Kerem Başol
Mathematics, Valedictorian – Class of 2024
Good morning! Dear Koç University family and esteemed guests, I warmly greet you all with my most sincere feelings, welcome to you all! I am honored to be here with you today and to speak on behalf of the class of 2024.
As I meet you as the valedictorian of the class of 2024, I see this as an opportunity to share a principle and a guide that I have adopted throughout my life and will continue to carry with me after graduation.
Over the past 4-5 years, while we were attending university, we were often told what we needed to do. We had assignments with deadlines, exams we needed to study for, and projects we had to finish on time. And we were obligated to complete these tasks. However, today it is time to chart our own course! Now we have more freedom regarding what we want to do and what we will do. At this point, we have dozens of different options and hundreds of different doors ahead of us. From now on, it is our duty to carefully evaluate these and choose what is "right" for us, whatever that right may mean, and however we define success and happiness.
I firmly believe that all the decisions we will make and the choices we will pursue will be accurate only if we draw our inspirations directly from the realities of life. As the great genius Atatürk stated nearly a century ago, "In the world, the truest guide for everything, for material, for spiritual, for life, and for success, is science." Inspired by this, I hold the torch burning with the fire Prometheus defied the gods to steal, and in light of these words, I hope it guides us all.
On this occasion, as I bid you farewell today, I feel obliged to thank the Koç Family for making all these opportunities possible for us, my family who supported me unconditionally, our esteemed faculty members, my friends, and lovers whom I crossed paths with at the university, and additionally, all the staff who contributed greatly to the school's order.
Dear graduates of 2024, it was an honor to study with you, I wish you all happiness and health in life. I extend my graduation congratulations to each and every one of you, please accept them. Thank you!
Mete Erdoğan
Electrical and Electronics Engineering & Computer Engineering, Valedictorian – Class of 2024
Dear Koç University Family, Esteemed Guests, Respected Professors, Dear Fellow Graduates, and Beloved Families, Welcome to You All.
After a long and challenging six-year undergraduate education due to preparatory and double major programs, I am greatly honored and proud to address you today as one of this year's top graduates of Koç University. First and foremost, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to all my esteemed professors, especially those in the Electrical and Electronics and Computer Engineering departments, who have always supported me in my academic life and guided us with their knowledge and experience. The time I spent at Koç University has been invaluable not only academically but also for my personal development. I am confident that the diverse knowledge and skills I have acquired here, along with my competencies in technology and engineering, will guide me towards my future goals in this ever-changing world.
Today, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to those who have always been with me and deserve special thanks. To my family, who have been my support in every matter, both financially and morally, who have supported me in all my decisions, and who have helped me become who I am: my mother and father, my brother Artun, my grandmothers, my grandfather, and my uncle. Thank you endlessly for giving me strength in the face of difficulties, for being my biggest supporters at all times, and for the patience and love you have shown. And to my dear friends, the memories we have accumulated over the years, the long and challenging hours we spent in the library, and the experiences we shared are very precious to me. I grew, learned, and developed with each of you. The beautiful times I spent with you will remain unforgettable memories throughout my life.
During our educational journey, we all experienced disasters that deeply affected our lives, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the February 6th earthquake, which fundamentally changed our education, work, and social life. These events reminded us once again of the importance of solidarity and cooperation and how strong our social bonds need to be. While we celebrate our achievements today, we are actually on the brink of a new beginning. We have hopes, dreams, and, of course, some anxieties about the future. However, as Mustafa Kemal Atatürk said, "Those who decide to walk without rest never tire." Each of us is setting out to open new doors and achieve new successes on our own journeys. Along this path, we will always move forward by remembering the memories we learned and shared together.
I extend my sincerest thanks to all of you and wish you success in all your future endeavors. With love and respect.
Lila Naz Güneş
Psychology, Valedictorian – Class of 2024
Dear Koç University Family and Esteemed Guests,
I am deeply honored to stand before you today. Reflecting on my challenging, excellence-driven yet incredibly enjoyable four-year educational journey, I see that choosing Koç University over studying abroad was the best decision I could have made. It is a great source of pride to have received and successfully completed a world-class education in the field of Psychology, which has been my passion since high school. However, behind every outcome lies a struggle, and every struggle has its highs and lows. I cannot thank my parents enough for their unconditional love and support, and for their countless sacrifices for my education and happiness, even during my lowest moments. I am incredibly grateful to be your daughter and will continue to make you proud in the future. I also extend my heartfelt thanks to my esteemed professors who always expected the best from me, encouraged me to research, question, and use my creativity. Thanks to you, I have realized that I am capable of much more than I ever imagined. Lastly, I want to thank my friends, both inside and outside the university, who supported me throughout this educational journey. I am so glad to have you all in my life.
I always had a dream of what university life would be like, and Koç University has made that dream come true. As a graduate of Koç University, which is focused on research, productivity, and efficiency, I feel exceptionally competent and equipped as I move on to the next step of my journey towards my goals. I also pledge to always walk the path of education, culture, and knowledge laid out for the Turkish youth by our great leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.
Thank you very much.
