In a grand celebration attended by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Iraq, Mr. Nizar Amidi, the President of the Supreme Judicial Council, Judge Dr. Faiq Zidan, former Prime Ministers, Mr. Mohammad Al-Sudani and Mr. Mustafa Al-Kadhimi, a number of Ministers, and some of Iraq’s most prominent statesmen, diplomats, and business leaders, the American University of Iraq-Baghdad (AUIB) celebrated the graduation of its second undergraduate class in various specializations and its first Master in Business Administration class.
Before the host of graduates’ families and friends, distinguished guests, and members of AUIB faculty and staff in attendance, the graduating students marched at the front of the academic procession that included senior faculty members, AUIB’s Founding Father and Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Dr. Saadi Waheeb Saihood, the university’s Founding President and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Dr. Michael Mulnix, and university President, Dr. Bradley Cook.
At the stage that was erected before the newly established Lecture Hall, and as per long-standing academic traditions, Dr. Saihood conferred upon the distinguished graduates the Founder’s Medal which bears his name, and which AUIB proudly issued in recognition of its Founding Father’s vision, dedication, and commitment. Graduates then ascended the stage to receive their diplomas from their respective college Deans, under the gaze of their proud family members and friends.
“Tonight, we celebrate not only achievement, but hope. Because every graduation ceremony is an act of faith — faith in young people, in education, and in Iraq’s future,” said AUIB President, Dr. Bradley Cook, in his welcome speech, reminding the audience that “this land, the Land of the Two Rivers, gave humanity some of its earliest lessons in civilization,” and that Baghdad was, in the Abbasid era, a world cultural center that contributed significantly to the advancement of humanity. He affirmed that “that spirit lives on today,” as AUIB is “built on that same belief: that education can transform lives and help shape the future of a nation.” President Cook expressed his deep gratitude and appreciation for AUIB’s Founders, Dr. Saadi Waheeb Saihood and his sons, “whose vision, generosity, and belief in Iraq’s future made this university possible.” He also expressed his sincere gratitude to AUIB’s Founding President, Dr. Michael Mulnix, and to Dr. Esther Mulnix, who joined the celebration as the university’s first Professor Emerita.
President Cook addressed the celebrated graduates, saying: “Today, you receive more than a diploma. It is a trust from your families who sacrificed for you, from your professors who believed in you, and from your country, which now looks to you to help shape its future, because Iraq does not simply need graduates. Iraq needs builders.”
After the ceremony conferring an honorary doctorate upon President Faiq Zidan, His Excellency the President of the Republic addressed the audience, congratulating President Faiq Zidan, the graduating students, and their honorable families, wishing graduates “a successful professional life through which they may contribute to the construction and progress of our beloved country, Iraq.” He also congratulated AUIB, “its administration and faculty, on this important founding occasion, which we hope will constitute a vital launching point in the university’s ambitious academic trajectory, alongside our esteemed Iraqi universities, of whose academic history and renowned scientific contributions we are proud.” President Amidi added that “taking pride in universities and educational institutions is an expression of pride in the lofty scientific values for which Iraq has been known throughout its various historical eras,” affirming that “progress in knowledge and construction is always the companion of peace and stability.”
“It is an honor to be among you today at this blessed celebration, and to stand before this group of graduates, who give me firm confidence that the future is shaped here, and by your own hands. Today, you carry not merely a degree, but a mission defined by commitment, integrity, and responsibility. The knowledge you have gained attains its true worth only when it becomes a positive impact on society and a sincere service to others,” said the keynote speaker and the distinguished guest at the commencement ceremony, President of the Supreme Judicial Council, Judge Dr. Faiq Zidan.
“We affirm that nations are built only through the efforts of their devoted sons and daughters, and today, you are part of this building process. So, rise to the level of this responsibility, and contribute to strengthening the values of justice, respect for the law, and service to society with a deep sense of humanity,” President Zidan continued, urging the celebrated graduates “never to compromise your values, no matter how great the temptations may be, and to continue learning, for knowledge does not end with a degree, and responsibility does not end with graduation; rather, it begins with it. Move forward with confidence, create for yourselves a place worthy of your efforts, and rise to the expectations your country and your society place upon you.”
Eng. Hussein Saadi Saihood, member of AUIB’s Board of Trustees, also delivered a speech on the occasion, in which he celebrated the capacity of quality education—one that invests in the energy of youth—to build a better future for Iraq. He considered that the graduates stand as living proof that courageous initiative, disciplined work, and belief in purpose are elements that have together built an educational institution contributing to the formation of a new generation more capable of serving Iraq and its people.
