Alumni & Friends

Competing on the world stage

by MainGate Staff

Spring 2022

Whether virtually or in person, AUB students are overcoming all obstacles and showing their mettle at international competitions, both academic and athletic.

VARSITY FOOTBALL TEAM
The team had a banner year, winning all the big games and qualifying for the Bogazici University Sports Fest in Turkey, which welcomes nearly 1,000 athletes from all over the world.

“What makes AUB different from any other university in this country and in the Middle East is the campus life. Students interacting on a daily basis together, organizing events, learning how to get things done is one of the pillars of AUB students. It’s because wherever we go, in any job in any medium, we get things done, we are DOERS!” –Rami Hafez (team manager)

“I learnt to cope with people who have different personalities and characteristics, play together, and build chemistry. Through that, we were able to win many games. There’s something different about the football team: the spirit, the people, the synergy . . . we are true friends, not just teammates.” –Hussein Jaafar

“The exposure will be amazing, with many international teams . . . hopefully we will be up to their level.” –Majd El Ouri

WOMEN’S FUTSAL TEAM
The women’s futsal team is traditionally a powerhouse, and this year—back from the pandemic and with a new team—was no different. Three members were even selected to attend the International Futsal Cup tournament in Portugal this July.

“I think this is the nicest part of my years at AUB. I made my closest friends and best friends at the futsal . . . Hostler was our home for a long time, and I am happy now things are somehow back to normal.” –Rhea Tcheroyan

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS CASE COMPETITIONS
The Case Competition Program at OSB has a track record of excellence. The current team of six delegates has racked up a slew of international trophies, including second place in Munster, Germany, and first place at a virtual competition held by Universidad Panamericana in Mexico.

“For anyone interested in consulting, case competitions seem like the best introduction to the field. The team must be able to work constructively and deliver beyond each individual’s capabilities.” –Celine Dibo

“After placing podium finishes in two international competitions, I was able to realize the merit that AUB’s academic standards hold on the global level. On two different occasions,
we were able to surpass and beat prestigious universities that ranked amongst the top 15 globally (QS).” –Rami Suleiman

“This competition was such an incredible experience because my team and I got to work with students from all around the world and learn about their different cultures and
problem-solving skills.” –Danielle Salemeh

HARVARD WORLD MODEL UNITED NATIONS
Considered the “Olympics” of Model UN conferences, Harvard World MUN brings together over 2,000 international university students who play the role of delegates from different countries and attempt to solve real world issues in a simulation of the United Nations.

“As head delegate, I had to set the bar very high and motivate our representatives by leading by example. The odds weren’t in our favor. However, life taught me when something is important enough, you do it even if the odds are not in your favor. We competed against students of the pedigree of Harvard, Stanford, and MIT, and we were still able to win two distinguished awards.” –Elie El Hajj

“It was a tough four days of ongoing work starting with debating and then moving on to resolution discussions, but the week ended on a high note.” –Marina Markarian

CLOUD
Cloud is a startup that aims to design eco-friendly period products, including a disposable pad that is healthy, biodegradable, and sustainably produced using banana fibers. After winning multiple startup competitions in Lebanon, Cloud recently took third place at the Arab Entrepreneurship & Innovation Rally 2022 in Dubai.

“Meeting young entrepreneurs from 22 Arab countries and competing at the World Entrepreneurs Investment Forum in Dubai Expo 2020 has been a wholesome experience, and winning at the Arab Entrepreneurship Rally was the cherry on top! No matter what Lebanon’s going through, we, the youth, will continue to shatter limits and innovate for a better tomorrow.” –Yara Haidar

FUTURE WE WANT MODEL UNITED NATIONS (FWW-MUN)
The FWW-MUN conference held in Dubai brought together young future leaders from across the globe to come up with resolutions aimed at bringing about the “future we want” and submit them to relevant UN agencies for consideration.

“The most memorable part of the conference for me was when we were asked who would like to speak first, and out of 89 delegates in our committee, my teammates and I were the first four participants to stand up confidently and say our opening speeches. Incredibly proud to come back to Beirut with all five members of the team winning awards.” –Ziena Ismail

“Getting to represent AUB and Lebanon abroad alongside many internationals and people coming from different countries such as Italy, Germany, and India was thrilling. This experience allowed us to broaden our horizons, meet new people, and discover new cultures.” –Youmna Yarak

LANDSCAPE FORUM STUDENT COMPETITION
Architecture and landscape architecture students took part in an international competition to discover solutions to challenges facing the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy and the coastal city of Rimini. Their solution was to reinvent the city’s tourism strategy through a network of trails.

“It was a great experience all throughout, especially when considering how much we learned, as the scale of design for Rimini was a completely new one to tackle. The idea of involving different perspectives, the landscape architect alongside the architect, is what made the project achieve its fullest!” –Karim Harb, Ahmad Zeaiter, Aya Zein, Sara Wehbi, Kamar El Ali