Dearborn, MI: The Michigan Chapter will organize a field trip to the University of Michigan Ann Arbor on the 16th of July, 2010. Students will have the opportunity to discover and tour one of the finest universities in America.

If you would like your son/daughter to participate, please download & print the information and release form by clicking here.

By: Ashwak Hauter

On Friday June 18, 2010, the American Association of Yemeni Scientists and Professionals held its first ceremony in honor of Yemeni-American women high school and university graduates, in California. This was the first event of its kind in the state of California and was highly received by the community. Among the attendees were the twenty graduates from various cities in California, their families, and community members. By the end of the night, the goal of uniting the community, through a discourse of the building blocks needed to instill a conviction towards the attainment of higher education and ways this generation of educated Yemeni women in various fields can overcome difficulties and barriers, was materialized. 

The presence of these graduates in this unique event is evident of these women’s successful development, educational accomplishment, and the Yemeni community’s direction. On this day, these graduates have proven to their families that they can persevere despite many obstacles. The graduates are at a crossroad and have completed a major stage in their lives, because the secondary stage is the structural base for success in college. Whereas in the past, marriage, among other cultural responsibilities, has deterred many Yemeni women from attending college, there is need to facilitate, encourage, and motivate women to seek higher education. Marriage is not a hindrance to attaining a higher education. This was evident in our own ceremony, as two of our speakers, Sohir and Madinah, are mothers and university graduates.

Being a mother is a noble and fulfilling role. Yet, a woman can fulfill multiple duties, as a mother, wife, and student. Just as a woman finds creative ways to fulfill these sacrificial duties, her spouse should also support her in her endeavors. As Sohir evoked in her speech, the proverb which says “If you teach a man, you have taught one person. If you teach a woman, you have taught an entire country.” Therefore, educating women in our community is inherent to developing a higher standard of living and mobilizing our community. We, as a community, must invest in our daughters in order for our community to grow and prosper. This investment would include guidance and reliance that we will grow intellectually, aid our community, and sustain our Muslim and cultural identity.

The Ceremony began with recitation of verses from the Holy Quran, followed by the entrance of the graduates. The event’s Masters of Ceremony (MCs) were Amani and Shaima. The event schedule included a number of high school and college graduate speakers and a poem, “Bilqis” written especially for the graduates by the poet Jamal Majali. The poem was widely received with much praise.

There were a couple of high school students that delivered personal speeches about their journey to completing high school. Their wisdom and aspirations is a stepping stone for what is to come in the future. Graduates expressed their love, respect, and extended their gratitude to the mothers that aided them, after Allah (God) all mighty, in their success. There was also a number of university graduates who delivered inspirational speeches which encourage high school students to enroll in college, gave the girls an idea of what college is like and how it is only the beginning. The event concluded with a question and answer session that tried to explain further the functions of the American Association of Yemeni Scientists and Professionals and its resources.

In conclusion, we ask Allah (God) Almighty to facilitate success in the coming years to expand the event to reach many more women in cities across California. We wish to extend our thanks and gratitude to the graduates, family members, and community members that attended. Lastly, we want to thank the sister’s board of the AAYSP California chapter for organizing the event.

The famous poet Hafiz Ibrahim said, "mother is a school, if you well-prepare her with education, you will create a prosperous nation.”

By: Raydan Alhubaishi and Hesham Hussain

The California chapter of the American Association of Yemeni Scientists and Professionals (AAYSP-CA) held its second annual graduation ceremony on June 13, 2010. Nearly 200 people attended the event that awarded 47 graduates for their academic achievements. It is worth mentioning that a total of 63 graduates were honored (42 high school diplomas, 9 Associate’s degrees, 11 Bachelor’s degrees, and 1 PhD.) The ceremony was decorated with many smiling faces radiating happiness and pride in our Yemeni youth. It was a day to celebrate the promotion of education within the Yemeni community. The members of the chapter did an amazing job in putting together a unique program. The program included inspirational speeches and entertaining performances.

