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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2015
W H AT ’ S O N
AUK board of trustees holds first session of biannual meeting - 2015
T
he Board of Trusteesof the
American University of Kuwait
(AUK) met on the campus of
the university in Salmiya and held
the first of its biannual meetings for
the year 2015 on January 31. In the
2-day meeting, members of the
board reviewed the biannual
reports and discussed the latest
administrative and academic developments and affairs, and went over
the President Report, Budget
Group photo of members of the AUK Board of Trustees (from left): Dr Walid E. Moubarak, Professor
Dale F. Eickelman, Shaikha Dana Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, Dr Thomas Bartlett, Dr Tim Sullivan
and Samer Khanachet.
Report, and the Dartmouth-AUK
Report.
The official Board of Trustees
meeting commenced on Saturday
morning with the Academic Affairs
Committee Meeting, during which
the board members reviewed AUK’s
international program accreditations, academic planning and program development, admissions and
enrolment updates.
On the second day, the meeting
continued with the Executive
Committee report review, followed
by the Academic Affairs Committee
Report and the President’s State of
the University report, which highlighted the importance of maintaining AUK’s international programmatic accreditation, and shed lights on
the development in areas of faculty
recruitment, AUK’s partnership with
Dartmouth College, and campus
facilities.
The second biannual meeting is
expected to take place in May, 2015.
Chaired by Shaikha Dana Nasser
Al-Sabah, the Board of Trustees is
AUK’s governing body. The Board’s
terms of reference are outlined in
the AUK By-Laws. The self-perpetuating and self-governing Board reg-
ularly meets twice a year on the
Salmiya campus in Kuwait, and is
currently composed of the following members:
Shaikha Dana Nasser Sabah
Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah
Founder and Chair, Board of
Trustees, American University of
Kuwait
Chair, United Education
Company Executive Manager, AlFutooh Holding Company Board
Member, KIPCO Asset Management
Company.
Meshal Ali
Co-Founder and Vice Chair, Board
of Trustees, American University of
Kuwait CEO, National Offset Company.
Wael Abdul-Ghafoor
Co-Founder, American University of
Kuwait Chair, American School of
Kuwait.
Faisal Al-Ayyar
Vice Chairman, KIPCO (Holding).
Samer Khanachet
Group Chief Operating Officer, KIPCO (Holding).
Thomas Bartlett
Ph.D. Former President, Colgate
University and American University in
Cairo Former Chancellor, Alabama,
Oregon and New York State, University
Systems Trustee, American University in
Cairo.
Tim Sullivan
Ph.D. Professor and Provost
Emeritus, American University in Cairo
Interim President, 2010, American
University of Kuwait.
Walid E. Moubarak
Ph.D. Member, Lebanese President’s
Steering Committee on National
Dialogue Director, Institute of
Diplomacy and Conflict Transformation,
Lebanese American University
Nizar Hamzeh
Ph.D. President American University
of Kuwait.
Dale F. Eickelman
Ph.D., (ex officio member).
Ralph and Richard Lazarus
Professor of Anthropology and
Human Relations, Dartmouth College
Relationship Coordinator (Director),
the Dartmouth College-American
University of Kuwait Program.
IES holds 8th kindergarten annual day
T
he Kindergarten Wing of Bharatiya Vidya
Bhavan, Kuwait celebrated its 8th annual
day on Feb 6. The tiny tots of IES and Jack
and Jill, Mangaf flocked to celebrate the annual day and faced the congregation of parents
and guests with a passion to entertain them.
The venue glittered with the smiles of tiny tots
reflecting the glint in the eyes of their eager
and proud parents.
The evening was graced by Santhanagopal
Iyer - Director, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan,
Mumbai, N.K. Ramchandran-Chairman
Bhavans Middle East, Mrs. Sudha
Ramachandran, Krishnadas Menon-Director,
Bhavans Kuwait, Principal T. Premkumar,
Principal of Jack and Jill, Mangaf, Vice Principal
of Primary and Kindergarten wing Mrs Lalitha
Premkumar.
The supervisor of kindergarten Mrs Rajni
Menon addressed the mammoth audience
comprising of mostly proud parents and
guests. She highlighted the manifest goal of
Bhavans Kuwait, is to promote learning and
growth in every field by providing a holistic
environment to its students seeking rich expe-
riences. She also introduced the theme for the
Annual Day “Atulya Bharat” which she mentioned was a kaleidoscope to the rich culture
and heritage of India where everything from
festivals, music, literature, theater and cuisine
were unique and special.
The auspicious lamp of knowledge was lit
by the Chief Guest and the distinguished dignitaries escorted by Principal T Premkumar. It
was followed by a prayer song sung by the
Kindergarten choir group. Mrs Rathi
Ravindran-Principal of Jack and Jill, Mangaf
welcomed the distinguished guests and introduced them to the gathering. Vice Principal
Mrs Lalitha Premkumar presented the annual
report expounding her observation that the
school’s mission is to enhance learning opportunities for students by providing an environment where the student’s natural love for life
and learning are encouraged and nurtured so
that the students will be lifelong learners. She
focused on the fact that the school has conducted various teachers’ training programs to
sharpen the skills of the kindergarten teachers
and keep them updated in the field of educa-
tion. The Chief Guest P.N Santhanagopal Iyer,
an eminent personality in the field of education who has been associated with Bharatiya
Vidya Bhavan for over 40 years, urged the large
Santhwanam holds
14th annual meeting
T
he 14th Annual General
Meeting of Indian voluntary
organization, Santhwanam
Kuwait was conducted on Friday, 30
January 2015 at Olive Auditorium,
Abassiya. The meeting was inaugurated by John Mathew, Advisory
Board Member and was presided by
Jyothidas PN, the President. General
secretary Ravindran MN addressed
the audience with detailed reports
on activities carried out for the year
2014. Financial statement was
tabled by P Santhosh Kumar, treasurer of the organization.
