In her commencement speech, our Founding Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Güler Sabancı said, "We are experiencing a very unique graduation excitement on the 20th anniversary of our university. Changing a great deal in our lives, 2020 has been a very memorable year indeed. We are going through an unprecedented and extraordinary experience that could only happen once in a century. During this process, we have been managing these extraordinary circumstances so that we can get on with our lives without further delay and fulfill our responsibilities to the best of our ability. In 20 years, our university has achieved many historic firsts, and today, it is holding Turkey's first-ever comprehensive online commencement. So, you all are making history."
Celebrating its 20th anniversary, Sabancı University held the first-ever comprehensive and well-attended online commencement in Turkey. To protect the health of its students and their families as part of COVID-19 measures, Sabancı University made the decision to hold an online commencement, which took place on Saturday, June 20, 2020 and was live-streamed on the university's website as well as on social media platforms.
Featuring video messages from the alumni, graduating students and faculty members of Sabancı University, the ceremony also marked this year's faculty valedictorians awarded with a special prize, which is awarded annually and funded by the Sakıp Sabancı Fund as per Sakıp Sabancı's will. Osman Berke Güney was the Valedictorian of the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Seham Hakmi was the Valedictorian of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, and Denizalp Aybak was the Valedictorian of Sabancı Business School.
In her speech during the online commencement, the Founding Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Sabancı University, Güler Sabancı said, "We are experiencing a very unique graduation excitement on the 20th anniversary of our university. Changing a great deal in our lives, 2020 has been a very memorable year indeed. We are going through an unprecedented and extraordinary experience that could only happen once in a century. During this process, we have been managing these extraordinary circumstances so that we can get on with our lives without further delay and fulfill our responsibilities to the best of our ability. In 20 years, our university has achieved many historic firsts, and today, it is holding Turkey's first-ever comprehensive online commencement. So, you all are making history."
WITH COVID-19, YOU HAVE LEARNED TO BE SOLUTION-ORIENTED AND NEVER TO PUT OFF LIFE
Güler Sabancı said, "Some events in history are so significant that they divide our narrative into two: 'before' and 'after'. COVID-19 seems to be one of those events" and added:
"Many aspects of life as we know it are changing and evolving. Once again, health has become the utmost priority in our lives. Our responsibilities towards one another are much more crucial than ever. We once again see the importance of cooperation, solidarity, resilience, adjusting to different circumstances, being solution-oriented, and looking after our world. Therefore, we wanted to hold our commencement without any delay so that you can receive your well-deserved and hard-earned degrees and set sail to a new future as soon as possible."
Stating that the class of 2020 has weathered a tough storm and earned their degrees in such challenging times ridden with anxiety and concern, Güler Sabancı addressed the graduating students: "I have great admiration for your ability to use technology and your competence in creating and sustaining a brand-new world. In today's world where access to information is much higher and technology is much more advanced, I fully believe that you are equipped to take firm steps guided by the light of science and will do a better job of steering the future than we have. With the extraordinary conditions created by COVID-19, you have learned at a rather young age the importance of health and family, how to adjust to different circumstances, how to be resilient and solution-oriented, and never to put off life. The experiences you have acquired during the many challenges of 2020 will make you stronger in life and turn out to be an advantage in years to come."
"ALTUNIZADE CITY CAMPUS WILL BE AN EDUCATION HUB"
Stating that Sabancı University has been in a momentous and comprehensive breakthrough process in the last couple of years and has completed the academic year with no loss during the COVID-19 pandemic thanks to the implementations that have set an example for other universities, the President of Sabancı University, Yusuf Leblebici added, "Our university is by far the leading university among all the Turkish universities featured in world rankings. We are proud to be one of the top universities in Turkey thanks to the quality and uniqueness of our education programs as well as our research outputs demonstrating our contributions to the world of scholarly activity. Our Altunizade City Campus will soon begin serving our students and it will prove to be an education hub where the latest digital learning tools and resources will be used. In addition, with the opportunities offered by the new studio building of our Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, we are hoping to open up new horizons for the talented students of visual arts."
In memory of the ceremony, a special model sailboat carrying the names of the graduating class of 2020 was also released into the lake on the campus.