Selçuk Yaşar Award, conferred each year in the name of Selçuk Yaşar who has an exceptional place in Turkey’s business, cultural, educational and sportive activities owing to his pioneers and principles and with the aim to bring his mission to the future, were presented to their owners. At the ceremony held for the first time this year, a sophisticated scientist, Prof. Dr. Aytül Erçil was awarded for her works inspiring young entrepreneurs and Tekfen Holding Founder Ali Nihat Gökyiğit was awarded for his outstanding studies on social innovation.
Selçuk Yaşar Award, initiated in cooperation with Yaşar University and Selçuk Yaşar Foundation of Sports and Education with the aim to celebrate and publicize the successful works of the brave people targeting social benefits and future of Turkey, were presented to their owners at a ceremony held in Çırağan Palace on February 7th, Thursday.
Selçuk Yaşar Award, whose 2019 theme was determined as “persons or institutions performing outstanding entrepreneurial and innovative projects and as a consequence play an important role in the recognition and development of Turkey”, were presented to the sophisticated scientist Prof. Dr. Aytül Erçil, who has integrated both her academic and entrepreneurial titles, for her works inspiring young entrepreneurs and to Tekfen Holding Founder and a sophisticated businessman Ali Nihat Gökyiğit for his outstanding studies on social innovation.
Awarding Committee, led by Ahmet Yiğitbaşı-Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Yaşar University-, comprised of Allianz Insurance Chairman Cansen Başaan-Symes, Vice Rector of Kadir Has University Prof. Dr. Nihat Berker, Yaşar University Faculty Member Prof. Dr. Arif Hepbaşlı and Dr. Yılmaz Argüden.
“We work with the vision of being innovative and sustainable on a global scale”
Yaşar University Rector Prof. Dr. Cemali Dinçer held the opening speech of the night, hosted by Ece Vahapoğlu. Dinçer, who stated that the pioneering and valuable businessman, Founder and the Honorary Chairman of Yaşar University Selçuk Yaşar have always emphasized the role of education for national development added that: “Yaşar University has worked hard, realized various investments and sustained its development. Thanks to this belief of Selçuk Yaşar, our university has developed both qualitatively and quantitatively. We have introduced new departments and programs in line with the needs of our age. We act with the mission of being a university that adopts science, art and design culture and contributes to the development of society both locally and globally. Yaşar University keeps working with the vision of being an innovative and sustainable university on a global scale.”
“We shall keep working in the light of our main principles of Science, Unity and Success”
“We shall keep working in the light of our main principles of Science, Unity and Success”
Yaşar University Chairman of the Board of Trustees Ahmet Yiğitbaşı who stated that principles of Science, Unity and Success held a very important place throughout the life of Selçuk Yaşar further added that: “Defending that the most basic element of development and progress is education, Mr. Selçuk Yaşar has participated with a great excitement in the foundation of many educational institutions. We have initiated Selçuk Yaşar Award, with the collaboration of Yaşar University and Selçuk Yaşar Foundation of Sports and Education, with the aim to sustain the values that Selçuk Yaşar, the founder of our university and our foundation has adopted as a principle throughout his life. In this context, we aim to encourage exemplary and pioneering people and institutions that contribute to the economic, technological, scientific, artistic and cultural developments, initiatives and innovations of our country.”
“Selçuk Yaşar shared his pride”
Another speech of the night was performed by Yaşar Holding Vice Chairman Feyhan Yaşar. Feyhan Yaşar, who stated that Selçuk Yaşar was able to shrink his life motto in three words, namely: science, unity and success, further added that; “These three words meet the criteria of entrepreneurship and innovation for which we are proud to present the award today. Today, we came together to present the Selçuk Yaşar Award. Selçuk Yaşar asked me to share with you his happiness and pride about this award which reflects his entrepreneurial personality and his belief in innovation and delegated me to express his heartfelt congratulations to the winners.
“When you say businessman in İzmir, everyone shall remind of Selçuk Yaşar”
Following the speeches, the message of Koç Holding Board of Directors and Honorary President Rahmi Koç, who could not attend the ceremony personally was shared with the guests. The message of Rahmi Koç included the following statements about Selçuk Yaşar: “Having started his professional life by mixing paint in the courtyard of a tiny shop, my dear friend, Mr. Selçuk Yaşar, transformed the business incorporated by his honorable dad into an empire and further the biggest and most dynamic holding of İzmir. When you say businessman in İzmir, everyone shall remind of Selçuk Yaşar.”
“Our country will rise in the hands of young Selçuk Yaşars
Another speech of the night was performed by Eczacıbaşı Group Chairman, Bülent Eczacıbaşı. Having stated that he was very happy to participate in the award ceremony, Eczacıbaşı said that; “Yaşar Family adds a new one to its pioneers. I also find it very meaningful that the theme of this first award is entrepreneurship. Selçuk Yaşar was a person who put entrepreneurship and innovation at the core of his life. There is no limit to the achievements of a dynamic society that adopts a strong vision. I believe that this award, which shall be presented to its first owners, will encourage the entrepreneurs who have the same dream as Selçuk Yaşar. Our country shall rise in the hands of young Selçuk Yaşars. They will act with the responsibility of achieving something in the name of their country.”
“I am very proud to receive the very first of this Award”
After Bülent Eczacıbaşı’s speech, the names deemed worthy for Selçuk Yaşar Award were announced. Scientist Prof. Dr. Aytül Erçil expressed her feelings about this Award with the following wording:
“I am very proud to receive the very first of this Award granted to visionary and entrepreneurial people. I think that the information age we are in requires producing new data and transforming it into innovative services in order to compete. We need to create products with added value. It should be transformed particularly in universities. Selçuk Yaşar refers to dreaming in his book. The first step to entrepreneurship is to dream. I hope that this award shall be inspiring for value-adding initiatives.”
“I am so proud!”
Tekfen Holding Founder Ali Nihat Gökyiğit said that: “Receiving an award is always a pride and encouraging. It is also very important who initiated the award and on behalf of whom it is initiated. I am the first winner of this Award initiated by Yaşar University, on behalf of Selçuk Yaşar. We find Selçuk Yaşar in every aspect of industry, education, art, sports and social responsibility. He has never neglected social responsibility. He was one of the active founders of TÜSİAD. I have been entitled to receive the award that has been initiated on behalf of such a precious friend. I am so proud and I will try my best to express my gratitude. I hereby express my gratitude and respect to those who have deemed me worthy to receive this award.”
About Selçuk Yaşar Award
Selçuk Yaşar Award was initiated by Yaşar University in collaboration with Selçuk Yaşar Foundation for Sports and Education in order to sustain the values that Selçuk Yaşar has adopted as a principle throughout his life and to encourage exemplary and pioneering people and institutions that contribute to the economic, technological, scientific, artistic and cultural developments, initiatives and innovations of our country. The 2018 theme of Selçuk Yaşar Award was determined as “Persons or institutions performing outstanding entrepreneurial and innovative projects and as a consequence play an important role in the recognition and development of Turkey.” The key factors while determining the theme were the works in the field of “R&D, innovation and entrepreneurship” as well as the concepts of “Globalization”, “Learning by Doing and Living” and “Cooperation with the Environment” embedded in Yaşar University Strategic Plan.
