High School Student Tala Hikmat Mustafa Mahmoud from Al Ahliah Charity Private School in Sharjah won first place in the tenth season of the Innovators in Media competition and received a four-year scholarship to the Mohammed Bin Rashid School for Communication at the American University in Dubai. The awards ceremony was held on the university campus in the presence of Dr. Kyle Long, President of AUD; Dr. Asaad Farah, Provost and Chief Academic Officer; H.E. Mirza Al Sayegh and Khaled Al Shehi, representing the Ministry of Education; among others.
The competition has been organized for the tenth consecutive year in cooperation with the Ministry of Education. This year’s theme, “What is the impact of social media on the community?”, was selected in line with the UAE’s Year of the Family initiative. The competition targets high school students from both public and private schools and is conducted in both Arabic and English.
In her winning film, Tala explored how social media can connect people to the world while also creating emotional distance in real-life relationships. She also highlighted the impact of inappropriate online content on children and adolescents and the importance of meaningful human connection.
Speaking about her experience, Tala said:
“Participating in this competition was an inspiring experience that pushed me to think deeply and create content reflecting issues we experience daily. In my opinion, these experiences help shape a more aware media generation that knows how to transform ideas into impactful and sincere messages.”
H.E. Mirza Al Sayegh delivered a speech praising the competition and its successful organization over the past ten years, highlighting its important role in discovering talented students and helping them develop their skills both academically and professionally. He encouraged students to continue pursuing higher education beyond a bachelor’s degree by striving to earn master’s and doctoral degrees.
Sophie Boutros, Executive Director of the Mohammed Bin Rashid School for Communication, congratulated the winners and noted that 32 schools participated in this year’s competition, with a total of 137 students taking part. She added that the first-place winner was selected unanimously by the judging panel. In addition, three students received the Judging Panel Prize, while seven other participants were awarded the University Encouragement Prize. The 10 shortlisted students received certificates and prizes in recognition of their achievements.
Nadir Makansi, Media Consultant at AUD and the driving force behind the competition, said:
“As we celebrate the tenth season of the Innovators in Media competition, I am proud to see how it has fulfilled its mission of reaching students across public and private schools in the UAE, discovering promising creative talents, nurturing their abilities, and preparing them for the media industry through both academic and practical experience.”
Winners of the Competition
