Buckeye engineer honored with University Engagement Recognition Award

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The Ohio State University has named biomedical engineering student Abd Al-Rahman Traboulsi a recipient of a 2017 University Engagement Recognition Award. He will be honored at an awards ceremony on May 3 at the Ohio Union.

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Traboulsi is the recipient of the Undergraduate Student Award for Excellence in Community Service. Upon returning from his second medical relief trip to Syria in 2015, Traboulsi turned his focus to the Columbus refugee community in hopes of maximizing his capacity to create change as a student. With two others, he co-founded what is now known as Refuge, a college-readiness program for high school-aged refugees facilitated by university mentors.

Since the initial idea formed in January 2016, Refuge has expanded its board to six members, collected $10,000 in seed funding, vetted 20 college mentors from nearly 100 applications and launched a pilot program in January 2017. Throughout the semester, students develop a college plan, expedite their understanding of cultural norms and improve their conversational English skills.

Utilizing university sponsorships, the refugee students will visit Ohio State in April and experience classes and residence halls firsthand, transforming college into a tangible reality. In collaboration with US Together, Refuge is also hosting a campus refugee advocacy training to address students' roles as community members to serve refugees.

In 2016, Traboulsi gave a presentation at Ohio State TEDx in which he shared his personal experiences on the ground in Syria and offered an intimate perspective on the Syrian conflict.

On behalf of The Ohio State University, the Offices of Outreach and Engagement, International Affairs, Service Learning, Undergraduate Education, and Student Life recognize faculty, staff, students and community partners for outstanding achievement with the University Engagement Recognition Awards program.

For a full list of award recipients and program descriptions, visit go.osu.edu/2017awards.