Mission Team 1
United Arab Emirates
Meet the first Endeavour Scholarship Recipients!
mission team 1: UAE
Four Emirati students and two teachers will be representing the United Arab Emirates at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center’s renowned Space Camp in Huntsville, AL in August 2021! The winners were presented their award by Apollo 15 Command Module Pilot Col. Al Worden, USAF-Ret. and Tom Kallman, CEO of Kallman Worldwide, at the Dubai Airshow 2019.
They were joined by H.E. Dr. Mohammed Nasser Al Ahbabi, Director General of the UAE Space Agency; and John Rakolta, Jr., U.S. Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, along with government, military and industry leaders to congratulate the winners of an all-expenses paid, week-long, hands-on astronaut training experience at Space Camp.
Scholarship Recipients
Alanood Alhajri
My name is Alanood Alhajri. I am 16 years old. I am a student in Al Khaleej National School in Dubai, U.A.E. I am interested in pursuing a career in aerospace and mechanical engineering. I am passionate and driven by my enthusiasm for space.
Mohammed AlDhaheri
My name is Mohammed AlDhaheri. I am 16 years old. I study at International Community School. I am interested to pursue a career that engage STEM Education. I would like to study at the field of engineering to design and build satellites under the name of my country.
Omran Rahma Al Shamsi
I’m Omran Rahma Al Shamsi, a 16 year-old student at Al Resalah American International School. Space and Robotics enthusiast Vex Robotics Competition Community Award winner Ranking the first group among UAE students and worldwide. A space ambassador and one of the first batch of Arab students training at Yuri Gagarin astronauts training center. Last but not least, a winner of the Astronaut Al Worden Endeavour Scholarship.
Saif Baha Al Badawna
Saif was born in the city of Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates on the 10th of December 2004. He joined International Community School (ICS) by age 4 where he completed 11 years and now at grade 9 at the age of 14.
He and his father (who is a Biomechanical Engineer graduate from Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA) have developed a passion for anything technological; especially, building robotics and drones. Saif has built 6 racing drones in the past 3 years under the supervision of his father. He also excels in flying these drones both in racing mode and acrobatics. Saif is looking forward to peruse his future career in the engineering sector of STEM where he wishes to contribute to the UAE’s success and prosperity in the future space sector.
“When you have passion, and you work from the bottom of your heart, the sky won’t be your limit anymore, space is the new limit!”
Rasha Abou Arkoub
Educators
Rasha Abou Arkoub
Rasha Abou Arkoub holds a Master Degree in Physics from Beirut Arab University- Lebanon. She has been in the educational field for more than 10 years. She taught physics in different settings including universities, schools, and offered trainings for industrial companies.
In addition to teaching physics at International Community School-AD, she has been appointed as the school’s Innovation Coordinator since 2018, and since that time, she made remarkable achievements in the National STEM based competitions where she led her teams to win the 1st place in the “Water Rocket Competition 2018” that was organized by the Emirates Aviation University-Dubai, the 1st place in the People’s Choice Award-AD Prize in the “Think Science 2019 Competition” for a project entitled “Smart Truck” along with winning the 2nd place in the Judges’ choice- AD in the “Think Science 2019 Competition” for a project entitled “Carcinogen Test”.
Ghaleb Awad Wahbi
Ghaleb Awad Wahbi was the Head of Science Department and the Innovation leader K-12 at GEMS Al Khaleej National School. Currently working as a Teacher Development Coach at Alef Education.
Ghaleb Graduated from the Lebanese University with a Masters-1 degree in Chemistry; Majoring Biochemistry, and a License in English Literature and Arts and from The British University of Dubai with Masters in Educational Leadership.
Achievements include first place in Energy Chemical category in 2018, the project was nominated to Intel ISEF in Pennsylvania Pittsburgh to represent UAE. Won the first place in SMART Systems category in 2017. Won the first place in Energy in 2017, the project was nominated to Intel ISEF in Los Angeles California US to represent UAE. Won the first place in Vehicle Design and Aviation category in 2016, the project was nominated to Intel ISEF in Phoenix Arizona US to represent UAE. Nominated to be one of the four teachers who represented UAE at Honeywell Educators Space Academy Program in USSRC Huntsville Alabama in 2016. Contributed to Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Award for Gifted and Talented students on Mission to Mars Initiative.