Muscat: ABA Oman International School celebrated the Class of 2022 graduation ceremony on campus, after two years of virtual and drive-through events during the pandemic.
The 33rd cohort of graduates included 60 students representing 25 nationalities – a true testament to ABA’s international diversity.
As the graduation guest speaker, Her Highness Sayyida Tania bint Shabib Al Said, founder of the Environment Society of Oman (ESO), imparted inspiring words of wisdom, “By standing up for what you believe in, you become the catalyst for change. Learn to adapt, grab opportunities as they come, pay attention to the details, and that will make all the difference.”
Lamya Al Kiyumi, outgoing ABA Board Chair complimented the graduates on completing the rigorous IB programme, “The IB education you have received has prepared you to be global citizens of the real world. As you move onto the next chapter of your life, we invite you to grow with us as our proud alumni, since ABA is your ‘school for life’.”
The Class of 2022 has been the embodiment of ABA’s mission and vision, exemplifying attributes of the IB learner profile. “As future leaders, find the courage and conviction to embrace what makes you different and impact ethical change, so everyone in the world can experience true freedom. Wherever you go, continue to inspire, empower and explore,” encouraged Craig Williamson, ABA Head of School.
Through the coordinated efforts of Guy Essex, IB Diploma Coordinator and Denise Barker, University Counsellor, ABA graduates have been accepted into leading universities around the world, with most students having received offers in more than one country, illustrating the value globally of the gold standard IB qualification.
Addressing the cohort, Simon Walker, High School Principal, remarked, “You are well-prepared for the future; it is what you do with what you have learnt that makes all the difference. We are very proud of the perseverance and resilience of our graduates and the strong commitment of the faculty to our students’ success.”
Valedictorians Aditya Bhardwaj and Zaina Dabbous were recognised for delivering outstanding performances all year round. The International Understanding Award 2022 was presented to Zaina Dabbous in recognition of her contribution to the development and advancement of internationalism, while Cindy Freestone received the High School Philippa Leggate Award for Citizenship 2022 for her contribution to the ABA community.
This year’s graduation ceremony marked the last celebration at the ABA Al Khuwair campus, since its inception in 1987. ABA Oman International School has now fully moved to its spectacular new state-of-the-art campus at Madinat Al Irfan, Airport Heights.
ABA Oman International School, a not-for-profit IB Continuum School in Muscat, Oman, provides international education of the highest quality in an intercultural environment. With over 920 K-12 students, the diverse ABA community is represented by a highly experienced faculty, staff and families from over 70 different nationalities.
