On Saturday, June 18th, 2016, Sabancı University will hold the commencement ceremony for its 17th graduate and 14th undergraduate classes.
The commencement ceremony will be attended by Founding Board of Trustees Chair Güler Sabancı, Members of Board of Trustees and President A. Nihat Berker, who will join our graduates, parents and faculty members for celebration.
Awards in honor of the late Sabancı University Faculty Member Gürsel Sönmez, who passed away in 2006, will be presented at the ceremony.
The hat toss will be followed by live music entertainment by Ayhan Sicimoğlu.
Posts sent to #sumezuniyet16 hastag on Twitter and Instagram will be projected onto screens during the cocktail on the SGM patio. Graduation stories will be posted on Sabancı University’s Snapchat account (Sabanciuniv). Graduates will have the chance to have souvenir photos taken in the Kutumubu photo booth.
The ceremony may be viewed live on commencement.sabanciuniv.edu specifically for this occasion.
Dress code at the Rehearsal, Closing Lecture and Commencement Ceremony is gown for faculty members, and cap and gown for prospective graduates.
Closing lecture by Nebahat Akkoç
Graduation events include the “Academic Year Closing Lecture,” given to the commencement class, their parents and all Sabancı University members, one day before the ceremony. This year’s lecture will take place on Friday, June 17, 2016 and the lecturer will be Nebahat Akkoç, the founder of KAMER.
After the lecture, Akkoç will join the graduates for the traditional laying of the alumni brick.
About Nebahat Akkoç:
She was born in Bingöl in 1955. She received primary education in Hazro and Silvan districts of Diyarbakır. After primary school, she went to “Mardin Girls Teaching Elementary School” as a boarder. As part of the East-West Amalgamation move in 1970, she had to finish her teaching education in “Manisa Mardin Girls Teaching Elementary School”. She completed an associate degree program in Eskişehir Anadolu University while teaching. She taught several schools in villages, districts and city centrum of Diyarbakır for 22 years.
She became an activist in TÖB-DER (Teachers Association Foundation of Turkey), an organization that was active until 1980.
She was the chairperson of Diyarbakır branch of EĞİTİM-SEN (Education and Science Workers’ Union) between 1990-1993. Afterwards, she became a member of the General Executive Board of the Human Rights Association (İHD). She functioned as the Regional Representative during her service. In 1994, she joined Democratic People’s Party (DEP) as a substitute member for four months.
She began actively engaging in women’s studies in 1996. She founded KAMER (Women’s Center) in 1997. Initially founded as a company, KAMER was restructured as KAMER Foundation in 2005 to generalize its endeavors. She founded various centers to fight for women’s human rights in 23 provinces of South-Eastern and Eastern Anatolia.
She has been carrying out the “Every Woman Deserves An Opportunity” program since 2005. This program aims to provide every woman from all provinces, districts and villages with an opportunity to escape from violence by recognizing women’s traditional roles to make a difference.
Published:
“Diyarbakır KAMER’ in Kuruluş Hikâyesi ve Yürüttüğü Çalışmalar” 90’larda Türkiye’de Feminizm. Istanbul: İletişim Publishing, 2002.
Grup Çalışması İçin El Kitabı KAMER, 2003
Alışmayacağız! – KAMER, 2003
“Keşke Dememek İçin – KAMER, 2004.
Suçlu Kim? KAMER, 2005.
İstersek Biter KAMER 2006 Fark Ederek Çoğalmak İçin (Şiddet Çalışma Yöntemleri el kitabı)
Awards:
2015 - Anne Klein Women’s Award – H. Böll Foundation
2008 - Social Entrepreneur of the Year (Ernst & Young)
2007 - Human Rights Award – Social Democracy Foundation (SODEV)
2006 - Legion d’ Honneur Medal
2005 - Mevlana Peace Award
2004 - The Ginetta Sagan Award – Amnesty International
2003 - “Heroes of Our Time” Award – Time Magazine
2002 - Success Price – Rotary Club
2002 - Success Price – Lions Club
2000 - Ashoka Fellowship
Ceren Belge’s biographical interview book “OHAL’DE FEMİNİZM Nebahat Akkoç Anlatıyor” was published by Ayizi Publishing.
Events Schedule:
Friday, June 17, 2016
09:15-10:30 Registration for the commencement rehearsal and march formation (Behind the Amphitheater)
10:30-11:45 Ceremony Rehearsal (Amphitheater)
11:45-12:30 Graduation Class Group Photo Shoot (Amphitheater)
12:00-13:00 Lunch with 2015-2016 graduates
13:00-14:00 Closing Lecture of the 2014-2015 Academic Year – Lecturer: Nebahat Akkoç (SGM)
14:00-14:15 Laying of the Alumni Brick (Alumni Pier)
16:00-17:00 Treats (SGM)
Saturday, June 18, 2016
18:30-19:00 Reception
19:00-21:15 Ceremony (Amfitiyatro)
21:30-23:00 Treats (SGM-Behind the Sports Center)
For the details of the programme please visit commencement web site: commencement.sabanciuniv.edu/en