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.