Students of Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU) Faculty of Communication and Çarşamba Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, who successfully completed their studies during the 2025–2026 academic year, celebrated their graduation at a ceremony held at the Mustafa Kemal Güneşdoğdu (MKGD) Campus.

This year, the Faculty of Communication graduated a total of 174 students: 36 from the Department of Journalism, 41 from the Department of Radio, Television and Cinema, 70 from the Department of Public Relations and Publicity, including the evening education program, and 27 from the Department of Communication and Design. The Çarşamba Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences graduated 21 students from the Department of History.

The ceremony was attended by Çarşamba District Governor Mehmet Kamil Sağlam, Çarşamba Mayor Attorney Hüseyin Dündar, OMU Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Çetin Kurnaz, Dean of the Faculty of Communication Prof. Dr. Onur Bekiroğlu, Dean of the Çarşamba Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Prof. Dr. İbrahim Serbestoğlu, Samsun Regional Director of the Press Advertisement Agency Nedim Engin, Samsun Regional Director of the Presidency of Communications Ebu Bekir Ayrancı, Çarşamba District Director of Youth and Sports Turgay Ekşi, protocol members, academics, graduates, and their families. The graduation ceremony began with a moment of silence and the Turkish National Anthem, followed by the protocol speeches.

"Three of Our Students Will Continue Their Education in Russia"

Speaking at the ceremony, Dean of the Çarşamba Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Prof. Dr. İbrahim Serbestoğlu shared the faculty's vision and expectations for its graduates. Expressing his pride in graduating 21 students, Serbestoğlu said:

"Three of our graduates will continue their education in Russia with Russian Government Scholarships. In fact, the Russians established the Institute of Turkology 200 years ago and began studying Turkish history, language, and culture. However, when we look at the present day, we see that we do not know our neighboring and friendly country, Russia, well enough. For this reason, one of our faculty's main priorities is to train specialists in the Russian language and Russian studies in order to help fill this gap for our country. I would especially like to thank our esteemed faculty member, Professor Cumhur, for his tremendous support in achieving this strategic goal."

Emphasizing that the faculty places importance not only on academic knowledge but also on character education, Dean Serbestoğlu addressed the graduates with the following words:

"Our primary goal is to become good people, to educate good people, and to help you meet good people throughout your lives. Within the framework of the law, and provided that you can account for your actions, you are completely free to express any idea, ideology, or behavior. I wish you every success on your journey through life."

Dean Bekiroğlu Thanks Those Who Contributed to Education

Speaking at the 10th Graduation Ceremony, Dean of the Faculty of Communication Prof. Dr. Onur Bekiroğlu said:

"Without a doubt, the greatest share in making this day possible and in bringing our students' university education to a successful conclusion belongs to their families. In return for the dedication and sacrifices of both our students and their families, our students have successfully completed four years of university education.

Within its means, the Çarşamba Municipality has provided every possible support to us and continues to do so. This is especially important because communication education is both theoretical and practical in nature. Therefore, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Çarşamba Municipality and our Mayor, Mr. Hüseyin Dündar.

Our Rectorate has supported us wholeheartedly in both academic and administrative processes through a highly transparent system of shared decision-making and collective wisdom. I would also like to thank them for their continuous support.

Newspapers, communication, and media organizations throughout Samsun have always stood by us as valued stakeholders. The Regional Directorate of the Presidency of Communications and the Regional Directorate of the Press Advertisement Agency have organized numerous events at our faculty, enabling our students to meet journalists and gain valuable professional experience. As the institutions where many of our graduates will pursue their careers, they have generously shared their expertise with us. I would like to sincerely thank our journalists and the regional directors of these institutions.

Above all, I would like to respectfully commemorate with gratitude and appreciation our philanthropic benefactor, Mustafa Kemal Güneşdoğdu, who donated almost his entire fortune to our university, enabling the establishment and development of this higher education campus. In a sense, he planted a sapling and nurtured it until it took root and flourished."

"Our University Is One of Türkiye's Distinguished Institutions of Higher Education"

Speaking about the 50-year history and distinguished reputation of Ondokuz Mayıs University, OMU Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Çetin Kurnaz said:

"Ondokuz Mayıs University is one of Türkiye's distinguished institutions of higher education, having completed its 50th year. During these fifty years, with its 19 faculties, 13 vocational schools, and research centers, it has become one of the country's most respected universities.

Mr. Mustafa Kemal Güneşdoğdu dedicated his entire fortune to this educational institution with a clear vision and a meaningful purpose. I attach special importance to being on this campus because I witness the dedication and support invested here every day.

In this regard, I would especially like to thank the people of Çarşamba through their Mayor, Mr. Hüseyin Dündar.

