The Tipperary Peace Convention in Ireland organized on November 2, 2011 a ceremony of nomination of Mr. Khalil Abboud, Deputy Director of the Student Affairs Office at USEK, as Goodwill Ambassador. The ceremony was attended by a large crowd of USEK officials as well as diplomatic and military dignitaries.

Following the Lebanese and Irish national anthems, Dr. Laurel Anderson underlined in her opening speech the achievements of Abboud inside USEK: “He is a tremendous support to our students in all of the many ways that he helps them with their personal, social and academic needs”, as well as outside the University: “Khalil is known around the country for his service to the community. In his work with the Red Cross, he served as a first responder during the war and advocated for human rights in Egyptian prisons. He has also worked with Caritas and several other NGOs to help the poor, the physically disabled …”

While Mr. Guy Younes, Chairperson of the Irish-Lebanese Cultural Foundation, introduced in his address the Tipperary Peace Convention: “Tipperary is now known for its efforts to promote peace and peaceful co-operation on a national and international stage [...]. The Tipperary Peace Award was founded in 1984 and was first awarded to the late Seán McBride, one of the founders of Amnesty International. Its principal aim is to give recognition to those who promote the ideals of peace and peaceful co-operation both in Ireland and abroad”. Mr. Younes described people who have been receiving this award as “men and women whose work is recognised and are promoters of Peace, of the principles in changing our world into a world of reconciliation rather than conflict and tolerance rather than confrontation”. He concluded that “Mr. Abboud's work with the Lebanese Red Cross and youth groups, Caritas, Ayadina and his role in the Affaires Estudiantines at USEK bears witness to his diplomatic skills”.

At the end, Mr. Abboud took the floor and started his speech saying “It is hard to go more than twenty years back in time to past achievements in social work and volunteering, things that were forgotten and would only cross my mind every now and again until the Tipperary Peace Convention in Ireland thanks to Mr. Younes assessed these achievements that led to my appointment”. “I was discussing with a friend of mine about the kind of choices that a man can make during his life and believe in. Well I say it is true, man’s work whether good or bad, shall return to him in kind in one way or another”, Mr. Abboud concluded.