ICS students win prestigious Astronaut Al Worden Endeavour Scholarship

Two outstanding students from International Community Schools (ICS) have been selected as winners of the prestigious Astronaut Al Worden Endeavour Scholarship, an internationally recognised programme honouring academic excellence, leadership, and a passion for space exploration.

Space Camp Museum

Following a rigorous selection process, Hamdan Ahmad Al Shehi, Grade 11, ICS Al Mushrif, and Mohamed Faisal Al Ali, Year 12, ICS Al Danah, were chosen to represent ICS in this global initiative.

Additionally, Sharifa Bahlooq, Grade 9, ICS Al Mushrif, has been named as a reserve candidate, recognising her strong application, commitment to STEAM, and potential to contribute to future space-focused initiatives.

These bright young minds will join an elite group of students from around the world for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity at the Astronaut Al Worden Space Camp Experience in the United States. Through hands-on aerospace missions, leadership development, and mentorship by engineers and astronauts, the programme aims to nurture the next generation of STEAM pioneers.

Driven by vision and curiosity

In their application videos, both winners expressed deep-rooted inspiration and ambition for the future of space exploration. Hamdan's fascination with aeronautical engineering was sparked by the SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch. A seasoned STEM enthusiast, he has led projects and represented ICS in global leadership programmes, clearly aiming at helping to create safe and sustainable space flight.

On the other hand, Mohamed, inspired by Emirati astronaut Hazzaa Al Mansoori, emphasised how perseverance and focus can turn even the most difficult tasks achievable. His dedication to studying planetary habitability and his analytical attitude to teamwork and problem-solving impressed the panel of judges.

Sharifa, the alternative nominee, mentioned the Hubble Space Telescope as her primary source of inspiration. Its remarkable discoveries ignited her imagination and fuelled her aspiration to explore the unknown through science.

Empowering future generations in STEAM

The scholarship not only honours individual excellence but also supports ICS's dedication to producing global citizens equipped to navigate the challenges of today. In line with the aim of the Endeavour Scholarship, ICS constantly supports projects that spark creativity, critical thinking, and a passion for discovery—values that perfectly reflect our educational ethos.

“We are incredibly proud of our students for standing out on such a prestigious global platform,” says Mohamed Al Shamma, Chief Executive Officer of ICS. “Their dedication to STEAM, leadership, and teamwork has set a benchmark we hope to inspire at ICS. We are confident they will make the most of this opportunity.

“This success is proof of the future-oriented education ICS always provides—where learning inspires students to aim higher, dream bigger, and reach for the stars outside the classroom.”

Founded more than 35 years ago, ICS is one of Abu Dhabi's leading educational institutions, catering to students from Nursery to Grade 12/Year 13. With a diverse curricula, state-of-the-art facilities, and a focus on holistic education, ICS is committed to shaping the leaders and innovators of tomorrow.