Karim El Arab steps up to support student athletes – on the athletic field and in the classroom
December 22, 2022
Karim El Arab recently established the Karim El Arab Scholarship for Distinguished Athletes to support students who participate in sports at the American University of Beirut (AUB) and are in good academic standing. This is not his first donation to AUB to support student athletes. In July 2022, he established the Mercury Distinguished Athlete Prize, which will be awarded for the first time in May 2023.
El Arab, who is the founder of the Mercury Club in Beirut, a stunning complex with basketball, tennis, and football facilities, a pool, a well-equipped gym – you name it – appreciates the challenges of being a student athlete. “Student athletes have to put in more time in order to balance academics and sports,” he explains. “It is our duty, as much as we can, to help ease the journey of these student athletes and make it easier for them to reach their goals.” Dean of Student Affairs Nayla Al-Akl commented on the importance of extracurricular activities to the AUB student experience and learning journey – and the importance of donor support in this area. “I hope many donors will come forward as Mr. Karim has done to support athletics and other extracurricular activities that can transform a student’s experience and ensure an enriching and diverse campus life,” she said.
Although he is especially interested in supporting athletics, El Arab has also supported other initiatives at AUB, such as the first American University of Beirut Christmas Village, which took place on December 17-20, 2022. “Karim is a good friend to our university,” said Associate Vice President for Development, Alumni Relations, and University Events Salma Oueida. “We are especially grateful for his support for student athletics at AUB. Some of our student athletes have gone on to excel both regionally and internationally. It is wonderful to be able to give them encouragement – and recognize their accomplishments – while they are on campus.”
Mariam Sabbah (Director of Development), Karim El Arab, Salma Oueida (Associate Vice President), left to right