As the 2024–2025 academic year came to an end, Sakıp Sabancı Anatolian High School celebrated its graduation ceremony. During the event, the top-ranking graduates were honored with the prestigious Sakıp Sabancı Education Awards.
Launched in 1994 by the late Sakıp Sabancı to encourage academic achievement among youth, the Sakıp Sabancı Education Awards have been organized annually under the auspices of the Sabancı Foundation. This year, once again, the tradition continued without interruption. The top three graduates of Sakıp Sabancı Anatolian High School were awarded monetary prizes equivalent to a total of 50 gold Cumhuriyet coins.
The awards and certificates were presented during the ceremony attended by Sabancı Holding Board Member Melisa Sabancı Tapan, Sabancı Foundation General Manager Nevgül Bilsel Safkan, and Principal of Sakıp Sabancı Anatolian High School Yücel Çilingir. Hacer Nisa Ayhan, who ranked first in her class, received 25 gold Cumhuriyet coins, while second-place graduate Elif Nur Sorkun received 15, and third-place graduate Bedirhan Beşaltı received 10.
"Sakıp Sabancı Anatolian High School is a living symbol of Sakıp Sabancı’s commitment to education."
Speaking at the ceremony, Nevgül Bilsel Safkan, General Manager of the Sabancı Foundation, said: “For over 50 years, the Sabancı Foundation has contributed to education, culture, and social development throughout Türkiye. Today, we have more than 120 permanent philanthropic works across the country. Among them, Sakıp Sabancı Anatolian High School has always held a very special place for us—not only because of its name, but because it stands as a living symbol of the late Sakıp Sabancı’s deep commitment to education. Sakıp Sabancı firmly believed that investment in education was the most valuable kind of investment. In line with his vision, we recently added a sports hall and art studios to the school at the beginning of this academic year, supporting students in their holistic development. Since 1994, the Sakıp Sabancı Education Awards—his legacy to us—have continued to reward the top graduates of this school. While encouraging academic achievement, we are also keeping Mr. Sabancı’s mission in education alive.”
"We left a mark today for the youth who will walk here a hundred years from now."
One of the most special moments of the day came with the placement of a time capsule in the school garden ahead of the ceremony. Nevgül Bilsel Safkan shared:
“Just before today’s graduation ceremony, we marked a very special moment. Together with Melisa Sabancı Tapan, members of the teaching staff, and students of Sakıp Sabancı Anatolian High School, we placed a time capsule in the schoolyard, leaving a message for the young people who will walk here a hundred years from now.”
Sakıp Sabancı’s strong belief in education continues to support successful youth
This year, 163 students graduated from Sakıp Sabancı Anatolian High School, one of Türkiye’s most well-established and distinguished high schools. As in previous years, the top three graduates who achieve the highest university entrance scores (YKS) will be awarded the “Sakıp Sabancı Achievement Scholarship” for the duration of their undergraduate studies. Additionally, students who score among the top 20,000 nationally in any YKS category and are admitted to Sabancı University with a 50% scholarship will be eligible for full tuition exemption—granted to the top three students with the highest placement scores.
