The American University of Afghanistan (AUAF) celebrated a milestone moment in its young life on May 26th, successfully completing its first graduation ceremony. 32 graduates, nine of them women, walked across the stage in front of a cheering audience to receive their diplomas in business administration, computer science, and political science. Accolades poured in from around the world, including letters from First Lady Michelle Obama, former First Lady Laura Bush and university presidents from across the United States. US Ambassador Karl Eikenberry, who delivered the commencement address, also voiced his admiration for the graduates, thanking them in advance for “everything you will do to help your country.”

Over 1,400 people attended the ceremony, which USAID Afghanistan Mission Director Earl Gast described as “the highlight of my time in Afghanistan.”

Immediately following the graduation, AUAF president Dr. C. Michael Smith, accompanied by Ambassador Eikenberry, broke ground on a multi-million dollar project that will become the cornerstone of the university’s new campus.

AUAF is the only private, not-for-profit, independent university chartered in Afghanistan.