The Rector of Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University (BEUN) Prof. Dr. İsmail Hakkı Özölçer was awarded the Platinum Certificate and Platinum Medal—among the highest distinctions of the Turkish Red Crescent— for his strong contribution and exemplary leadership in BEUN’s blood donation campaigns carried out regularly and sustainably over the past three years.
Turkish Red Crescent President Prof. Dr. Fatma Meriç Yılmaz, Chief Advisor to the Minister of Interior Prof. Dr. Ergün Yolcu, BEUN Rector Prof. Dr. İsmail Hakkı Özölçer, General Director of Blood Services Selami Kılıç, and executives of the Turkish Red Crescent attended the award ceremony held at the Turkish Red Crescent Headquarters.
During the ceremony, Turkish Red Crescent President Prof. Dr. Fatma Meriç Yılmaz presented the Platinum Certificate and Platinum Medal to Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University Rector Prof. Dr. İsmail Hakkı Özölçer in recognition of BEUN’s strong contributions to blood donation campaigns carried out over the past three years.
It was stated that within the scope of the institutional blood donation campaigns organized consecutively for three years, BEUN facilitated more than 2,500 units of blood donation each year, reaching a total donation volume exceeding 7,500 units. This meaningful achievement was considered as a concrete indicator of the university’s exemplary, conscious, and sustainable approach to blood donation.
President Prof. Dr. Yılmaz: “The sensitivity demonstrated by BEUN through the contributions of Rector Özölçer is extremely valuable”
Speaking at the award ceremony, Turkish Red Crescent President Prof. Dr. Fatma Meriç Yılmaz stated that Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University’s support for blood donation campaigns as an institutional donor is highly appreciated and said:
“The support of institutional donors is of vital importance in ensuring the supply of blood and blood products that our country continually needs. The high level of sensitivity and sustainable contribution demonstrated by Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University over the past three years is extremely valuable. I would like to thank our Rector, Prof. Dr. İsmail Hakkı Özölçer, and the esteemed university family for this exemplary awareness, and I hope that their support for the Turkish Red Crescent will bring hope to all humanity.”
Rector Özölçer: “Blood donation is one of the most noble responsibilities that touches human life”
Following the presentation of the Platinum Certificate and Platinum Medal, BEUN Rector Prof. Dr. İsmail Hakkı Özölçer stated that this meaningful award is a great source of pride on behalf of the university family and expressed the following remarks:
“Blood donation is one of the most noble and meaningful responsibilities, directly touching human life and carried out without expecting anything in return. As Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University, alongside education and science, we act with an understanding that places social benefit at its core, and together with our students and academic and administrative staff, we attach great importance to sustaining and spreading this awareness. The blood donation campaigns we conduct in cooperation with the Turkish Red Crescent are among the strongest reflections of our university’s vision of social responsibility.
The Turkish Red Crescent is a well-established institution that has adopted goodness as its guiding principle, bringing hope not only within our country but also to oppressed regions around the world living under the shadow of war, disasters, and poverty. Being a part of this sacred mission that places human dignity at its center and contributing to this chain of goodness is a great source of pride for us. With these feelings and thoughts, I would like to express my gratitude, particularly to the President of the Turkish Red Crescent, Prof. Dr. Fatma Meriç Yılmaz, and to the entire Turkish Red Crescent family for their kind appreciation and for their work that brings hope to humanity. I would also like to sincerely thank the President of the Turkish Red Crescent Zonguldak Provincial Center, Kürşat Yağız, his esteemed management team, and the Young Red Crescent Zonguldak administration for their meaningful contributions and strong cooperation, as well as for their dedicated efforts and constant support throughout this process. I wholeheartedly thank my valued colleagues and dear students whose efforts played a role in our being deemed worthy of this highly valuable award. As the Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University family, we will continue with determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Turkish Red Crescent in all areas that strengthen social solidarity, touch human life, and multiply goodness—especially blood donation—and to pass this awareness on to future generations.”
The Platinum Certificate and Platinum Medal award ceremony concluded with the exchange of good wishes and a commemorative photograph.
