Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU) Faculty of Theology celebrated the graduation of 320 students during its 2025–2026 Academic Year Commencement Ceremony.

The 40th Graduation Ceremony, held at the OMU Life Center, began with a moment of silence, the Turkish National Anthem, and a recitation from the Holy Qur’an.

The event was attended by Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Ayşe Pınar Sumer, Dean of the Faculty of Theology Prof. Dr. Faruk Sancar, Vice Deans Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bekir Özüdoğru and Dr. Elif Sobi, Director of the OMU Distance Education Center Dr. Hasan Atsız, as well as academics, graduates, and their families.

Vice Rector Sumer: “We need individuals who can unite knowledge and wisdom”

Addressing the graduates, Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Ayşe Pınar Sumer emphasized that graduation represents not only the completion of a degree but also the acceptance of significant responsibilities.

“After years of dedication and perseverance, you are graduating today. Beyond earning a profession, you are entering a new stage of life as individuals who have embraced ethical values, social responsibility, compassion, and justice. In today’s world, access to information is easier than ever, but what society truly needs are individuals who can combine knowledge with wisdom and use it for the benefit of humanity. You have been educated as capable individuals who will contribute to the spiritual, moral, and cultural development of society while strengthening unity and solidarity.”

Dean Sancar: “Graduation is the beginning of a new journey”

Dean of the Faculty of Theology Prof. Dr. Faruk Sancar described graduation as both the completion of an educational chapter and the start of a new life journey.

He noted that university education provides more than a diploma, enriching students through friendships, experiences, and personal growth. Emphasizing that theological education is not only about acquiring knowledge but also about understanding humanity, seeking wisdom, and pursuing truth, Sancar stated that graduates leave the university not as people who have found all the answers, but as individuals capable of asking the right questions.

Highlighting the Faculty’s more than half-century tradition of scholarship and service, Sancar reminded graduates that they are now the new representatives of this legacy.

“A diploma is not merely a certificate of academic achievement. It is also a trust that carries wisdom alongside knowledge, ethics alongside professional competence, and responsibility alongside authority.”

He encouraged graduates to become individuals who inspire trust and add value wherever they serve, regardless of their future professions.

Valedictorian Bilici: “This diploma is not a destination, but a new beginning”

Class valedictorian Armağan Bilici reflected on the significance of graduation and lifelong learning.

“We have reached the end of a five-year journey that we walked together. Yet the diplomas we receive today are not a destination but rather the beginning of a new chapter. We are representatives of a civilization that encourages lifelong learning. For that reason, there is no graduation date for the pursuit of knowledge. I would like to thank our esteemed professors who taught us not only knowledge but also morality, character, and proper conduct. As we leave here today, I believe we will carry the values this faculty has instilled in us throughout our lives.”

Following the speeches, certificates of achievement were presented to graduates by department heads and faculty members.

The ceremony concluded with graduates receiving their certificates, reciting the graduation oath, tossing their caps into the air, and celebrating the occasion with their families.