Shab El Awar grew up in poverty in Lebanon. He survived a civil war and emigrated from Lebanon in 1978. He became a U.S. citizen in 1986, receiving his B.S. from Chico State University and his Master's degree in Structural Engineering from Long Beach State. He is married to Dr. Bricia with whom he has four grown children and six grand children.He works as a private real estate investor, and joined Rotary in 1997. He has served in many district positions including multiple Foundation and International Service roles, and was District Governor in 2014-15.
Shab has engaged in over 550 Global Grants, has been on over 50 missions including a National Immunization Day.
He is a member of the ARCH Klumph Society at the Platinum Trustees Circle Level, and donates to the Peace Centers sponsoring one Peace Fellow each year.
At the Rotary International level, Shab has served as International Service Chair Champion, District Resources Network and on the Foundation Cadre of Technical Support.
In 2019-22, he served on the Board of Directors for Rotary Action Group For Peace, on the RI committee to promote the Houston International Convention. Chair for Global Council For Peace Ambassadors, Founder of Rotaract For Peace. At the Zone level, Shab has served on the Governors-Elect Training Team.
He is a recipient of RI's Service Above Self Award, the Recipient of the Humanitarian Award of the year from MANNA Foundation in 2017 and Recipient of the Humanitarian Award of the year from the Black Culture by Foundation in 2018.