29/06/2011
735 graduate from Sabancı University
The commencement ceremony for the 12th undergraduate and 9th graduate classes of Sabancı University took place on Saturday, June 25th at the Sabancı University campus. 11 doctorate, 129 master’s and 595 bachelor’s students received their diplomas. Among this year’s graduates were international students from 12 countries, namely the United States, Germany, Albania, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Palestine, India, Iran, Egypt, Russia and Ukraine.
Video: The commencement ceremony
Speaking at the ceremony, Sabancı University Board of Trustees Chair Güler Sabancı told the graduates, “You will be creating the new and contemporary Turkey.” Güler Sabancı spoke about the recent elections, saying, “The first and foremost task to be undertaken by the new parliament will be to prepare Turkey’s first civilian constitution.” Sabancı argued that the voters had done their duty, and that it was now the elected who should act.
The closing lecture was delivered by Presidential Grand Prize in Culture and Arts 2010 laureate and Harvard University faculty member, Ottoman history expert Professor Cemal Kafadar, titled “Our Region, Our Neighbors and Us.”
The 12th undergraduate and 9th graduate classes of Sabancı University graduated on Saturday, June 25th, 2011. The new graduates took their diplomas at the commencement ceremony held on campus with more than 5000 in attendance. Honors students received their prizes at the ceremony. The Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences Honors went to Ömercan Yüksel, the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Honors to Semih Üslü, and the School of Management Honors went to Buse Büket.
In addition to Sabancı University Board of Trustees Chair Güler Sabancı and President Professor Nihat Berker, speaking at the ceremony were Olena İzhak on behalf of graduate students and Veysel Süleyman Sönmez on behalf of undergraduate students. Sabancı University Alumni Association President Tunç Acarkan gave a speech to the new alumni.
Another event during the ceremony was the presentation of commemorative bricks to representatives from ALSTOM and GES Elektrik, the two corporations that support the university together with the Sabancı family and the Sabancı Foundation, helping to extend scholarship opportunities to 20 additional students in the next academic year.
“Sabancı University stays true to its path to achieve its goals for the next decade.”
Sabancı University Board of Trustees Chair Güler Sabancı began her speech by telling how seeing so many young and bright people together raised her hopes for the future, precisely at a time when the role the growing and developing Turkey will play in the region and the world in general was under debate. Saying that the almost five thousand Sabancı University alumni were beginning to take leadership positions in the business world, Güler Sabancı noted that for the first time, Sabancı University graduates took positions within the faculty this year.
Referring to her speech at the commencement last year, Güler Sabancı revisited the 10-year goals of Sabancı University, and said that the institution was on the right path to realize these goals under the leadership of President Nihat Berker.
Güler Sabancı said that the Sabancı University Nanotechnology Research and Application Center (SUNUM), which will be officially inaugurated in the coming weeks, would host groundbreaking research in nanotechnology and have an impact on all aspects of life.
Also mentioning the international cooperation efforts at Sabancı University, Güler Sabancı cited the MIT Sloan School of Management cooperation, joint programs with the Central European University, and the upcoming initiative with the German Mercator Foundation as examples. Güler Sabancı said that Sabancı University was among the top recipients of international research funds for projects.
Güler Sabancı explained that research on global issues was an ongoing effort at Sabancı University, and that they were aware of their responsibilities towards not only the near region, but to the world in general. In this respect, Sabancı said that they supported the new initiatives by the Istanbul Policy Center, and established the Istanbul International Climate and Energy Center.
“You will be creating the new and contemporary Turkey”
Addressing the young graduates, Güler Sabancı said, “At times, you may be faced with difficult choices. That is when you should remember your university and the universal values we attempted to impart you, including the power of knowledge, human rights, gender equality, free thought and respect for the individual. Remember what you have learned here, the values you gained, and the role models you knew.”
Güler Sabancı continued, “With the values you gained at Sabancı University, you will contribute to the society as its visionary citizens. Always remember the state of mind you are in now. Success means happiness, and the greatest happiness will come through contributing to your communities. The ideal individuals of our time are sensitive to human rights, responsible for the environment, and have sustainability at the center of their lives. Your courage will come through these values. You will be creating the new and contemporary Turkey.”
“The first and foremost task to be undertaken by the new parliament will be to prepare Turkey’s first civilian constitution”
Discussing the recent elections, Güler Sabancı said that a voting rate of 87% and a representation rate of 95% made for a very satisfactory parliament.
Güler Sabancı said, “The first and foremost task to be undertaken by the new parliament will be to prepare Turkey’s first civilian constitution. This new constitution must be focused on the individual and include the values I have just mentioned. Turkey needs a truly liberal and democratic constitution that is focused on the citizen and prioritizes individual rights and freedoms. This is the key to solving all of Turkey’s issues. Instead of debating over every individual issue and making solutions more difficult to implement, we must work towards a higher goal: to build a new, modern and civilian constitution. Everyone has responsibility. The voters did their duty, and it is now the elected who should act.”
Four graduates received Gürsel Sönmez Awards
Awards established in memory of the late Sabancı University faculty member Gürsel Sönmez, who passed away in 2006, were also given at the commencement ceremony. Winners of the Dr. Gürsel Sönmez Research Awards this year were Yalçın Yamaner from the Electronic Engineering Doctorate Program, Nilay Duruk Mutlubaş from the Mathematics Doctorate Program, İbrahim Muter from the Industrial Engineering Doctorate Program, and Halit Erdoğan from the Computer Science and Engineering Graduate Program.
The hat toss was followed by live music by Ayhan Sicimoğlu and dance shows. Sabancı University Board of Trustees Chair Güler Sabancı took to the dance floor and shared the merriment with the students.
Closing lecture by Cemal Kafadar on “Our Region, Our Neighbors and Us”
The closing lecture for graduates this year was delivered by Presidential Grand Prize in Culture and Arts 2010 laureate and Harvard University faculty member, Ottoman history expert Professor Cemal Kafadar, titled “Our Region, Our Neighbors and Us.” Kafadar discussed the interaction of humans with their natural and historical environment and surroundings.