Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU) Faculty of Education produced 1500 graduates at the end of 2015-2016 academic year, and another important step was taken in lighting the way for new generations.

The graduation ceremony organized on the synthetic turf in the Campus was held with the participation of Rector Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Akan, Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Sevilhan Mennan, Director of National Education in Samsun Province Coşkun Esen, Faculty of Education Dean Prof. Dr. Yavuz Bayram, faculty deans, academicians, students and their families.

The ceremony during which 1500 students graduated from 12 departments within the scope of Daytime Education and Evening Education Programs of the Faculty of Education was held in two sections in the morning and afternoon. The ceremony started with the speeches of candidate teachers ranking first in the Faculty from Daytime Education and Evening Education Programs.

Yağmur Sarıusta, graduating from the Program of Guidance and Psychological Counseling and ranking first in the Evening Education Program, expressed her feelings about the graduation as follows: “This is not the end; instead, this is a new beginning which enables us to transfer our knowledge that we have gained at this university to the new generations. Today, we are leaving this university as teachers who have completed their missions and who are ready to educate new generations. Today, we will throw our caps just like the seeds which will turn into beautiful flowers, and we will head for different directions. I hope we manage to light the way for new generations in the direction determined by our Great Leader, Atatürk”.

Sema Kutlak, graduating from the Program of Education of the Mentally Challanged and ranking first in the Daytime Education Program, stated: “Today is the day when relay race is passed on to us. Being conscious of our responsibility, we give a promise with you and on behalf of you in the presence of our guests, our history and our nation: we will not let the honor of the Teachers be violated and we will not permit the fallen-down of this holy flag”.

Prof. Dr. Yavuz Bayram, the Dean of the Faculty of Education, speaking after the top students of the Faculty, reminded the heavy responsibilities of teachers as well as the holiness and reputation of this profession, and he remarked: “If we expect to receive respect from our students, families and society, we have to work sincerely in order to show the self-devotion deserving this respect. Now that opportunity knocks the door of the one who is ready, then we should be prepared to get those opportunities. Encourage your students to read books; but do not advise them to read if you don’t read. Instead of giving advices to your students, try to become positive role models for them”.

Rector Hüseyin Akan firstly thanked all academic and administrative staff making efforts in this process. Rector Akan emphasized that we live in an era during which the concepts such as “competition” and “success” are considered to be blessed, and he addressed the candidate teachers as follows: “For example, a physician can treat a patient or give harm to him. The teachers, on the other hand, may cause the destruction of a generation or they may turn them into rightminded people. Therefore, the professional responsibility of the teachers is bigger than others. I wish that our new teachers will be determined to become useful for other people and to do everything with patience and high attention. I hope you will get the chance to practice your professions as soon as possible and you will live in health and peace from now on. May God speed you”.

Vice Rector Sevilhan Mennan started her speech by remarking: “I am the daughter of an educator, a primary school teacher”, and she continued as follows: “I don’t see the teaching merely as a profession. Teaching is the indicator showing that you will become a role model throughout your lives. I wish you success in your future life, and I hope that your students will be glad about you just as we are now. Today is the day of pride and gain for families. I also congratulate your families and thank them since they have sent you to OMU”.

After the speeches, the students ranking top in Daytime and Evening Education Programs received their plaques and presents. Top three students of the Daytime Education Program are Sema Kutlak, graduating from the Department of Education of the Mentally Challanged and ranking first in the Faculty, Neslihan Vuruş, graduating from the Department of Education of the Mentally Challanged and ranking second in the Faculty, and Merve Maraz, graduating from the Department of Psychological Counseling and Guidance and ranking third in the Faculty.

Top three students of the Evening Education Program are Yağmur Sarıusta, graduating from the Program of Psychological Counseling and Guidance and ranking first in the Faculty, Hayrünnisa Kan, graduating from the Department of Education of the Hearing Impaired and ranking second in the Faculty, and Aslı Gökdağ, graduating from the Department of Preschool Education and ranking third in the Faculty.

Full gold coins are given to the students ranking first, half gold coins to the ones ranking second and quarter gold coins to the ones ranking third as well as tablet computers. Rector Hüseyin Akan gave the certificates of achievement and the presents to the students ranking first in the Faculty. The students ranking second received their certificates and presents from Coşkun Esen the Director of National Education in Samsun Province, and the students ranking third received the certificates from Vice Rector Sevilhan Mennan.

The ceremony continued with the distribution of diplomas and certificates to all graduates. The graduate teachers did not forget Menşure Özdemir who was a student of the Faculty of Education and who died in a tragic car accident and other students who lost their lives, as well. The graduates remembered them with mercy and gratitude, and they left balloons to the air for them.

The graduates celebrated their graduation by throwing their caps into the air.