberry was awarded three Emmys; designed and anchored the MSNBC program, Edgewise; participated in all coverage for NBC of the Kosovo War; the US presidential elections of 1996/2000/2004; September 11 and the Iraq War. Additionally he created and produced the first live streamed audio Internet program from a journalist's office in 1999 and 2000.
Lejla Niksic, Valedictorian for the class 2007 is a recipient of His Highness the Emir's Scholarship for Bosnian Students. During her four years of matriculation she received many awards recognizing her academic and leadership abilities. These include the Arab Engineering Bureau Award for Excellence in Graphic Design and a Nomination in to the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi.
"Studying in a multicultural, knowledge based environment, such as VCUQ has helped me realize the potential of young educated women and better understand the importance of a role we play in Qatari society. The past four years have given me an opportunity to meet many great young women who have become my life- time friends and I became a part of their families. VCUQ was a force that kept us all together as one family, one bond and now, we are graduating. For me, graduation is like a crossroads at which we make some important decisions which will affect our lives greatly. That is a heavy burden to carry, however, I am certain that each one of us is ready to make a right decision." said Niksic
