PISJ-ES honors IT prodigy

Pakistan International School Jeddah (English Section) named its IT lab after late Arfa Karim Randhawa, the youngest Microsoft certified professional, who died on Jan.14. Hany Mansour Aref President and CEO ASAS Company, Muhammad Laimon of SMB Lead, Microsoft, Naseer Al-Faaiz-CEO, R-Tech, Nour Homsi, Data Center consultant, Microsoft and Consul Qamar Siddque Raja attended the formal ceremony. Born on Feb.2, 1995, Arfa was a computer prodigy, who in 2004 at the age of nine became Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP), the youngest in the world until 2008. She was invited by Bill Gates to visit the Microsoft Headquarters in the the United States. A science park in Lahore has already named the Arfa Software Technology Park. On Dec. 22, 2011, she suffered a cardiac arrest after an epileptic seizure that damaged her brain, and was admitted to Lahore's Combined Military Hospital in critical condition. She died on Jan. 14 at the age of 16. PISJ-ES Principal Sehar Kamran said, “Naming the IT Lab after Arfa Karim Randhawa is our heartfelt tribute to her who planted thousands of dreams in the young and old alike.” “The basic objective of taking the initiative was to acknowledge the achievements of Arfa, and at the same time encouraging our students to strive for the best and aspire for something big in their life. Arfa is an inspiration and role model for the young generation. I am confident that students of PISJ-ES have all the potential and capabilities to prove themselves and bring pride to their country, this institution, their parents and teachers. I wish to see my students very successful in their career.” The program commenced with the recitation of the Holy Qur'an by Ahmed Ali Shah followed by national anthems of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. The program included heart-touching presentations by the Y13 students Mashael Kamran, Fatima Mohsin and Hassan Iftikhar portraying Arfa's achievements and ambitions followed by the speeches of Y12 students Hafsa Khan and Owais Zaheer. Nour Hamsi in his address said, “I am greatly amazed by the achievements of Arfa Karim more so when she was just 10-year-old and was a part of the keynote session in the Tech-Ed Developers conference held in Barcelona among 5,000 developers. She represented Pakistan with incredible attitude. I would say that Pakistanis have immense talents and it is parents and teachers responsibility to guide the young talent.” Naseer Al-Faaiz said that Arfa was not only an IT prodigy but she was authentic when she wrote poems. He read one of her compositions, “Clueless.” Hany Mansour addressing the students said, “I am deeply touched and proud to have some one from our Muslim World. Arfa will be an inspiration to all of you who represent us in this world.”