Wichita State student killed in Saudi Arabia bombing to receive posthumous degree

A Wichita State University student who was killed trying to stop a suicide bomber will receive an honorary degree, and a room in Jabara Hall on the campus will be named for him, WSU officials said in a statement on Thursday

Abduljaleel "Jaleel" Alarbash, 22, was an electrical engineering student. He died in May when he tried to stop a suicide bomber from entering a mosque in Alarbash’s native Saudi Arabia.

"He set a very high standard that we should all strive to follow," said John Watkins, chairman of WSU’s electrical engineering and computer science department, in the WSU statement. "It's clear that he touched numerous lives. If I had a chance, I would thank him for the huge positive impact he made on this world. I am extremely proud to call him a Shocker."

Alarbash had gone home to Saudi Arabia to get married. He planned to come back to WSU in the fall to continue his education.

His posthumous degree will be awarded in WSU's fall commencement ceremony at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Koch Arena, WSU officials said.

This story was originally published December 10, 2015 at 2:43 PM with the headline "Wichita State student killed in Saudi Arabia bombing to receive posthumous degree."