Emirati student Haneen Mohammad Al Blooshi proudly walked on the ceremonial stage on Monday to receive her certificate of recognition from Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs.

She was elated. Not only because she finally graduated, but she did so with flying colours and is on the UAE’s list of high achievers.

And as a reward for all her hard work, she was given a Dh20,000 incentive and a scholarship from the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan — an endowment she intends to enrich by pursuing her higher education in the History of Art and Archaeology at the Paris-Sorbonne University.

“I am so proud with my average, I am the second topper in our school,” said the 17-year old from Al Shahama School in Abu Dhabi. Haneen scored 98.2 per cent marks in the art stream.

For her monetary award, “I plan to use it in preparing myself for college,” she enthused.

Sara Hamdy Baraka from Al Badia School for Girls in Al Ain was equally ecstatic. For scoring the highest mark in the science section from the Al Ain zone with 99.4 per cent marks, the Egyptian student already have so much to celebrate. The awards were an unexpected but a pleasant bonus.

“I am so happy. I didn’t expect that I will receive this (recognition) because there are many students with high marks,” expressed the timid 18-year-old.

She was extremely grateful for the scholarship, which she intends to make use of in pursuing a career in medicine with specialisation in cardiology.

For Amr Mahmoud El Ghendy from the Islamic Scientific Institute in Ajman receiving the scholarship grant is a big step nearer to the realisation of his dream.

“Before I received the call from the Abu Dhabi Education Council (Adec), I read (about) the awards in a newspaper and I was hoping for it. I am so happy and glad to receive it,” said the elated 18-year-old Egyptian student.

Amr tops the science stream in the Ajman zone with his 99.7 per cent grade. The consistent high achiever intends to become a surgeon one day. Thus for him, it is imperative to have “the best education possible”, the primary reason why he hopes to pursue his medicine degree in the US or the UK.

And for his Dh20,000 award, the doting son plans to “take dad and mom for Haj”.

Haneen, Sara and Amr are just three of the 150 top achievers in higher secondary education for 2011-2012 who were commended by Shaikh Mansour, who is also the Deputy Chairman of the Adec, and education officials on Monday in an honouring ceremony.

Shaikh Khalifa, last month, offered Dh20,000 and scholarship rewards for the outstanding Emirati and non-Emirati students. The students were shortlisted based on a number of criteria and for achieving a minimum score of 98 per cent.

Emirati special needs students who achieved a minimum score of 95 per cent were also recognised.

The incentives were meant to promote academic excellence among students as well as encourage educational institutions to provide quality learning environment.