The High Human Values Awards, given by the Üsküdar University Selection Committee to individuals and institutions publicly recognized as exemplary in their fields to uphold 24 golden values, found their recipients for the 8th time. Among this year's awardees were Merzifon Mayor Alp Kargı, who stands out with his understanding of social and benevolent municipalism, and Merzifon Municipality Firefighter Burak Kürşat Aydın, who worked for 6 hours during the Kahramanmaraş-centered earthquake disaster and won hearts by giving his own boots to a barefoot citizen he rescued from under the rubble, to keep them from freezing. Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, emphasizing that direct kindness is a universal truth, said, “We call one-on-one kindness silent kindness. We know that ideal kindness is done silently, not ostentatiously.”
Firefighter who gave his boots to earthquake survivor rescued from rubble received ‘High Human Values Award’…
Üsküdar University presents the “High Human Values Awards” every year to individuals and institutions deemed worthy by the Üsküdar University Selection Committee, to uphold 24 golden values such as Justice, Honesty, Compassion and Mercy, Transparency, Courage, Empathy and Responsibility, Trust and Loyalty, Shame, Humility, Cooperation, Making Amends (Helalleşme), Greeting, Sincerity, Forgiveness, Generosity, Self-sacrifice, Gratitude, Pluralism, Participation, Libertarianism, Accountability, Conciliation, Innovation, and Faithfulness (Vefa).
This year's Üsküdar University 8th High Human Values Awards Ceremony was held at the Üsküdar University Nermin Tarhan Conference Hall. This year's awards were presented to Merzifon Mayor Alp Kargı, who stands out with his understanding of social and benevolent municipalism; Firefighter Burak Kürşat Aydın, who worked for 6 hours during the Kahramanmaraş-centered earthquake disaster and won hearts by giving his own boots to a barefoot citizen he rescued from under the rubble to keep them from freezing; Gamze Özçelik, who has provided in-kind and cash support to oppressed people in Turkey, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia through the Umuda Koşanlar Association she founded in 2017; Prof. Dr. Muhittin Şimşek, who has made significant contributions to education, science, and the business world in both private and state institutions; poet Cengiz Numanoğlu, who dedicated his pen to awakening spiritual consciousness in people, in addition to his valuable works for Turkish classical music with his lyrics and compositions; and Beyoğlu Selimiye Hatun Mosque Imam Hatip Osman Gökrem, who encourages similar aid activities in society through the support he provides to people in need at the mosque where he serves.
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: “We must reward kindness to make it widespread”
Üsküdar University Founding Rector and Chairman of the Board of Trustees Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, in his opening speech, highlighted the importance of silent acts of kindness and cooperation. Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan began his remarks by stating that they started the High Human Values Award Ceremonies in 2016, saying, “If we want good and beautiful behaviors to become widespread in society, they need to be rewarded, encouraged, and socially accepted. As a university, we also prioritize raising good people. Because we need to ensure that people use their talents in a benevolent way.”
One can be a good computer graduate, but become a ‘hacker’ after graduation…
Tarhan stated that being a good person is more important than having a good profession, and that they are carrying out efforts towards this goal. Tarhan said, "Educating good people is one of our duties. One can be a good computer engineer, but become a 'hacker' after graduation. One can be a chemistry engineer and produce synthetic drugs. They can be malevolent, not benevolent, people."
Values are deteriorating with globalization and social media…
Tarhan pointed out that it is scientifically observed that good human values are deteriorating with globalization and social media, stating, "Here, one needs to set life goals for themselves, to place abstract goals at the top of their life pyramid. How do you want to be remembered when you reach the end of your life? What kind of person do you want to be? What do you want written on your tombstone? These are important. We see an increase in the type of person who has no abstract goals, who only sanctifies their own self-interest."
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: “We teach human values as a course in a scientific format”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that their implementation of human values is based on scientific evidence, saying, “Human values are discussed globally in scientific congresses. Prof. Dr. Howard Gardner, an American Psychologist and multiple intelligence theorist, who was the guest of honor at our 5th International Positive Psychology Congress held in recent weeks, said: Life may become easier in the future, but remaining human may not be so easy… Yes, he spoke about the possibility of losing our humanity. Against this risk, we are striving to carry out work in this manner as much as we can. We started teaching these human values to our students in a scientific format through a positive psychology course in 2013. All our students take that course as a compulsory subject. Harvard started this course in 2015, we started it before them. In fact, we also themed our 5th Positive Psychology Congress as 'The Science of Goodness'.”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: “Ideal kindness is done silently, not ostentatiously”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, emphasizing that direct kindness is a universal truth, said, “We call one-on-one kindness silent kindness. We know that ideal kindness is done silently, not ostentatiously. However, the reason we showcase acts of kindness at the High Human Values Award Ceremony is to serve as an example for young people. We aim to encourage them to perform acts of kindness. There are also random acts of kindness. Some universities abroad have random acts of kindness projects.”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: “I am hopeful about young people”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, expressing great hope for young people based on what he saw in the first days of the Kahramanmaraş-centered earthquake disaster, concluded his words as follows:
“The young people, criticized as Generation Z, mobilized all student clubs here when the earthquake occurred, procured supplies, and directed them to the affected regions. They worked day and night for 3-4 days. Not only the young people at our university but also the youth across our country, about whom we wondered 'Where is this youth going?', provided all the support they could. If young people incorporate other human values into their lives, they will make fewer mistakes. Humans learn through trial and error, but there is so much information that it's impossible to learn everything through trial and error. A lifetime is not enough for this, so it's necessary to learn by taking lessons from the experiences of others. The most ideal learning is learning by taking lessons from experiences. Innovation, entrepreneurship, and self-improvement are important values. We also have the responsibility to teach these to young people.”
