At the 2025-2026 graduation ceremony of Near East College, held at NEU Event Park, 108 students received their diplomas with great joy. Graduates, who have distinguished themselves with international academic achievements and successes in art and sports, were sent off on their journeys to prestigious universities in Cyprus, Europe, and the world, accompanied by the pride of their families and teachers.

The 2025-2026 graduation ceremony at Near East College was an unforgettable event where pride and farewell intertwined. At the graduation ceremony held at NEU Event Park, 108 graduating students, who received the reward for years of hard work, took their first steps into a new life amidst the applause of their families and teachers.

The ceremony, which began with a moment of silence and the singing of the National Anthem, featured opening speeches by Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Near East Enterprises, and Raif Ö. Asvaroğlu, Principal of Near East College. At the ceremony, valedictorian Hüseyin Başaran and runner-up Melis Taluğ also expressed their feelings on behalf of the graduating students.

During the evening, 12th-grade students were presented with IELTS achievement certificates, honoring their success in international language proficiency. Students were called to the stage according to their academic achievements and received their awards to the sound of applause. Students awarded the Dr. Suat Günsel Scholarship were specially congratulated and honored on stage. Then, all classes took turns receiving their diplomas. At the end of the ceremony, the students gathered in front of the stage, and the graduation celebration reached its peak with the throwing of their caps into the air.

A Legacy from Tradition to the Future…

One of the most meaningful parts of the ceremony was the traditional flag handover ceremony. The school flag was symbolically passed from the graduating students to the next generation, representing the continuity of the school culture and the transmission of values from generation to generation. The students were greeted with applause from the audience as they proudly handed over the flag.

During the emotionally charged evening, students received their graduation certificates and took to the stage to thunderous applause, while their teachers and families proudly watched this special moment.

Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel: “I see the future itself, not the young people waiting for it.”

Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Near East Enterprises, addressed the graduates, saying, “Looking at this place today, I don’t see young people waiting for the future; I see the future itself.” Emphasizing that Near East College is a well-established educational institution that brings together science, art, culture, and sports with its more than half-century of educational experience, Prof. Dr. Günsel stated that the students are educated in a multifaceted learning environment, integrated with the laboratories, research centers, museums, libraries, and sports facilities offered by the Near East University campus, which is among the top 500 universities in the world. He noted that the world, European, and Cyprus rankings achieved in Cambridge International and Pearson Edexcel exams demonstrate the academic quality of the institution. Günsel stated that achievements in sports and arts also develop aspects of students’ character, leadership, and resilience.

Noting that graduates will continue to receive acceptance from prestigious universities in Europe and around the world, as they do every year, Prof. Dr. Günsel emphasized that Near East University, which is among the top 500 universities in the world, and Kyrenia University, which has international prestige, offer strong future options. Expressing that they view education as a holistic, lifelong journey, Prof. Dr. Günsel thanked the teachers and families for their efforts and addressed the graduates with the words, “Don’t stop being curious, don’t give up questioning. Don’t stray from science, art, and reason. Set big goals for yourselves; we believe in you and we are proud of you.”

Raif Özdilek Asvaroğlu: “However, your greatest achievement is that you have grown into exemplary individuals with your character, determination, and stance.”

Near East College Principal Raif Özdilek Asvaroğlu said that the graduates are stepping into life not only with a diploma, but also as individuals equipped with the knowledge, skills, and universal values required by the 21st century. Asvaroğlu emphasized that the students have made their school proud with their achievements in international exams, including Cypriot, European, and world rankings, as well as their successes in sports, arts, and culture. He said, “However, your greatest achievement is that you have grown into exemplary individuals with your character, determination, and stance.”

Offering advice to the graduates regarding their future, Asvaroğlu noted that success is measured not by titles, but by honesty, diligence, kindness, and empathy. Expressing his belief that the students will emerge as individuals who will contribute to society in various professions in the future, Asvaroğlu concluded his speech by saying, “May your guide be science, and your light be our great leader Atatürk. May your path be clear, your luck abundant, and your hearts courageous.”

Hüseyin Başaran added: “Every success is built on support, encouragement, and trust.”

Near East College’s top graduate student for the 2025-2026 academic year, Hüseyin Başaran, stated that graduation is not only the end of high school education but also the first step towards new beginnings, adding that his success was possible thanks to the support of his family, teachers, and friends. Başaran expressed that his teachers guided him not only academically but in every aspect of life, and thanked his classmates for growing up together and creating unforgettable memories.

Emphasizing that life doesn’t always go as planned, but that these years taught them resilience, Başaran called on his graduating classmates to remain curious, courageous, and kind, to be open to different ideas, and to be individuals who contribute value to society. He concluded his speech by saying, “Every success is built on support, courage, and trust.”

Melis Taluğ: “We promise to walk the path of modernity and science opened by our Great Leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.”

The second top student, Melis Taluğ, said that graduation is not only the end of a school year but also a farewell to years filled with shared memories. She stated that during their school years, they didn’t only acquire academic knowledge but formed friendships, grew together through successes and disappointments, and that this process was an important experience that prepared them for life.

Thanking her family and teachers for their efforts, Taluğ called on her graduating classmates to walk towards the future with hope and courage. “Today we will throw our caps off not only for our graduation, but also for our hopes, dreams, and future.” said Taluğ, adding that they promised to become individuals who would add value to their country by walking the path of modernity and science shown by the Great Leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.