Karim Harik ’22
- Adnan Kassar School of Business
- Business major with emphasis on management
- Distinction List
- Recipient of the General Mahmoud Tay Abou Dargham Award
- Athlete
Studying at LAU was a great experience for me, as I represented the university across many fields.
First, as an athlete. I won titles nationally in track and field at the Beirut Marathon, as well as in Ehden, Faqra, Naqoura, Jounieh and twice in Jamhour, as well as internationally, in Canada and Latvia. Representing LAU always brought me pride and strengthened my sense of belonging to the university.
Second, as a civil servant. In my capacity as the founder and president of MEDLIFE in Lebanon, a nonprofit organization that provides medicine, education and development services for low-income families, we partnered with LAU Civic Engagement course BUS299 during the past academic year. Through this collaboration, I became the course supervisor at LAU for MEDLIFE through spring 2022, and ongoing for the summer semester, where we are encouraging LAU students taking the course to volunteer with us and to learn how every person can help and make a difference. The LAU experience is never limited to academia, but also extends to vibrant athletics, civic engagement, and cultural programs, which makes it unique.
Moreover, I was nominated by LAU Athletics to become the International University Sports Federation (FISU) Student Ambassador for Lebanon for two years in a row. I worked on many sports projects with the university to encourage people at large, and especially students, to take on exercise for better wellbeing.
Thanks to these experiences, my skills have been refined, and I can now manage and focus on many tasks at the same time. LAU has taught me to serve our community and the environment through sustainability and civic engagement initiatives. I also learned that education opens doors to new cultures and connections.
When I received the General Mahmoud Tay-Abou-Dargham Award upon graduation, I felt honored and proud that all my hard work had paid off. It is an honor to have my name linked to a well-known army general who founded the Commandos Regiment in Lebanon. To me, this award encompasses leadership, athletics and culture.