Honoring Academic Achievement and Community Impact

July 2, 2025

For Rinad Ghaith '25, the journey through AUC was marked by two donor-funded milestones: the scholarship that inspired her to persevere and the award that now marks the close of her undergraduate chapter. A recipient of the Nadia Younes Endowed Scholarship, Ghaith was recently honored with the Ahmed El Mehallawi Family Award, presented twice a year to a graduating senior who combines academic excellence with meaningful community engagement.

"I know that this is such a prestigious award, and I've been told about it so many times ever since I was a freshman," she said. "So, it's such a humbling and honoring experience, and I'm very grateful for it."

From the beginning, Ghaith made the most of her time at AUC. She majored in political science with minors in economics and sociology, maintaining a near-perfect GPA and earning the HUSS Award for Outstanding Achievement in political science. Beyond the classroom, she represented AUC at Model United Nations conferences in New York and Oman, interned at a range of public and private institutions, and took on roles as a teaching assistant and student ambassador.
 

But it was her work with Volunteers in Action (VIA), a student-led community service organization at AUC, that shaped much of her University experience and earned her the Ahmed El Mehallawi Family Award. “My journey began during my first semester at AUC,” she recalled. “I stumbled upon a Facebook post about literacy sessions for illiterate women. I was compelled; it was the first time I felt that a skill I take for granted could significantly change someone’s life.”

Over the next four years, she served as public relations head, co-president and finally president, helping VIA expand its reach and deepen its impact. “From the day I first joined the Literacy Committee to my role as president,” she reflected, “I have witnessed how small efforts can lead to transformational change.” That belief guided her leadership as the group revived major events, including VIA’s Annual Wedding for orphan brides and VIA’s Annual Conference, and organized the VIA Fair for over 100 orphans from across Egypt. The literacy programs, meanwhile, continued to grow. Nearly half of the women in VIA’s program passed the national literacy exam, and participating children showed measurable improvement in Arabic and English.
 

Looking back, Ghaith says AUC gave her much more than just a strong education. “AUC has truly exceeded my expectations for higher education, providing me with an intellectually stimulating environment and the resources to grow academically, personally, and even professionally,” she said. 

Still, her journey wasn’t without its challenges. “I got [the scholarship] at a time when I was feeling very low, very academically discouraged,” she said. Receiving the Nadia Younes Endowed Scholarship midway through her studies was more than financial support. “It made me feel seen. It encouraged me to pursue what I want further, to keep going, to never give up on what I want,” she explained.

That encouragement, she added, also came from those closest to her. “During times when one feels hopeless or one feels like they want to give up, that one friend or that one family member can move mountains with their words. There were times when I told my mom that maybe I should quit all my extracurriculars and try to focus on my academics. She told me, “No, you can do so much more than you think.” 

After graduation — and a well-earned break — Ghaith hopes to pursue a career that allows her to drive meaningful change and have a positive impact on her community. “Whatever I pursue in the future, I want it to be something related to development and something of my own.” Her guiding philosophy is simple: gratitude. “Gratitude drives one forward. No matter the circumstances, gratitude makes good things come.”