Celebrating its 20th anniversary, Kastamonu University held the 2025-2026 Academic Year Graduation Ceremony on June 15, 2026, at Emin Baydil Sports Field with a large turnout. In this meaningful year, which symbolizes the twenty-year accumulation and development of our university, more than four thousand students experienced the pride of graduation during the ceremony, while their families, our academic and administrative staff, and the guests also shared in this excitement.
The ceremony, hosted by our Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Hamdi Topal, was attended by Kastamonu Governor Meftun Dallı, Kastamonu Members of Parliament Fatma Serap Ekmekci and Halil Uluay, Kastamonu Mayor Hasan Baltacı, representatives from public institutions and organizations, protocol members, our Vice Rectors Prof. Dr. Mehmet Atalan and Prof. Dr. Selahattin Kaymakcı, and Acting Secretary General Assoc. Prof. Dr. İbrahim Demirbaş, our academic and administrative staff, our students, and their families.
The graduation ceremony began with a procession of our graduating students. This year, the students of the Faculty of Medicine, who graduated for the first time, also took part in the parade and shared the excitement of graduation. After the moment of silence and the reading of the National Anthem, the program continued with a speech by Elif Yeşiller, the top graduate of our university from the Faculty of Education.
Expressing her happiness at being at the top of the university after four years of hard work, the top student, Elif Yeşiller, said, "This success does not belong to me alone." First of all, I would like to thank all our teachers who have always guided us and selflessly shared their knowledge and experience, especially my advisor. I would also like to extend my heartfelt thanks to our families, who have been with us at every stage of our lives and have given us strength with their sacrifices. Because when we are tired, you are the ones who motivate us, when we fall, you are the ones who hold our hands, and you are the ones who take more pride in our successes than we do. Without a doubt, you are the greatest stakeholders of this success as well."
After his speech, Yeşiller engraved his name on the graduation age tree, carrying his success into the future.
Later, our Rector, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Hamdi Topal, stated that the graduation of the students is not only an individual success but also an important indicator of the twenty-year journey of accumulation, development, and success at Kastamonu University.
In his statement, thinker Nurettin Topçu stated, "If the temple is the heart of the nation, the university is its brain." If colleges do not build this oneness, they will become a divisive force, generating interests and causing internal deterioration. Recalling the words, "If universities do not become the founders of this unity, it will become a divisive force, creating interests and thus gnawing from within," our Rector stated that our University, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, has gained respect both nationally and internationally due to its quality-first approach, strong academic staff, student-centered education understanding, and societally beneficial projects.
Emphasizing that our university is advancing with determination toward its goal of becoming a prestigious and successful higher education institution, our Rector stated that new academic programs have been launched in recent years, educational areas have been developed, and technological infrastructure suitable for current needs has been established.
Our rector also stated that significant efforts were made to improve sports facilities, social and cultural spaces, and living areas to provide higher-quality opportunities for students, academic, and administrative staff.
Our Rector, who also spoke about the role of academics in students' upbringing, said, "The achievements of our graduates today are a manifestation of your efforts and guidance." I would like to express my gratitude to each of you, on behalf of myself and our university, for this sacred duty you carry out with your academic competence and moral responsibility. He expressed his gratitude on behalf of me and our university. Stating that the contributions of the administrative staff, who are by the students' side at every stage of university life, are of great importance, our Rector said, "I would like to express my appreciation to our administrative staff, who support our students with their efforts and dedication in many areas, from social and cultural activities to physical and technological infrastructure, and from cleanliness to security, throughout their academic life at our university."
Highlighting the sacrifices of families, our Rector expressed his gratitude by stating that families who raise their children with love, face all kinds of difficulties, and are their biggest supporters throughout their educational lives, are the most important stakeholders in this success.
In his speech addressed to the graduating students, our Rector stated that they are at an important turning point in their lives, saying, "Your diploma is certainly valuable; it is a symbol of years of hard work and academic success." However, know that this document does not reflect your personality, manners, ethics, worldview, or values. Your real education, which will continue throughout your life, begins now. Success is measured not only by titles or status, but also by kindness, gratitude, and the positive values you contribute to life. He addressed the youth with his words.
At the end of his speech, our Rector congratulated all the graduates and wished them a life filled with health, happiness, and success.
Following our Rector, Kastamonu Mayor Hasan Baltacı, who took the floor, stated that the students who come to Kastamonu from different cities of Anatolia and continue their education here add significant value to the city.
Expressing his pleasure at sharing the joy of graduation with students and their families, Baltacı wished all graduates success in their new lives.
Later, Kastamonu Deputy Fatma Serap Ekmekci, who took the podium, stated that the students who had lived in Kastamonu throughout their educational lives had now become part of this city and thanked them for the value they had added to the City. In his speech addressed to the families, he said, "We have protected and watched over the trust as if it were our own eyes, and with God's permission, we are handing it over to you today." May God be pleased with all of you for the effort, love, and respect you have given to your children. I wish you all a lifetime of the warmth of a child. He used the expression.
Reminding that this year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of Kastamonu University, Ekmekci thanked everyone who contributed to the establishment of the university and its progress to this day, saying, "I pray for the souls of our fellow citizens who have passed away and thank those who are still alive for their efforts to crown our ancient educational center, Kastamonu, with a university."
"Dear esteemed administrators, faculty members, staff, and all stakeholders of our university, you deserve all the appreciation and congratulations for the knowledge you impart to your students, the contributions you make to the world of science, and the support you provide to Kastamonu. I thank you from the heart," he concluded his speech. Ekmekci congratulated the graduating students and their families and wished them success in their new lives.
After the speeches, the awards were presented to the students who graduated with honors from Kastamonu University. The first at the university, the graduate of the Faculty of Education, Department of Classroom Teaching, Elif Yeşiller, received her award from the Governor of Kastamonu, Meftun Dallı. The second in the university, Saja Mutasem Nimer Esthaya, a graduate of the International Relations Department of the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, was presented with her award by Kastamonu Deputy Halil Uluay. This year, two students shared third place at the university, and the award was given to Zeynep Çığlıoğlu, a graduate of the Faculty of Education, Primary School Mathematics Teaching, by Kastamonu Deputy Fatma Serap Ekmekci. The third-place award was given to Selin Yalçın, a graduate of the Faculty of Science and Literature, Department of Psychology, by the Mayor of Kastamonu, Hasan Baltacı. The award was presented to Alııa Mınıurbekovna Suıubetkova, who ranked first in the Turkish Language Teaching Application and Research Center (TÖMER), by our Rector, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Hamdi Topal. After the award and achievement certificates were presented, the protocol members and the students who ranked took a group commemorative photo to mark the day.
The first part of the program concluded with the graduates throwing their caps into the air with great enthusiasm. After the cap-throwing ceremony, the graduation program continued with the presentation of medals to students who achieved success in various disciplines at the 20th Student Sports Games.
