The American University in Cairo (AUC) has honored visual artist Halla Shafey with the Distinguished Alumni Award for 2025, recognizing her creative excellence and artistic contributions to Egypt’s cultural landscape and beyond. This marks the first time that the prestigious award has been presented in the field of visual arts, underscoring AUC’s commitment to celebrating innovation and artistic impact across diverse disciplines.
In her statement, Shafey expressed heartfelt gratitude:
“With deep gratitude, I am truly honored and humbled to receive the Distinguished Alumni Award from my alma mater. This recognition means a great deal to me as it acknowledges the power of art as a voice of beauty, thought, and change.”
The award, presented annually to outstanding alumni who have made meaningful contributions in fields such as science, business, culture, technology, and community service, was announced during a ceremony held last May. Although El Shafey was unable to attend due to health reasons, she recently visited AUC’s New Cairo campus to receive her certificate from the Office of Alumni Engagement, where she was warmly welcomed by Mrs. Raymonda Raif, Executive Director for Alumni Engagement and the AUC Fund, and Mrs. Manar Ayoub, her deputy.
An AUC alumna with both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Economics, Shafey later devoted her life to visual arts, becoming one of Egypt’s most distinctive contemporary artists. Her work reflects deep emotional resonance and intellectual sensitivity, bridging academic rigor with aesthetic expression.
“I am proud and deeply grateful that my university, which shaped my education and worldview, honors me today in the field of art,” Shafey added. “It reaffirms that creativity is an essential pillar of AUC’s mission and of human progress.”
