On May 12, King’s Academy hosted a gala dinner to celebrate His Majesty King Abdullah II’s Silver Jubilee, the 25^th anniversary of his assumption of constitutional powers.

The event also served to thank His Majesty as the founder of King’s Academy, which opened its doors in 2007. The founding of King’s was inspired by His Majesty’s own formative experience as a boarding school student at Deerfield Academy in the United States.

Upon the school’s founding, His Majesty explained: “I wanted to create a new tribe in a region often riven by ethnic and sectarian conflict: the tribe of the talented meritocracy.”

“Since the founding of King’s Academy in 2007, we have allocated over 100 million dollars in financial aid, ensuring that deserving students are not overlooked because of financial constraints,” said Chairman of the Board of Trustees Ali Kolaghassi to the audience of some 400 guests and supporters of the school.

Attending the Silver Jubilee Gala Dinner to celebrate His Majesty King Abdullah II were many longtime friends and supporters of King’s Academy, including — in addition to current Head of School Penny Townsend — two former heads of the school, founding head Dr. Eric Widmer and Dr. John Austin. Current and former chairmen and members of the Board of Trustees were also in attendance.

Two King’s Academy alumni, Omar Majali ’10 and Farah Matalka ’11, served as the evening’s Masters of Ceremony. The program included instrumental performances by the King’s Academy Orchestra, a song — “Jordan, the Red Kuffiyeh” — performed by King’s student Jumana AlNobani ’26, and video tributes honoring His Majesty created by King’s Academy students and alumni.

King’s Academy chefs provided the delicious dinner, which was served to the guests by King’s students — to reflect the school’s daily family-style lunch tradition where students take turns serving their peers.

Addressing His Majesty and guests at the event, Kolaghassi remarked: “As we gather here to celebrate 25 years of His Majesty King Abdullah II’s reign, which has been nothing less than remarkable, we reflect on the progress we have made, both as a country and as a school. This evening is a testament to our collective and unconditional commitment to the vision set forth by His Majesty, both for our beloved Jordan and for King’s Academy.”

“While I was preparing this speech,” Kolaghassi continued, addressing His Majesty directly, “I realized that you model all five of our guiding principles, and for those who may need a refresher on our five principles, they are respect, love of learning, responsibility, global citizenship, and an integrated life. You, Abu Hussein, do it all with grace, humility, and sometimes with a refreshing and appropriate sense of humor. Quite honestly, we are in awe, thank you.”

In her remarks at the gala dinner, Head of School Penny Townsend recalled some memorable events and advancements of the past 25 years, before noting that since 1999, “the years that ensued have not been particularly easy, and Jordan has benefited enormously from the effective, decisive and empathetic leadership of you, Your Majesty.”

“At no time has your steadfast commitment to peace in a region beset by conflict and turmoil been more emphatic, empathetic and visible on the world stage than this year. We salute you.”

“You are passionate about technology and innovation, and you have worked tirelessly to improve the future of Jordan and its citizens,” Mrs. Townsend continued. “We ask ourselves repeatedly: are we developing future-ready young men and women? Fortunately for King’s Academy, our founder is both a visionary and a futurist who is doing just that: developing future ready young women and men.”

During the event, Kolaghassi, on behalf of King’s Academy and the Board of Trustees, presented His Majesty with a gift crafted in honor of his silver jubilee: a book entitled An Odyssey through Time. Produced by luxury book publisher Assouline, the book weaves together milestones from the past 25 years of His Majesty’s reign and the breathtaking natural beauty of Jordan’s iconic landscapes.

King’s Academy extends its thanks and appreciation to Event Hosts Ali and Lama Kolaghassi, Hikma Pharmaceuticals, and Jordan Phosphate Mines Company. It also thanks King’s Visionary Partners: Abdul Raouf Waleed AlBitar, Arab Bank, Aysha Shoman, Jordan Tourism Board, Mahira and Mohammad Abu Ghazaleh, Rory and Holly Cowan, Talal Shair, and the Amjad and Suha Bseisu Foundation.

The school also extends its gratitude to King’s Excellence Partners: Ayla Oasis, Capital Bank, Ghiath and Nadia Sukhtian Foundation, Shaker and Samer Tawfiq Fakhouri; and King’s Legacy Partners: Arab Jordan Investment Bank, Bishr I. Baker, and Jordan Kuwait Bank.

Thanks are also extended to King’s Honored Partners: Abdallah Abu Sheikh ’12, Ahmad and Bana Tabbaa, Ali Shajrawi ’11, Bank al Etihad, Cairo Amman Bank, Deerfield Academy, Invest Bank, Jordan Ahli Bank, Jordan Commercial Bank, Jordan Islamic Bank, Jordanian Duty Free Shops, Mahmoud Malhas, Mousa and Michael Wakileh, MY Event Design, Omar and Reem Masri, John and Linda Whitton, Rudain and Karim Kawar, and Suzanne and Tom DeNunzio.