Under the patronage and in the presence of the Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Dr. Azmi Mahafzah, the Alliance Academy Jordan (AAJ) celebrated Friday, the tenth anniversary of its founding and the graduation of its first class.

Rev. Munther Shahatit, who presented the Minister with an appreciation plank, opened the event. He recalled the history of the Evangelical Alliance in Jordan, owner of the Academy, whose executive council he chairs, saying: “The people of Jordan have always been at the heart of our mission in the Alliance  Church in Jordan since its founding in 1921 which coincides with the centenary of our beloved country. He called on graduates to “grow with wisdom and stature in all fields”.

After watching a video about the development of the Academy, the school’s General Director, Salam Madanat, praised “everyone who had an imprint in the construction of this distinguished scientific edifice. The praise of the founder of the Academy, Pastor Habes Al-Nemat, received warm applause, as Madanat said, “The academy is indebted to its founder for his belief in the sacred dream that he placed before God and began implementing, devoting his effort, time, and money to making it a reality, and here we see its first fruits before us today. “

The General Director also praised the global mission of the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church for supporting the Academy since its founding and for bearing “the burdens of the position of Director General of the Academy until 2022. She welcomed Pastor Nathan Greenfield, the former Director General, “who came from the United States specifically to celebrate with us today.”

Madanat insisted on the need to continue in the founder’s approach, saying: “We here, like the Apostle Paul, “do not think that we have realized, and we will not stand and rest behind what we have achieved, or surrender to what faces us or defeats us, but we will work with the greatest diligence and with the most commitment and dedication to our mission and purpose”.

The Director General addressed the two graduates of the first cohort by addressing Alyssar and Hayel, describing them as the first two fruits at the Alliance Academy. “We are happy and proud of you, and we know that, wherever you go, you will proceed on a solid foundation of knowledge, spiritual and life values that have been planted to develop an integrated steadfast personality with eternal influence”.

The school Principal, Jumana Akkawi, praised the developments initiated by the Minister of Education and Scientific Research. “The changes you made in the high school examination system and the launch of the BTEC international system for vocational education will achieve outcomes that meet the rapid global development and keep pace with the requirements of the century, embodying the vision of His Majesty King Abdullah II to create a strong Jordan that provides its children with the best education. Many challenges require creative minds in an era whose steps have accelerated and whose tools, standards, and values have changed,” she said.

Akkawi told the graduates, “Today we celebrate with you the end of a phase of your school life at the academy and send you to the school of life, armed with knowledge, skills, experiences, and values. Many opportunities and obstacles await you. Always stand out and make imagination your phase. She beseeched graduates to “always be determined, and contemplate everything new, putting everything in the balance of thinking and scrutiny and the balance of values and principles before accepting them”.

The school Principal added that after the blessing and support of the members of the Academy’s Board of Trustees and the support and guidance of the Director General, the decision was taken to adopt the American High School Diploma in addition to the British system currently adopted in the school to create more options and opportunities for the Academy’s students, ” we started the accreditation process and obtained initial approval.” Work has begun to complete the requirements of accreditation”.

The graduates handed the school banner and the Jordanian flag over to the 11 graders as a symbol of the continuation of the Academy’s journey. Eleventh graders also performed on stage a number of songs and a folkloric Dabkeh dance.

Graduates were handed their high school diplomas by the Minister which was followed by a collective celebration of the academy’s achievements.