Wichita State associate professor Preethika Kumar remembered when Abduljaleel “Jaleel” Al-Arbash and his cousin used to sit together in her electrical engineering class the semester before he died.

“You could just tell there was something different about him,” Kumar said.

On May 29, Al-Arbash was killed outside a Shiite mosque in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, by a suicide bomber from the Islamic State terror group.

Al-Arbash, his brother and their cousin were volunteering as security guards and prevented the death of people inside the mosque.

“After he had passed away, I think we were just talking about what we could do to honor him given the contributions he made in Saudi Arabia and the contributions he made while he was here,” said John Watkins, chair and professor of the electrical engineering and computer science department.

Faculty and staff have worked since the beginning of June to name and dedicate the electrical engineering and computer science lounge in Jabara Hall in his honor.

“It is a very visible place where people can see the contributions that he made,” Watkins said.

A plaque with Al-Arbash’s name, photo and a statement describing his contribution to humanity will be visible for anyone who enters the lounge, said Royce Bowden, dean of the College of Engineering.

Kumar also hopes to put up a bulletin board with newspaper clippings and pictures to preserve Al-Arbash’s memory.

In order to seek approval for the room dedication, a letter was sent to university President John Bardo. Part of the letter read:

“This justification per the policy is that Jaleel gave his life serving the public and has been recognized regionally and nationally in both Saudi Arabia and the United States for doing so. Honoring his extraordinary contributions in this way is fitting so that current and future Wichita State students, faculty and staff will know of his commitment to preserving life and prosperity.”

A ceremony to unveil the plaque is set for 3 p.m. Dec. 11 in Room 255 of Jabara Hall.

Kumar, Watkins and a student will speak during the dedication, and Bowden will unveil the plaque.  

“Part of the timing of this is that this is right before graduation, and he will also be honored at graduation,” Watkins said.

Two days after the dedication, Al-Arbash will be remembered during the fall commencement ceremony at 2:30 p.m. Dec. 13 in Charles Koch Arena.

Kumar said it was a unanimous vote by the electrical engineering and computer science faculty to award Al-Arbash with a posthumous degree.

According to the policies and procedures handbook, “to be eligible for a posthumous degree an undergraduate student must be degree-seeking and typically within 30 hours of completing the bachelor’s degree.”

“We would be proud to have him as one of our recorded graduates,” Bowden said. “It is an honor to receive a degree via that matter.”

Al-Arbash’s family from Saudi Arabia received a formal invitation to both events.

Bowden said the family has applied for visas and is waiting for approval to come.

Kumar spoke recently with Al-Arbash’s cousin, who she will have again next semester in class.

“He (the cousin) was saying that Jaleel would always want to do something different,” Kumar said. “His cousin told me that he would try to keep himself fit and everything so that he could protect people.”

Kumar’s office is next to the student lounge, and she looks forward to making sure students know Al-Arbash’s story.

“It’s important to have role models in your life so you don’t lose the big picture,” Kumar said. “I mean, you are all here to study and everything, but there is something beyond that.”

Light flooded in through a large tree with red and gold leaves from the six square windows in the student lounge. Students sat quietly, preparing for final exams.

“I think that room will do a lot.” Kumar said. “So I think it’s a great way to keep telling the story.”