26/06/2012
Sabancı University has 602 new graduates in the 2011-2012 academic year
Sabancı University held a commencement ceremony for its 13th undergraduate and 10th graduate classes on Saturday, June 23rd, where 472 bachelor’s degrees, 118 master’s degrees and 12 doctorate degrees were awarded. Among graduates this year were international students from the United States, Germany, Albania, Palestine, Iran, Spain, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Jordan and the Turkish Republic of Cyprus.
Speaking at the ceremony, Sabancı University Board of Trustees Chair Güler Sabancı gave advice to new graduates and discussed the international alliances and future objectives of Sabancı University.
This year’s closing lecture was given by Republican People’s Party Deputy Şafak Pavey.
The 13th undergraduate and 10th graduate classes of Sabancı University received their diplomas with a commencement ceremony held on Saturday, June 23rd. The ceremony was held on campus in Tuzla with more than five thousand guests. The top-ranking students of the three faculties received their awards during the ceremony. These students were Beste Mutlu in the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Armanç Yıldız in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, and Sevda Baysal in the School of Management.
Speakers at the ceremony were Sabancı University Board of Trustees Chair Güler Sabancı and President Professor Nihat Berker as well as Zeynep Gülen Hashmi on behalf of graduate students and Emre Coşkun on behalf of undergraduate students.
Commemorative bricks were presented at the ceremony to Hüseyin Geliş representing Siemens Sanayi ve Ticaret Anonim Şirketi and Karl W. Lee representing SK Engineering Company, sponsors of Sabancı University other than the Sabancı Family and the Sabancı Foundation.
Güler Sabancı gave advice on life
Sabancı University Board of Trustees Chair Güler Sabancı addressed graduates in her speech, giving advice on various aspects of life. Güler Sabancı said, “Take care not to miss any valuable opportunities that life may bring you; do not fear change; some of the most important attributes your university instilled in you are liberal thought, freedom from prejudice and being open to different opinions and views. Be flexible; create and lead the change. Continue developing yourselves with a view towards the future, and think about how you can turn difficulties into opportunities instead of thinking about the difficult side of every opportunity. Take what you have gained from your university wherever you go.”
Güler Sabancı said that Sabancı University alumni will make a difference wherever they go, and reminded young people of the importance of having aims and goals: “If you don’t know what port you will be calling at, no wind is the right wind for you.”
Güler Sabancı discussed the objectives of the university
Güler Sabancı said that Sabancı University will continue to improve and be a pioneer in many fields both in Turkey and on international platforms.
Some of the objectives Güler Sabancı mentioned for Sabancı University were:
• Becoming an effective and successful center of excellence in nanotechnology research and application;
• More research and academic publications on global issues;
• New alliances with international research institutions and reputable universities to advance the generation of knowledge;
• Increasing the number of international faculty and students.
Güler Sabancı explained that the Sabancı University Nanotechnology Research and Application Center – SUNUM, which was inaugurated in July 2011, offers its scientific research facilities to all researchers in Turkey as well as the industry.
International alliances explained by Güler Sabancı
Güler Sabancı elaborated on the international alliances of Sabancı University. Speaking on the results of the alliance between the Sabancı University School of Management and MIT Sloan School of Management, Sabancı said that distinguished scholars are giving lectures at MIT and Sabancı University, and that these courses were being taken by Sabancı and MIT students together.
Güler Sabancı also spoke on the alliance between the German Stiftung Mercator and the Istanbul Policy Center for developing public policies, saying, “Work has begun on issues such as climate change, German-Turkish-European relations and education. More than 100 German students will attend courses on our campus this summer. Established to deliver on our responsibility for the planet, the Istanbul International Center for Energy and Climate has also begun working. We will have new projects with the MIT Energy Initiative. Our efforts continue for new alliances.”
President Nihat Berker: Time is the most valuable; work hard and play hard
Sabancı University President Professor Nihat Berker told graduates that they were embarking upon a journey to success, aided by their professional qualifications as well as their social abilities.
President Berker mentioned the achievements of the graduates during their years at the university, saying, “Our graduates proved to be high-achievers, building new materials and making inventions that make our lives easier. Be it the winners of the Technology Enterprise Capital prizes of the Ministry of Science and Industry, the budding entrepreneurs who transformed their business ideas to startup companies and took part in the industry, the promising young artists who proved their talents in art projects, every one of our successful students have the energy and commitment of Sabancı University behind them. There is no shortage of extraordinary stories in our school.”
Concluding his speech, President Berker said, “Commencement will take you to another crucial phase of your life. In ten to twenty years, you will see a vast diversity of opinions and thoughts among your fellow students. You will see that things that you enjoy doing will galvanize you against difficulties and improve your resilience. You will take pleasure from fighting against difficulties. The desire to succeed cannot simply be cast off. Be resilient and don’t lose your student spirit so you may start over or take a different path. Never forget that there is a lesson to be learned from everyone, wherever and whenever it may be. Time is the most valuable; work hard and play hard. The rest is just a loss of time. I wish you hope, happiness and pride in the path that you will choose.”
Three graduates received Gürsel Sönmez Awards
Endowed in the memory of the late Gürsel Sönmez, a Sabancı University faculty member who passed away in 2006, the Dr. Gürsel Sönmez Research Awards were presented at the commencement ceremony. Winners were Tolg Dinç from the Graduate Program in Electronic Engineering, Nurdagül Anbar from the Doctorate Program in Mathematics, and Zeynep Altıntaş from the Doctorate Program in Biosciences and Bioengineering.
The hat-toss was followed by a dance show and live music by Ayhan Sicimoğlu. Sabancı University Board of Trustees Chair Güler Sabancı joined the dance to share the excitement of graduation with the students.
Closing lecture by Şafak Pavey
This year’s closing lecture was given by Republican People’s Party deputy Şafak Pavey on “People and Inventions.”
