The first graduates of the Faculty of Fine Arts at Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU) have enjoyed the graduation with the ceremony held at OMU Stage.

The ceremony started with the slide show of the graduates; Rector Prof. Sait Bilgiç, Prof. Metin Eker, Dean of Faculty of Fine Arts, various faculty deans, academicians, students and families participated in the ceremony.

After the performance, Günay Orak, a student in the Department of Visual Communication Design, gave a speech on behalf of the graduates. Orak, who stated that they were experiencing the joy of being the first graduates and the sadness of graduating, wished her friends to succeed in their future life.

"We have become a family in 4 years"

Giving a speech at the graduation ceremony, Assoc. Prof. Ali Tomak, Head of the Department of Visual Communication Design, stated that the students were happy because they completed their education as skilled individuals having vocational knowledge and that they were proud of the fact that the faculty and the department took part in the national and international platforms and that they continued to develop. Assoc. Prof. Ali Tomak underlined that they became a family in 4 years, and he remarked: “You are not only our graduates, but also members of our family. We will not forget you as our first graduates. We are waiting for you to strive to develop your knowledge and skills.

"We will establish new departments in our faculty"

Prof. Eker gave information about the establishment process of the faculty and the departments, and he mentioned the new departments planned to be added to the Faculty in the upcoming periods. Eker said: “We have proposed to the Council of Higher Education the opening of the department of animation arts with the recommendation of Mr. Rector. We also plan to establish new departments such as art and design”.

"We are the fastest growing faculty in the region"

Prof. Metin Eker underlined that they were the fastest growing faculty in the region, and he stated that the main factor resulting in this success was their location in a campus combining the art with culture and design.

Dean Prof. Metin Eker concluded his remarks by saying: "I wish Allah’s mercy on all martyrs who protect their homeland by sacrificing their lives and giving us the opportunity to make this ceremony. I wish you would not forget these sacrifices.”

"You are the delegates of this faculty as the first graduates"

Rector Prof. Bilgiç pointed out that being the first graduates of the Faculty also gave them a mission and responsibility, and he stated: “you are the delegates of this faculty as the first graduates. Your future successes and ideas about the faculty will ensure that the future students will choose this faculty”.

At the end of his speech, Rector Prof. Sait Bilgiç presented a certificate of achievement and flowers to Züleyha Yaman ranking first in the Faculty.  Prof. Metin Eker, Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts, gave the certificate of achievement to Emirhan Aksu ranking second in the Faculty, and Assoc. Prof. Ali Tomak, Head of the Department of Visual Communication Design, presented the certificate of achievement to Ayşe Turhan ranking third in the Faculty.

The graduation ceremony ended with the concert of Bahadır Sağlam.

Story: Çiğdem ÜNALDI

Photography: Sinan AKDOĞAN