Omar Abu Samhoud, a senior computer science student of the University of Nyíregyháza, stood out among the international students studying in Hungary not only for his academic achievements, but also for his community involvement. In May, he received the “Student of the Year 2025” award from the Embassy of the State of Palestine in Hungary in Budapest.
Omar came to the University of Nyíregyháza as a scholarship holder in 2021. Since then, he has enjoyed academic success, mentoring, awards and internships.
Community presence
Omar has not only studied - he has actively contributed to the international community of the University of Nyíregyháza. He has mentored new students, acted as a translator, provided advice and led by example.
Meanwhile, he also excelled in Hungarian. In 2024, he won the Hungarian Language Excellence Award, which is awarded annually among the Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship holders.
Student of the Year
On 21 May, the Student of the Year 2025 awards ceremony was held at the Embassy of the State of Palestine in Budapest. The prestigious award was personally handed over by Ambassador Dr. Fadi Elhusseini, who praised Omar's exceptional human and academic achievements. Each year, the award is given to a Palestinian student who achieves outstanding results in both education and community building in Hungary. Speaking about the award, Omar said : "I didn't want to burden my family. I wanted to be someone they could be proud of. This award confirms that I am on the right track."
The future is still open - but the foundations are solid
Omar is currently studying for his final exams, planning to continue his studies and looking for job opportunities. He says that his memories of his student years and studies at the University of Nyíregyháza will define his life, and that he has found an accepting and supportive community and friends in the institution and in the city. His long-term goal is to work in a place where he can create real value, whether in Hungary or elsewhere in the world.
photo by Norbert Váczy