The annual souvenir “SMARANIKA
2014” was released by Shahid Kasim
Khan. It covered entire activities for
the year 2014 including various
reports of the help requests considered, Special Social Welfare programs completed and being continued in coming year, continuous
monthly medical support to patients
those required prolonged treatment.
The audience, through a digital
documentary in the event, witnessed 20 minutes visual experience
of Santhwanam’s selfless service to
the society.
The annual meeting unanimously
elected Dr Biji Thomas as President,
Rajendran Mullur as General
Secretary and KB Santhosh as
Treasurer for the year 2015, supported by other Executive Committee
members. Those interested to
become part of this humanitarian
organization may contact 66003776
(Salmiya), 99598505 (Abbasiya),
66961480 (Mangaf ) 97861967 (Abu
Halifa), 96967815 (Farwaniya),
66446575 (Riggae). Email: santhwanam@gmail.com.
ANNOUNCEMENT
YMCA inter church quiz
YMCA Kuwait is conducting the 3rd Annual Bible Quiz
for members from all the churches in Kuwait on 11th
February 2015 at Light House, NECK from 6:30pm
onwards. The section of the Bible based on which the quiz
is going to be held is, all Chapters from the Judges,
Deuteronomy, St. Mathew & Acts of Apostles. The first
three winners will be presented with ever rolling trophies
& Certificates. For enquiries contact: Joseph M.A.
66843917, Parimanam Manoj 97542985.
Trinity music fest
Ragamalika Kuwait is presenting a day-long music fest on
February 13 at Salmiya Indian Community School (Senior).
Renowned musician Shenkottai Harihara Subramahnya Iyer
will present a classical musical concert accompanied by visiting mridangam artiste Changanassery TS Satheeshkumar
and local artists. The program starts at 9 am.
number of parents present to build a strong
foundation for their children at home, so as to
have strong moral values. He said that providing good education was not the only criteria of
good parenting. Giving children wonderful
childhood memories which make them better
human beings was also equally important.
The young and talented students took the
audience on a trip to the many beautiful states
of India through their dance performance. The
event commenced with a programme that
paid tribute to the brave soldiers of India. The
young Bhavanites danced to the traditional
songs of various Indian states like Kashmir,
Punjab, Nagaland, Gujarat, Maharashtra,
Telangana, Goa, Nagaland and Tamilnadu.
Their confidence and presentation skills displayed along with the colorful costumes and
back drop which showcased the rich culture of
India were praiseworthy and left the audience
mesmerized. The annual day programme ended with a wonderful piece called ‘Mile Sur”
which highlighted the cultural diversity of
India. To conclude the event Principal T. Prem
Kumar felicitated the teachers and the children
for putting up an excellent show. The students
received a standing ovation from the audience
and parents for their scintillating performance
on stage.
BMCAAK conducts Christmas tree
decoration & Santa Claus contest
B
ishop Moore College Alumni
Association Kuwait (BMCAAK)
conducted Christmas Tree
Decoration & Santa Claus Contest at
the United Indian School Auditorium,
Abassiya, as part of their Christmas
New Year celebrations program. The
program began with the national
anthems of Kuwait & India. The meeting was presided by Francis
Cherukole (President). Parimanam
Manoj (General Secretary) delivered
the welcome address and Mrs. Lissy
Kuriakose, story writer and poetess,
inaugurated the function by lighting
the traditional Lamp. Rev. Santhosh
Philip (Vicar - St. Peters MarThoma
Church Kuwait & Ex-student of BMC)
& Sam Pynumood (Social Activist in
Kuwait & Ex-Student of BMC) felicitated on the occasion. Miss Sneha Merin
Suresh was the Program Anchor.
On behalf of the Alumni, Mrs
Smitha Mathew (Vice Chairman),
John Mathew (Treasurer) and Shyam
Sivan (Jt. Secretary) felicitated Sam
Pynumood (ex-student of BMC) on
the publication of his new book entitled, “Indian Migration in Kuwait”. The
book documents one hundred years
(1900-2015) of migration of Indians
in Kuwait. It is being published in
Malayalam, English and Arabic. BMC
Alumni assured full support for the
publication of the book and conveyed its best wishes.
On the occasion, the winners of
the Christmas Tree decoration contest
were awarded trophies and cash
prizes - Little Star Abassiya Team
bagged the first prize; Prince Baby
Thachil & Team and John K. Antony &
Team won the second and third
prizes, respectively. Deepak Alex
Panicker (Little Star Abassiya) was
declared the winner of the Santa
Claus Contest. A variety of games and
songs added much color to the event.
The American auction was conducted by Jerry John Koshy & John
Mathew (Treasurer) along with Jacob
Varghese, Manoj Chacko, Vinu
Oommen, Philip Thomas Kattanam,
Satheesh C. Pillai & Jobin Babu.
Finally, Sangeeth Pampala
(Convener) proposed the vote of
thanks.