HH Sheikha Moza accepts George Bush award for public service

Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation, last night spoke of the blessings and creativity of the Qatari people, as she accepted the George Bush Award for Excellence in Public Service at the University of New England. 

President Bush and Mrs. Barbara Bush presented the award to Her Highness in recognition of her “devoted promotion of peace and human development throughout the world”. 

At a ceremony attended by dignitaries from the University of New England, Texas A&M University, Qatar Foundation and the George Bush Library Foundation, Texas A&M President Dr. R. Bowen Loftin, spoke of the decade-long relationship between his university and Qatar Foundation. He thanked Her Highness for inviting Texas A&M: “to be part of the noble and great initiative called Education City.” 

Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker, Dean of The Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University introduced Her Highness to the audience by saying that: “creativity and innovation mark everything she does”.

“She is a shining example of service, combining a vision for change and the ability and energy to make it happen,” he continued. 

Mrs. Barbara Bush presented the award to Her Highness, noting that Her Highness’s initiatives combine: “the best of modernity and tradition.”

“Her belief in the character and potential of her nation’s people is truly an inspiration,” Mrs Bush ended. 

Thanking President and Mrs Bush for the award, Her Highness said: “I accept this honour on behalf of the people and nation of Qatar”. 

Her Highness spoke of the many blessings of the Qatari nation. She noted that the investments Qatar is making in human development are reaping rewards, as shown by the country’s recent first place ranking in the Middle East region in the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report.

“His Highness the Father Emir planted the seeds of openness, creativity and freedom of expression in our society. These are the seeds of prosperous minds that will continue to flourish generation after generation.” 

Her Highness went on to describe her own notion of public service: 

“Our Muslim, Qatari and Arab traditions demand that we constantly reinvigorate ourselves, and reach out the hand of friendship and support to those who are most in need. To share our blessings with others and also with future generations.”

Describing the establishment of Education City’s branch campuses, Her Highness thanked the “visionaries” like President Bush, “who could foresee and recognise the importance of such ventures for the present and future of our nations”. 

Her Highness praised Texas A&M in Qatar for its contribution to Qatar’s national research capacity and socio-economic development. She also mentioned the pledge made by its students and staff at the campus’s tenth anniversary celebrations, to support the Educate A Child programme Her Highness launched in November 2012. 

“Educate A Child is seeking to help millions of out-of-school children get into quality primary education…. I am delighted that our students in Qatar Foundation are bringing their fresh perspectives to help us create this new world view.”

The George Bush Award for Excellence in Public Service recognises an individual's dedication to public service at the local, state, national or international levels. The award underscores President Bush's lifelong commitment to public service. Past recipients include former President of the United States Ronald Reagan, former Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates, evangelist William "Billy" F. Graham, former Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger, former United States Senator Edward M. Kennedy, former General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev and former Chancellor of Germany Helmut Kohl. Her Highness is both at the first Arab and the first woman to receive this award.

“The George Bush Foundation is honored to recognize the vision and strength epitomised by Sheikha Moza,” stated Lieutenant General Brent Scowcroft, President of the Board of Directors for the George Bush Presidential Library Foundation. “By providing access to education and building strong families and communities, Sheikah Moza’s initiatives are laying the foundation for Qatar’s success in a global economy. She is an inspiration to her country and to the world.”