The Lebanese American University (LAU) hosted the closing ceremony of the "8th Annual High School Conference LAU Model UN" at the UNESCO Palace under the patronage of His Excellency the Lebanese Minister of Culture Gaby Layoun. Some 1300 students from 122 public and private schools from across Lebanon took part in the ceremony.
The closing ceremony was attended by Minister Layoun represented by Mr. Michel De Chadarevian, LAU President Dr. Joseph G. Jabbra, and Vice President for Student Development and Enrolment Management Dr. Elise Salem, Vice President for Finance Mr. Emile Lamah, Dean of Student in Byblos Campus Dr. Mars Semaan, Executive Director of Outreach and Civic Engagement, Project Director Mr. Elie Samia, Turkish and Indonesian Ambassadors, a representative from the Iranian Embassy in addition to other public figures.
This year's ceremony was marked by the participation of Mr. Ralph Debbas, Chairman and CEO of W MOTORS, Mr. Michael Haddad, Founder of "Walk With Us" NGO as keynote speakers and singer Aline Lahoud who performed the MUN Anthem.
Dr. Jabbra addressed the audience quoting former UN Secretary General Kofi Anan in one of his statements when he said that no one is born a good citizen and no country is born a democracy, and these are prophecies of civilization that will continue to evolve over time, and young people should be invloved in it. Jabbra declared that LAU promises you that we will be always taking care of you, and in your names, we are working to protect humanity, dignity, liberty, freedom and equality between men and women, stressing that models will be able to do that based on the knowledge they acquired throughout this program.
Finally Jabbra urged students to internalize the ways of the United Nations and to make sure to translate those practices into active actions on the ground by promoting understanding and fellowship and by bringing people together no matter who they are... "You have to work very hard in order to reduce poverty in the world and in Lebanon", Jabbra ended.
Debbas and Haddad then spoke about their experience and shared with the audience the paths they followed reaching their goals in terms of "Dreaming" and "Doing", whereas Lahoud performed the MUN Anthem directed, composed and written by Mansour, Tarek and Malek Rahbani. Jabbra then, in the name of LAU, presented to each one of them a commemorative shield.
Secretary General LAU Student of Computer Engineering Joe Abi Sleiman delivered his speech while Deputy Secretary General LAU Student of Architecture Mazen Chehabeddine called for students to raise and recite the MUN Oath which makes them Lebanese Ambassadors to the world, before the distribution of the "Advisers Recognition Awards" and finally the announcement of the awards per committee.
© Press Release 2013
