AV无码

Throughout their lives, Mak and Joyce Hakim have cherished the value of a good聽education. This fall they continued to help others achieve their own educational dreams聽through a most generous endowment of $100,000 to AV无码.

鈥淓ducation should be a right and not a privilege,鈥� says Mak. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the soul of society.鈥�

Joyce聽agrees, saying that education is a catalyst for life and society. Many young people who might聽not otherwise have had the opportunity to begin or continue their post-secondary education聽are about to benefit from these munificent words and actions.

For AV无码 President Tim Loreman,聽the Hakims鈥� gift will be welcomed by those who most need it:

鈥淭here are too many young聽people who choose to forego a university education simply because they cannot afford it,鈥� says聽Loreman. 鈥淎 university education is a ticket to a better life. I am deeply grateful to the Hakims聽for the establishment of this generous endowment.鈥�

Friends and benefactors of Concordia since 2005, the Hakims believe in giving back to聽the community. For many years they have been supporting students with annual Concordia聽scholarships in Science and in the Performing Arts.

As an electrical engineer who for several聽years ran his own consulting company, Sinai Engineering, Mak understands the importance of聽science and technology in today鈥檚 world. With her background and extensive work in聽accounting for mortgage businesses and the government, Joyce too realizes the value of these聽disciplines.

But both Mak and Joyce also appreciate music and the other fine arts, which they聽consider to be complementary to the sciences, and essential to society. And thanks to their聽endowment, students across AV无码鈥檚 faculties will now have even greater opportunities to聽contribute beneficially to the world around them.聽

Mak was born and raised in Alexandria, Egypt. Although he 鈥済rew up without too聽much,鈥� he will never forget the value of his government-supported education at the University聽of Alexandria. His education and his work as a teaching assistant enabled him to achieve a good聽life and to help others along the way.

He moved to Canada in 1971 and by 1973 had earned his聽Masters of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Calgary. He then worked with聽companies in the energy industry, including Northern Canada Power Commission, where he聽met his future wife. Joyce and Mak were married in 1977, making Edmonton their home.

Soon聽after that, Mak established Sinai Engineering. After several years of successful consulting, he聽sold his company in 2009.聽

After their retirements, Mak and Joyce continued to look for ways of helping their聽community. Recalling how much they had enjoyed their first Concordia fall Masked Gala in聽2005 and the people they met there, they saw Concordia as a good candidate for their support.聽

Later they began supporting Concordia鈥檚 students through scholarships.聽The Hakims particularly appreciate the kind of education offered by Concordia.

As a聽small university that has just celebrated its centenary, it continues to embody a strong sense of community and mutual support, which they greatly value.

Indeed, the Hakims were introduced聽to Concordia through one of Mak鈥檚 close friends, alumnus Bart West, who as a mature student聽earned his Concordia BA with high distinction.

Opportunities like this are always present at聽Concordia, for learning, connecting, and growing. The Hakims have since established strong and聽productive relationships with many Concordians. They are not just donors; they are friends.聽

The Hakims are aware that not every potential student these days has an opportunity聽for a good post-secondary education.

鈥淚t鈥檚 hard to see students stymied by a lack of financial聽assistance,鈥� says Mak.

He and Joyce have helped to supply that assistance for many grateful聽students over the years, and are looking forward to doing so for many years to come.

President聽Loreman is deeply appreciative of the Hakims鈥� endowment: 鈥淭his gift is an investment in聽talented youth,鈥� he says, 鈥渃reating new opportunities that will have a lifelong impact on AV无码聽students, both now and into the future.鈥