The first award was given to Prof. Dr. Muhittin Şimşek
The first of the awards was presented to academician Prof. Dr. Muhittin Şimşek, who has made significant contributions to education, science, and the business world in both private institutions and state levels. The award to Prof. Dr. Muhittin Şimşek was presented by Üsküdar University Founding Rector Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan. Stating that he has received many awards to date, Prof. Dr. Muhittin Şimşek said that no other award had pleased him as much as this one. Drawing attention to the high spiritual value of the award, Prof. Dr. Muhittin Şimşek said, “As Özdemir Asaf says, 'A person's worth is measured by their stance, not by their pennies'… Therefore, this award is not measured by pennies, but by one's stance.”
Poet Cengiz Numanoğlu received the 8th High Human Values Award
Another of Üsküdar University's 8th High Human Values Awards was presented to Poet Cengiz Numanoğlu, who dedicated his pen to awakening spiritual consciousness in people, in addition to his valuable works for Turkish classical music with his lyrics and compositions. Poet Cengiz Numanoğlu, who could not attend the ceremony due to health issues, had his award received by his spiritual daughter, İkbal Gürpınar, who is also an artist. Numanoğlu's award was presented to İkbal Gürpınar by Üsküdar University Founding Rector and Chairman of the Board of Trustees Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, and Üsküdar University Rector Prof. Dr. Nazife Güngör. İkbal Gürpınar stated that Poet Cengiz Numanoğlu could not attend the ceremony due to an operation he underwent, but conveyed his thanks to Üsküdar University for the award. Gürpınar, along with Poet Cengiz Numanoğlu's daughter, read his poem titled “We were born human, but could we become one?” which she chose because it encompassed the name of the ceremony.
Imam Hatip Osman Gökrem received his award from Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan and Prof. Dr. Mehmet Zelka
Another recipient of Üsküdar University's 8th High Human Values Award was Beyoğlu Selimiye Hatun Mosque Imam Hatip Osman Gökrem, who encourages similar aid activities in society through the support he provides to people in need at the mosque where he serves. Osman Gökrem's award was presented by Üsküdar University Founding Rector and Chairman of the Board of Trustees Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, and Üsküdar University Rector's Advisor Prof. Dr. Mehmet Zelka. In his speech of gratitude, Imam Hatip Osman Gökrem spoke about the aid efforts he carried out with volunteers whom he named "Kindness Maniacs". Gökrem advised philanthropists to provide their aid by directly touching lives, rather than through intermediaries.
He had given his boots to the earthquake victim in Kahramanmaraş
The recipients of Üsküdar University's 8th High Human Values Award were Merzifon Mayor Alp Kargı, who stands out with his understanding of social and benevolent municipalism, and Firefighter Burak Kürşat Aydın, who worked for 6 hours during the Kahramanmaraş-centered earthquake disaster and won hearts by giving his own boots to a barefoot citizen he rescued from under the rubble to keep them from freezing.
The awards to Mayor Alp Kargı and Firefighter Burak Kürşat Aydın were presented by Üsküdar University Founding Rector and Chairman of the Board of Trustees Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, and Üsküdar University Vice-Rector Prof. Dr. Hikmet Koçak. Merzifon Deputy Mayor Erkan Ergül, who received the award on behalf of Mayor Alp Kargı who could not attend the ceremony, thanked Üsküdar University for the award.
Firefighter Burak Kürşat Aydın, experiencing emotional moments, said, “I took off my boots and gave them with a humanitarian reflex”
Ergül stated that as a municipality, they carry out work on behalf of social municipalism, and immediately after the Kahramanmaraş earthquake, without waiting for instructions from anyone, Merzifon Municipality teams went from Merzifon to the earthquake region under Mayor Kargı's orders, providing support in search and rescue efforts, as well as container and food aid. Firefighter Burak Kürşat Aydın, who thanked Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan and Üsküdar University for the award, also spoke about the search and rescue efforts they carried out in the earthquake region immediately after the earthquake. Aydın, experiencing emotional moments, said, “During the search and rescue operations, we safely extracted an elderly uncle from the rubble. I saw that our uncle's feet were bare, and with a humanitarian reflex, I felt the need to take off my boots and put them on him. Even now, I get emotional. I hope Allah never makes us experience such pain again.”
Gamze Özçelik, President of the Umuda Koşanlar Association, also received an award
Finally, at the ceremony, the 8th High Human Values Award was presented to Gamze Özçelik, President of the Umuda Koşanlar Association, for providing in-kind and cash support to oppressed families, children, and animals in Turkey, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, according to their needs, under the umbrella of the Umuda Koşanlar Association, and for the support they provided to our people in need during the Kahramanmaraş-centered earthquake disaster. Gamze Özçelik's award was also presented by Üsküdar University Founding Rector and Chairman of the Board of Trustees Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan.
Gamze Özçelik: “When we nurture human values, we reach miracles”
Gamze Özçelik, President of the Umuda Koşanlar Association, stating that she has been extra emotional for the last 2 months due to the Kahramanmaraş-centered earthquake, said, “I discovered that the more we nurture the human values that Almighty Allah has bestowed upon us, the more we achieve miracles and happiness. I am grateful for being made aware of this. I thank my son for not once asking 'Why are you leaving, Mom?' since the first day. He has always been supportive and never caused any trouble.” Özçelik concluded her words by thanking her companions at the Umuda Koşanlar Association, with whom she works, and Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan.
Along with the "Feeling Human" sculpture, a ÇEKÜL sapling certificate was also presented to the awardees at the ceremony.
The ceremony was broadcast live on Üsküdar University Television ÜÜ TV and Üsküdar University's official Youtube account. The ceremony concluded with a group photo session.