After praying Asr in congregation, the ceremony commenced by two MC’s, Ibrahim Obaid and Ahmed Alkholeidi, who led the high school and college graduates to their seats. As an opening to the ceremony, some verses of the Holy Quran were recited. The first main event was the AAYSP-CA president’s speech by Hesham Hussain. He welcomed everyone and talked about the AAYSP and what it can offer to all the Yemenis by explaining the mission of the organization. He also addressed the different degree levels that have been earned by the graduates and described the upcoming journeys that they will face in the future. As the graduate with the highest degree obtained, Dr. Saddam Muthana gave a speech that focused on encouraging others to pursue education. He was honored for earning his PhD. from U.C. Davis in Organic Chemistry.

The keynote speaker, Mr. Khaled Hussein, talked about the importance of education. He mentioned how Islam calls for education and knowledge. He also gave a poem in which he congratulated the graduates. Before continuing with the program, the attendees enjoyed some refreshments that were provided by AAYSP. Following the break, Raydan Alhubaishi, who graduated with an A.A. in Liberal Arts, gave a speech and talked about his experiences as a new Yemeni student in the United States and how he overcame the challenges he faced. Raydan also serves as the Administrative Assistant of the AAYSP-CA board.

An exciting part of the ceremony was the skit written by Mohammed Alazzani and performed by Ibrahim Obaid, Mohammed Alazzani, Hafez Alsaidi, Tehap Khulaqi, and Mr. AbdulWahid Alsaidi. The skit was about a Yemeni business owner who went to the doctor because of a stomachache and was not fluent enough in English in order to explain what was wrong with him. The doctor had to bring in people to translate for him. The skit’s goal was to show the importance of education and how important it is for our community to stop pursuing money and start focusing on education. The skit was very entertaining and the audience really enjoyed watching it.
After the skit, Hafez Alsaidi, a high school graduate, talked about his struggles and
his father’s support while he was going to school. He explained what it is like to be a new Yemeni student without knowing any English. Hafez is one of the top students at his high school, and the Yemeni community is very proud of his accomplishments. In an effort to appreciate the work of some people in the community who are influential to the Yemeni youth, the AAYSP-CA recognized 16 teachers from Islamic and Arabic schools in the Bay Area. One of the awarded teachers, Mr. Mohammed Albadani, gave a speech in which he reemphasized the importance of education from a different angle, through religion. He addressed the parents and focused on sending a message of remembrance.

Mr. Mohamed Alkabsh then addressed the community. As a big supporter of AAYSP, he mentioned that it is time for us to move from recognizing typical educational achievements to recognizing excellence. He announced the scholarships that the AAYSP is offering. These scholarships come from different individuals and organizations. After making a personal contribution to the scholarship fund, he encouraged others to do the same. Al-salam Masjid, represented by Shaikh Mohamed Mugali, contributed to the fund as well. At the end of the ceremony, the AAYSP-CA had funds for 8 scholarships total, $500 each. Scholarship applications were distributed to high school graduates who are eligible to apply. One of the scholarships will be awarded to the best student of the year, which is given by the Yemeni American News.

As an entertainment session, a nasheed written by Mr. Khaled Hussein was then performed by Mohammed Almahbashi and Hesham Hussain. The nasheed was new and unique in its topic. It was a dialog between a father and a son where they were debating the importance of education versus working and earning money in a store, which is a major issue facing our community. A special guest, the AAYSP’s national board member Mr. Shaker Lashuel, gave the closing speech. He thanked everyone for coming and pointed out all the members who were in charge of organizing the event. He also talked about the history of the organization and its role in advancing the Yemeni community towards education.

At the end of the ceremony, it was time for the 47 graduates to be awarded with certificates and gifts. High school students walked the stage first, followed by the graduates holding an Associate’s and Bachelor’s degrees. Finally, the PhD award was given to Dr. Saddam Muthana. It was a special moment. The graduates realized that their community is by their side, and the smiles on their faces said it all. The AAYSP-CA announced that it will host a graduation ceremony for Yemeni sisters within 5 days and encouraged the attendees to educate their daughters because education is necessary for both men and women. A report of the sisters’ ceremony will be released soon after the event.