2011- 2nd Annual Graduation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCafeYyAY0k 

2nd Annual Ohio Somali Graduation and Scholarship Program-

June 24, 2011 Hilton Columbus at Easton

Minister of Education, Culture & Higher Education participates Graduation Ceremony of Ohio High Schools

Columbus, Ohio - SomaliCAN- Somalia’s Minister for Education, Heritage & Higher Education, Dr. Abdinur Mohamud honored hundreds of Somali students who graduated from Ohio high schools and colleges at the Second Annual Ohio Somali Graduation Ceremony held at the Ballroom of the Hilton Hotel in Columbus, Ohio.  Mr. Jibril Mohamed, President of SomaliCAN and Mr. Sahid Ali, ESL Coordinator for Columbus Schools were the Masters of Ceremony for the program.

The event is organized annually by SomaliCAN, an outreach and advocacy organization based in Ohio and the Somali Education Association, a resource education for educators, parents, and students in the United States. Six of the graduates were awarded scholarships by the Law Office of Russell Flickinger while two more scholarships were awarded by the Ohio State University-Marion.

Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman, Columbus Schools Superintendent Dr. Gene Harris, the leadership of Westerville Schools, representatives from the Ohio State University, Columbus State Community College, and local, county, state, and federal government representatives participated in the event to recognize the academic achievement of Somali graduates.

Presidential Service Awards from the White House were presented to two educators- Mr. Sahid Ali of the Columbus City Schools, and Abdikarim Gole who teaches the Somali languages at the Ohio State University. The Presidential Award is the highest honor given to American Citizens who show exceptional commitment to service and bears the signature of the United States President, Barack Obama.

Renowned Somali leaders who spoke to the graduates included Ali Mire Awale, the composer of the Somali National Anthem, Dr. Abdisalan Sheikh Hussein, former Minister for Higher Education in Somalia as well as his deputy, Dr. Yussuf Columbus.

Education Minister Dr. Abdinur Sheikh Mohamed emphasized the importance of education and encouraged graduates to sustain their effort until they attain higher education. “It takes two educated parents to raise a functioning family in America” he said. The minister traveled from Somalia in order to show his support for more than 300 Somali students who graduated from Ohio schools and colleges in 2011.

 Somali Education Minister to Honor Somali Graduates in Ohio:

SomaliCAN is pleased to invite all 2011 Somali graduates in Ohio to join the Somali community in the most prominent Somali event in Ohio celebrating the academic achievement of Somali American high school and university graduates. The Second Annual Ohio Somali Graduation Program will be held on Friday, June 24, 2011 at 5:00pm-10:00pm Hilton Columbus at Easton 3900 Chagrin Drive.

The graduation will bring together hundreds of students, parents, professionals and leaders from the state of Ohio as well as from Somalia. The keynote speaker at the event is Dr. Abdinur Mohamud, the current Minister for Education, Heritage, and Higher Education for the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia who arrived from Mogadishu to honor Somali graduates in Ohio.

Invited dignitaries include Ohio Governor John Kasich, Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman, Columbus Schools Superintendent Dr. Gene Harris; Westerville Schools Superintendent Dan Good, Southwestern Schools Superintendent Bill Wise, Governor’s Director of Minority Affairs Lynn Stevens, representatives from the Ohio State University, Ohio University, Columbus State, Denison University, Capital University, Franklin University, Ohio Department of Education, and other county, state and state officials. Somali community leaders and educators including the first African man to receive a PhD from Princeton University and former Ministers will be honored at the event.

In addition to financial scholarships, Presidential Service Awards will be conferred on members of the Somali-American community in recognition of their contributions to the community. Last year, the event attracted media coverage by the Associated Press, BBC, Voice of America, Columbus Dispatch, NBC4, Cleveland.com and other local and international media.

Somali graduates in Ohio, their parents, and friends  are cordially invited to witness this beautiful celebration of education excellence by the Somali American community. Should you need more information about the event, please do not hesitate to call 614-489-9226 614-489-9226 or send an e-mail to jibril@SomaliCAN.org.

We look forward to seeing you on June 24, 2011 at 5pm at Hilton Columbus at Easton 3900 Chagrin Drive.