2018-2019 Spring Term graduates of the Faculty of Sports Sciences of Near East University have received their diplomas with a glorious ceremony held at Hall 4 of NEU Grand Library.

The Directorate of Press and Public Relations Office of Near East University released that a total of 79 graduates from 3 different departments of the Faculty of Sports Sciences received their diplomas with a glorious ceremony held at Grand Library Hall 4. NEU vice Rector Assistant Professor Murat Tüzünkan, NEU Secretary the General Associate Professor Yeter Tabur, faculty members, students and their parents attended the graduation ceremony.

The graduation ceremony began with a moment of silence in memory of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, Turkish Cypriot Leader Dr. Fazıl Küçük, Founding President Rauf Raif Denktaş and all martyrs. Following the National Anthem, Near East University Dance Group took the stage with dance shows accompanied by R&B hip hop song written and composed for Near East University. Then, the faculty's top scoring graduate Salih Adakan delivered the opening speech of the ceremony.

He expressed the pride of being graduated from Near East University...
"I am honored and proud of delivering the opening remarks of the ceremony ob behalf of my graduate friends. We all have acquired very valuable knowledge, experiences and skills from our prominent teaching staff here. I would like to take this opportunity and to express our gratitude to all of them for equipping us not only with professional knowledge, skills and ethics but also with many humanitarian values regarding life. We are experiencing the right pride and privilege of being a graduate of a prominent world brand educational institution like Near East University. I would also like to extend our endless appreciations to our parents, who have never left us alone on this route" said he.

Prof. Dr. Mehtap Tiryakioğlu: "Your Profession is your own child whom you should take good care of, feed and raise well..."
Expressing her views, Professor Mehtap Tiryakioğlu, the Dean of the Faculty of Sports Sciences, stated that she firmly believed that the young people who graduated from the departments of Physical Education Teaching, Coaching Education and Sports Management under the guidance of an elite and experienced academic staff would fulfill their professions and show success by staying in a line worthy of Near East University.

"Dear graduates, the value of your profession will surely mature and increase thanks to your personal creativity, confidence in yourself, superior communication skills in the professional field and keeping up with the scientific and technological innovations of the era. From now on, your profession is entrusted to you; your profession is your own child that you need to take good care of, feed and raise” noted she.

It should be your mission to raise new generations, who adopt free and straight thinking and sports as a lifestyle...
Referring to the great leader Atatürk's saying "I like the sportsman, who is smart, nimble and equipped with moral values", Professor Tiryakioğlu underlined the crucial role of some factors such as respect in profession, devotion, professional skills and ethics, and professional seriousness and dignity in achieving success regardless the field of profession. “Your education that you received so far and your new profession open you the biggest gateway to pursue your dreams and establish a brilliant career. It should be your mission to raise new generations, who adopt straight thinking, and sports as a lifestyle and who are capable to shape the future through their innovative, creative and fresh ideas. To hear about your accomplishments will make us happy. I embrace each of you with love and wish you a bright and successful future. Stay well" said she.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tüzünkan: “Our goal is to raise individuals who have the vision of predicting the needs of future generations in the field of sports…”
In his opening remarks, NEU vice Rector Associate Professor Murat Tüzünkan highlighted Near East University's commitment to ensuring quality education in the light of science via contemporary methods.

"Faculty of Sports Sciences, which is the educational ground of many successful professionals engaged in sports, has taken it as its fundamental mission to raise well equipped professionals, who adopt 'lifelong sports' and who are capable to raise physically and mentally healthy generations. The overriding goal of the faculty is to raise qualified human resources capable to address the needs of the sports community and pave the way towards a better future through their fresh and creative ideas. The Faculty of Sports Sciences, which set out with the aim of raising qualified personnel and directors needed in the field of sports science, which has a rapidly developing and growing importance, attaches great importance on raising teachers, who are equipped with professional knowledge, skills and ethics required to implement courses concerning physical education and sports sciences, address the needs of the individuals, society and the field, but also creative and problem-solving sports directors and coaches, who are capable to serve in many fields such as sports organizations, sports industry, sports facilities, sports marketing and sports economy” noted he.

Underlining that the availability of high-standard equipped sports centers, recreation spaces, Olympic swimming pool and many clubs engaged in sports within the campus of the university made them different from the other institutions, Associate Professor Tüzünkan stated that Near East University, which has become an important reference point in the field of education and science in Cyprus and across the world, has left her mark on by becoming the champion both in men and women categories many competitions regarding athletics, basketball, volleyball, handball, cycling, chess, badminton, darts, tennis, swimming and wrestling.

“We will follow your future success with pride and honor...”
Dear students, you are closing a page and opening a new one in your lives. Trust yourselves; the Faculty of Sports Sciences of Near East University raised you in the best way. I am firmly sure that you will be the pioneers of the innovation regardless in which circumstance you are in. We have no doubt that you will open new horizons and pave the way for Turkish sport towards much better points by replacing the obsolete methods with your creative ideas and outstanding projects” noted he.

Indicating that they were proud of their students, Tüzünkan expressed his views: "I wish that your success will inspire the students who will graduate after you. Your every success in your working life will elevate Near East University more and make us happy and proud" said he.

Following the speeches, NEU vice Rector Assoc. Prof. Dr. Murat Tüzünkan presented medals and their diplomas to the faculty's top scoring graduates. Then, the faculty members presented their diplomas to all graduates. The graduates experienced the graduation joy by throwing their caps.