ACT honors beloved professor
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| Speakers at the Memorial Service on Feb 18 Youssef Abdelaal/Caravan Staff |
The Anti-Cancer Team (ACT) at the American University in Cairo (AUC) is raising funds to either build a classroom on the new campus or buy medical equipment for the National Cancer Institute in the name of late Professor Maged Abaza, marketing professor and ACT’s advisor for more than five years.
The fundraising project was begun three weeks after Abaza passed away on Feb. 8 by ACT’s high board members who felt the need to commemorate Abaza.
“Abaza was a father to us; whatever we will do will not be equal to what he gave to ACT and AUC,” said Yosra Helmy, business junior and ACT’s vice president.
The idea originated as a way of thanking Abaza for the great effort he had devoted to the club over the years, said Helmy.
According to Meriam Hebeish, journalism and mass communication junior and a member of ACT’s fundraising committee, funds will be raised through events organized by ACT on campus, as well as by placing a donation box at events where students, professors and anyone interested in contributing can make donations.
“Abaza was always available for everyone in AUC and now we must pay him back by doing anything we can,” said Hebeish.
One of the first fundraising events organized by ACT will be an April 19 concert in Ewart Hall by RIFF band, who play jazz music.
“We chose RIFF band because Abaza loved old jazz. Also, lots of people like it so there will be a large audience,” said Helmy.
The office of student development (OSD) will be supervising the event.
“We are only responsible for the tickets design, the approval of the event, and giving donation boxes; mainly its logistics work,” said Dalia Saleh, assistant to community service spokesman at the OSD.
Abaza’s family members are very pleased with the idea and appreciate the effort made by the students.
“Seeing most of the students doing their best to have something for the memory of my uncle makes me very pleased and honored. I feel that he’s still with us,” said Fadila Gohar, journalism and mass communication senior.
The marketing department is also collecting donations for a study room on the new campus with Abaza’s name. These donations are separate from the donations being raised by ACT.
“After his death … we had a faculty meeting and decided to raise donations,” said Hedi Helmy, assistant to department chair in the marketing department, who added that “Abaza needs to be with us even when we move to the new campus.”
Even students who did not take any classes with Abaza are willing to contribute to the project.
“I have always heard about how kind he was. Even though I didn’t have any class with him, I want to participate in creating [a] memory of that kind man,” said Mai Abdel Rahman, journalism and mass communication sophomore.
Abaza became an AUC professor in September of 2002. Before coming to AUC, he was chairman of Steigenberger Hotels Middle East.
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