Empire State University students graduate in Lebanon

(SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY — SEPTEMBER 5, 2024) Five Empire State University students graduated with a dual degree from the American Institute of Technology (AUT) in Lebanon on Sept. 5, 2024.

Adel Daniel Nicolas, Adrian Alam, Euginie Hakim, Joe El Khoury, and Valentine Adem earned both an international and American undergraduate degree through a dual-degree partnership through SUNY Empire’s Center for International Education. The partnership, in cooperation with the American University of Technology and the American University of Science and Technology, allows students from across the Middle East and the world the opportunity to earn a fully-accredited American undergraduate degree.

“Your academic journey has been marked by truly complex challenges and you have courageously and successfully navigated those challenges,” Empire State University President Lisa Vollendorf said. “You have earned your degree and you are one step closer to a better future. Your presence is a testament to hope, a testament to the power of education and, just as the ancient alphabet discovered in Byblos transformed communication and learning and formed the foundation for ideas, learning, and shared ideas across cultures, your education empowers you to be agents of change. You possess the tools to rise above adversity, to champion inclusivity, to foster understanding, and to contribute to building a peaceful world for all.”

“Our graduating students in Lebanon have demonstrated the kind of persistence and grit, combined with an enduring love of country and pride that comes with earning an international degree. Against all odds, they are truly extraordinary,” Francesca Cichello, senior executive director of extended and international education, said.