The '2026 YKS Istanbul Champions Gathering' was organized by the Istanbul Governor's Office and the Istanbul Provincial Directorate of National Education. The program held in Istanbul was attended by Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey Prof. Dr. Numan Kurtulmuş, Istanbul Governor Davut Gül, Baykar Chairman of the Board Selçuk Bayraktar, the champion students and their families.
In his speech, Istanbul Governor Davut Gül announced the good news that all 701 gifted students who became champions in this year's YKS will receive scholarships throughout their education. 'OUR YOUTH ARE CONFIDENT' Speaking at the program, Speaker of the Grand National Assembly Prof. Dr. Numan Kurtulmuş said, 'Our youth have become confident. Now, if we ask these 701 champions in this hall about any subject in defense technologies, 'Can you do this?'
not one of you would answer 'We can't.' This is more important than all the educational accumulation you have received. One without self-confidence cannot trust themselves. One who does not trust themselves cannot trust the nation and cannot benefit humanity. Your achievements further strengthen our nation's self-confidence building,' he said. İbn Haldun University (İHÜ) Deputy Chairman of the Board of Trustees Bilal Erdoğan, Rector Prof. Dr.
Atilla Arkan and academics came together with students attending TercihFest 2026 at a dinner. Speaking at the program held at the İHÜ Campus in Başakşehir, Bilal Erdoğan stated that the university aims to become one of the world's centers of excellence and research in the field of social sciences.
Noting that the world is going through a tumultuous, unpredictable, and conflict-ridden period where things have gone awry, Erdoğan expressed the need for leading thinkers who can offer new perspectives to humanity and produce solutions to the crises and problems societies face.
Erdoğan said there is a need for academics who will raise new generations with a very different notion, and emphasized the need for people of ideas who have such mastery that they can inspire young people again through the books, articles, and speeches they write. Bilal Erdoğan continued his words as follows: '21.
We need people of ideas, people with ideals, who will offer hope to the world of the 21st century, to the world awaiting us.' Stating that by intellectual independence he does not mean closing oneself off, Erdoğan said they aim to raise thought leaders who will shape the 21st century by mastering the accumulated knowledge from the past and the literature of today's world.
Meanwhile, Bilal Erdoğan met with young people on the second day of the Human Rights Training Camp, organized for the third time this year by the AK Party Headquarters Human Rights Department in Kocaeli. Erdoğan made evaluations on current issues and matters concerning the youth. He spoke, saying, 'It further strengthens.'
GOLDEN ADVICE: Baykar Chairman of the Board Selçuk Bayraktar also gave the following advice to the youth in his speech: Life is about believing and struggling. Keep your faith and struggle alive. Be brave and listen to the voice of your conscience. Never forget your roots, where you came from, and the prayers of the soil from which you sprouted. What makes us who we are, what keeps us standing tall on this land, are the ancient values of our civilization.
Be willing to work to the utmost of your limits, to make sacrifices, to go without sleep. No wind is of any use to a ship without a course and a destination. Have an ideal in life, a KIZILELMA of your own.
