School of Engineering celebrates 445 graduates as class of 2026 prepares to shape the future
Tarek Alkabbani is among the nearly 450 UBC Okanagan engineering students graduating on June 5.
For UBC Okanagan engineering graduate Tarek Alkabbani, convocation doesn’t represent an endpoint on the map.
It marks a milestone along a path he continues to explore with hope and wonder. A path that began five years ago another continent, saw him conduct scientific research in the stratosphere and brought him into the orbit of people who continue to inspire, mentor and work along side him to create a brighter future.
On June 5, Alkabbani will cross the stage and address his fellow Engineering graduates as student speaker at the School of Engineering’s convocation ceremony. In total, 445 engineering graduates—including 331 Bachelor of Applied Science graduates and 114 master’s and doctoral graduates—will be celebrated.
Growing up in Syria, Alkabbani developed a love for physics and problem solving, but wasn’t entirely sure what engineering was all about—or if it was right for him.
At UBC Okanagan, he encountered two things that would fundamentally shape his future: a sense of belonging and a community that believed in him.
“Growing up in war truly strips all of these things away from you,” says Alkabbani. “It was life-changing joining this community, where a new hope flourished for me.”
He credits professors like Dr. Ray Taheri with inspiring him to persevere and eventually make it to the Okanagan.
“Dr. Taheri supported me non-stop during first year, while I was studying remotely from Syria during the COVID-19 pandemic, compounded with limited electricity and connectivity due to the war,” explains Alkabanni. “His continued support showed me the importance of community and having great people around you.”
During my first year here, I experienced enough community and connection that it made me want to stay in the Okanagan.
Throughout his degree, Alkabbani embraced opportunities to pursue research and hands-on learning.
He participated in projects with the Canadian Space Agency, contributed to research involving aircraft avionics in collaboration with KF Aerospace, and helped conduct experiments in both the stratosphere and microgravity environments. This included the CAN-RGX Program: hosted by SEDS-Canada, a competition that offers Canadian post-secondary student teams the unique opportunity to design, build, and fly small scientific experiments on the NRC Falcon 20.
SoE students Tarek Alkabbani and Julia Bayer-Cheung experiencing microgravity during a parabolic flight on the NRC Falcon 20.
These experiences ultimately inspired him to continue his academic journey through a Master of Applied Science degree in electrical engineering at UBC Okanagan under supervisors Dr. Anas Chaaban and Dr. Jonathan Holzman.
Alkabbani working with a laser in Dr. Jonathan Holzman’s lab at UBCO.
For Dr. Will Hughes, Director of the School of Engineering, Alkabbani’s story reflects many of the qualities that define the graduating class. Curiosity. Resilience. Adaptation. A desire to make a difference in a changing world—coupled with the capacity to do so.
“The challenges worth solving in life are rarely simple, and our graduates are leaving here ready to meet them with skill and purpose; confidence and humility; courage and care,” says Hughes. “The world needs good engineers more than ever, and we are incredibly proud of these graduates and the positive impact they are already making out in the world.”
As he prepares to address the graduating class, Alkabbani says he feels honoured to represent his peers and the many people who helped them reach this milestone.
And while the paths taken by members of the Class of 2026 may differ, he believes they share something important: the ability to persevere.
It is a lesson that has guided his own journey—from Syria to the Okanagan, from student to researcher, and now into the next chapter of his life as an engineer.