You are now ready for life beyond the university. The time has come for you to leave the nest. I wish you every success in the next chapter of your lives."

"I Have Been Both a Participant in and a Witness to the Development of Higher Education in Çarşamba"

Çarşamba Mayor Hüseyin Dündar said:

"A man named Mustafa Kemal Güneşdoğdu once lived on these lands. We remember him with mercy, gratitude, and respect. As our Vice Rector has mentioned, our university is one of the major higher education institutions in Türkiye, celebrating its 50th anniversary.

Throughout these fifty years, and particularly since 2004–2005, I have been both a participant in and a witness to the development of higher education in Çarşamba.

Mustafa Kemal Güneşdoğdu, after whom this campus is named, was a philanthropist and a dentist in Çarşamba who devoted virtually all of his wealth to the construction of the Faculty of Law, the Faculty of Communication, classrooms for the Faculty of Medicine on the main campus, and many other projects at our university.

This campus came into existence thanks to his generosity. Today, it has grown into a higher education campus where the Faculty of Communication and the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences are graduating their students.

I would also like to acknowledge the remarkable achievements of our Faculty of Communication, which has continuously strengthened its relationship with both the city and the community since its establishment while sustaining an upward trajectory of success. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Dean Prof. Dr. Onur Bekiroğlu and his dedicated and hardworking team.

Since its establishment, our Faculty of Communication has consistently maintained this success. Although our Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences may not yet have reached the desired level in terms of size, it has achieved significant success through the quality of its academic work.

I wish all of the graduates of our faculties every success in their future lives."

"The Future of Our Country Is Proportional to the Strength of Our Youth"

Speaking at the ceremony, Çarşamba District Governor Mehmet Kamil Sağlam stated that the campus is not merely a collection of faculty buildings but also a place where students spend time beyond their academic activities.

"The future of our country is proportional to the strength of our youth. The stronger, more dynamic, and more committed our young people are to our national values and to believing in the future, the more confidently we can look ahead as a nation.

We firmly believe that the graduates of both of our faculties will make meaningful contributions to the future of our country.

I would also like to congratulate the parents of our graduates for their invaluable support."

"From Today Onward, New Doors Are Opening for All of Us"

Speaking on behalf of the graduates as the valedictorian of the Faculty of Communication, Beytullah İnce said:

"It is a great honor for me to address you from this podium today.

During our four years at the Faculty of Communication, we did not simply learn a profession; we also learned how to understand the world, interpret people and events, and express ourselves effectively.

Today, each of us leaves this campus equipped with these skills to write the next chapter of our own story.

I would like to thank my family, who have always supported me, and our esteemed professors, who broadened our vision throughout this journey.

From today onward, new doors are opening for all of us. I wish each of you every success in your careers as you embark on this new chapter of your lives.

May our paths always be open, and may good fortune accompany us."

"The Department of History Taught Us to Understand People Rather Than Simply Memorize the Past"

Speaking on behalf of the students of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Çarşamba, Rümeysa Şahin said:

"As students of the Department of History, we have spent years among books, archives, documents, and ideas. At times, we sought to understand the rise of an empire; at others, we questioned why societies change. In truth, throughout this entire process, it was we ourselves who experienced change.

The diplomas we receive today are the result of the collective efforts of all of us. More than teaching us to memorize the past, the Department of History taught us to understand people, because history is not merely the sum of past events, it is also the sum of human stories."

Following the speeches, Beytullah İnce, valedictorian of the Faculty of Communication, Merve Gökyer, salutatorian, and Beyza Yıldız, ranked third, received their certificates of achievement and awards from Çarşamba District Governor Mehmet Kamil Sağlam, Çarşamba Mayor Hüseyin Dündar, and OMU Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Çetin Kurnaz.

Certificates of achievement and awards were also presented to the top graduates of the Department of History at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Çarşamba: Emre Yılmaz, valedictorian; Muhammet Mustafa Önder, salutatorian; and Cömert Kütük, ranked third. The awards were presented by Çarşamba District Governor Mehmet Kamil Sağlam, Çarşamba Mayor Hüseyin Dündar, and OMU Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Çetin Kurnaz.

Çarşamba Mayor Hüseyin Dündar, OMU Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Çetin Kurnaz, Dean of the Faculty of Communication Prof. Dr. Onur Bekiroğlu, and Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Çarşamba Prof. Dr. İbrahim Serbestoğlu also visited the exhibition prepared by fourth-year History student Mehmet Kibar as part of his TÜBİTAK research project titled "Observing the Municipality Through the Local Press: Urban Transformation in Çarşamba in Local Newspaper Coverage."

The ceremony concluded with the graduates taking the graduation oath led by Dr. Lecturer Onur Şen, followed by the traditional cap-tossing ceremony.