The Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University (BEUN) 2025–2026 Academic Year Graduation Ceremony of Çaycuma Vocational School and Çaycuma Food and Agricultural Vocational School was held with great enthusiasm and excitement. Graduates of these two well-established vocational schools, which provide qualified human resources for Türkiye’s production, agriculture, food, energy, and service sectors, received their diplomas after years of hard work and dedication and took their first steps into a new chapter of their lives.
The ceremony, held at Çaycuma City Stadium, was attended by Çaycuma District Governor Adem Kaya, BEUN Rector Prof. Dr. İsmail Hakkı Özölçer, Çaycuma Mayor Bülent Kantarcı, Chief Public Prosecutor of Çaycuma Doğukan Orhan, Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Servet Karasu, Secretary General Prof. Dr. Zehra Safi Öz, senate members, academic and administrative staff, students, and their families.
The program began with a moment of silence in memory of the nation's revered martyrs and the singing of the Turkish National Anthem. The ceremony was enlivened by a folk dance performance unique to the Zonguldak region, while students and families who filled the stands experienced an unforgettable graduation celebration. The program continued with speeches delivered by the valedictorians of both vocational schools.
Emotional Farewell and Messages of Gratitude from the Valedictorians
Tülin Kazdal, valedictorian of Çaycuma Food and Agricultural Vocational School and a student of the Food Quality Control and Analysis Program, shared her joy of graduation in her speech and stated that her achievement was made possible through the great support of her family, academics, and friends. Emphasizing that university years provided them not only with professional knowledge but also taught them to take responsibility, work together, overcome challenges, and view life from different perspectives, Kazdal thanked Rector Prof. Dr. İsmail Hakkı Özölçer for his efforts and support for students and congratulated all graduates.
Following her speech, Yunus Emre Artuç, valedictorian of Çaycuma Vocational School and a student of the Civil Aviation and Cabin Services Program, stated that success is the result of intense effort and determination and noted that every challenge he faced had prepared him for this day. Expressing that his family played a major role in his success, Artuç thanked Rector Prof. Dr. İsmail Hakkı Özölçer, the vocational school administration, and the academics who supported them throughout their educational journey, and congratulated his fellow graduates.
Rector Özölçer: “We Are Sending Off a Strong Generation That Will Contribute to the Century of Türkiye”
Taking the podium to deliver his speech on the meaning and importance of the day, Rector Prof. Dr. İsmail Hakkı Özölçer addressed the graduating students with the following remarks:
“As Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University, we take pride in the joy of having educated tens of thousands of graduates since our establishment. How fortunate we are that today we have the honor of sending off 560 distinguished graduates who have completed their education at our Çaycuma Vocational School and Çaycuma Food and Agricultural Vocational School to their new lives. When I look at you today, I do not see only individuals preparing to receive their diplomas. I see young people who produce through knowledge and add value to the future through their hard work. In you, I see a strong generation that will contribute to the Century of Türkiye in many fields, from agriculture and food security to civil aviation, and from energy to social security. I sincerely believe that our young graduates, especially those from the Offshore Drilling Technology and Offshore Seabed Applications Technology programs, will make significant contributions to our national energy initiative, and I take great pride in this.
With these thoughts, I congratulate all our graduates and wish them health, success, and happiness in the next chapter of their lives.”
