Qatar

United States Ambassador to Qatar, Chase Untermeyer, welcomed home 2007 alumni, Mohammed Al-Yahri, Mohammed Hamdouna, Sara Haroon and Mohammed al-Mulla home. Kara Nesimuk, AMIDEAST YES Program coordinator and new 2008 students: Ahmad Abu Yousef, Abdulrahman Al Ansari, and Randa Al-Waheedy also attended the event at the US Embassy.

The United States Ambassador to Qatar, Chase Untermeyer, welcomed home Sara Haroon of Amna bint Wahab School, and Mohammed al-Mulla, Mohammed al-Yahri, and Mohammed Hamdouna of Omar bin Al Khattab School in June after the completion of their YES exchange year in the U.S. at the pre-departure orientation for the YES 5 cohort. Before presenting the students with awards recognizing their achievements, Ambassador Untermeyer stated that he was pleased the students had the chance to live in a variety of places in the U.S., particularly small towns that are not often portrayed in American movies and television programs. Mohamed Al Mulla talked about his experiences playing second base on the local high school baseball team, even though he had never played baseball in Qatar. At the end of the season his high school team awarded him the "Most Improved Player" award. Sara Haroon completed the 12th grade and was able to participate in her school's graduation ceremony alongside her American classmates. Ambassador Untermeyer also took time to recognize three students from Omar bin Khattab School who have been selected to participate in the 2007-2008 YES cohort. Omar Murtaja, Ahmad Abu Yousef and Abdrulahman Al Ansari will travel to the United States in August to begin their exchange programs. They were excited to speak with the recently returned alumni, as well as with Fadi Yasin '06, about their experiences as YES students. Mrs. Sarah Al Kuwari, who has been an important part of the YES recruitment effort for the last two years, was also present.