The High Human Values Awards, presented by the Üsküdar University Selection Committee to individuals and institutions deemed exemplary in their fields by the public, with the aim of upholding 24 golden values, have found their owners for the 9th time.
This year, the High Human Values (YİDER) awards, presented for achievements that leave a mark, provide benefits, and create value in the fields of sports, current affairs, finance, literature, education, and science, were given to Adil Mardinoğlu, Mete Gazoz, Özlem Denizmen, Sami Özey, Tuba Dumlu Güler, Ayçin Kantoğlu, Meral Olcay, and Yavuz Bülent Bakiler.
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, drawing attention to a global epidemic of selfishness and narcissism and the glorification of a human type that works solely for personal gain, stated that a person working only for themselves is sufficient for them to be malevolent. Tarhan said: “If goodness does not increase in the world, the world is going to ruin. There is an entropic relationship between good and evil.”
Üsküdar University annually presents the “High Human Values Awards” to individuals and institutions deemed worthy by the Üsküdar University Selection Committee, aiming to uphold 24 golden values such as Justice, Honesty, Compassion and Mercy, Transparency, Courage, Empathy and Responsibility, Trust and Loyalty, Shame, Humility, Cooperation, Reconciliation, Greeting, Sincerity, Forgiveness, Generosity, Sacrifice, Gratitude, Pluralism, Participation, Liberalism, Accountability, Compromise, Innovation, and Loyalty.
This year's Üsküdar University 9th High Human Values Awards Ceremony was held at the Üsküdar University Nermin Tarhan Conference Hall.
This year's awards were presented to: Prof. Dr. Adil Mardinoğlu, who conducts studies on innovative drugs and early diagnosis systems for chronic diseases, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases; Ayçin Kantoğlu, who, against the human tragedy and massacre in Palestine that has drawn global reaction, without any personal gain, emphasized the necessity of seeing this organized evil 'through the eyes of a child'; Meral Olcay, Founder and Volunteer Manager of Yedikule Animal Shelter, who, starting her journey with only animal love, has touched thousands of stray animals and served as an example to millions of people by never deviating from the path of 'volunteering'; national athlete Mete Gazoz, who, by receiving the reward for his perseverance and effort in developing himself in the sport of archery, which he is passionate about, proved how important determination is on the path to success; Özlem Denizmen, who initiated a financial literacy campaign for people to be financially happy and peaceful, to increase their individual money management knowledge, and to transform into individuals who can save for their families and country by learning to manage money; Sami Özey, who writes informative articles and conducts programs for the public, brings together important figures in the 'Dostlar Divanı' (Council of Friends) field, and highlights the importance of friendship, brotherhood, solidarity, and true love through his written works; Science Teacher Tuba Dumlu Güler, who prioritizes her students, strives for them to receive a good education, works for village schools and students attending them, and shows sensitivity for the education of girls who are not allowed to go to school; and Yavuz Bülent Bakiler, who, after winning law school with great determination, in addition to his legal profession, transfers his knowledge to new generations through his written works, and while doing so, calls attention to the correct use of our Turkish language through both his penned works and his articles and programs in media organs.
Prof. Dr. Nazife Güngör: “We have been giving such awards for 9 years”
Üsküdar University Rector Prof. Dr. Nazife Güngör, who made the opening speech of the ceremony, said, “Today, we will present awards to our esteemed guests who are with us because they have touched humanity, added value to humanity and society, and served as role models. We have been giving such awards for 9 years because Üsküdar University knows that the mission of universities is not only to provide education or produce science but also to address certain sensitivities of society.”
Prof. Dr. Nazife Güngör also stated that one of the most important issues on the agenda of people today is the loss of values, the loss of human values, saying, “When humanity began to encounter money and understood that money could give them power, they started to drift away from themselves while directing their minds and emotions towards money. A confusion of purpose and means emerged. They replaced purpose with means, and consequently, humanity began to experience a loss of values.”
Prof. Dr. Tarhan: “There is an epidemic of selfishness and narcissism in the world”
Üsküdar University Founding Rector, Chairman of the Board of Trustees Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, in his opening speech, emphasized the importance of highlighting values, stating that technology is developing very rapidly, this development is not parallel to humanity's psychological health, and people's happiness rates and psychological health rates are moving in the opposite direction.
Prof. Dr. Tarhan, drawing attention to the increase in drug use and suicides worldwide due to the erosion of values, said that depression, unhappiness, and divorces are also increasing, and that there is an epidemic of selfishness and narcissism in the world.
“A human type that works only for personal gain is being glorified in the world”
Prof. Dr. Tarhan, stating that “A human type that works only for personal gain has begun to be glorified in the world,” noted that in the competition brought by modernism, the type of person who works only for themselves, for their own benefit, is presented as the ideal type, and its negative consequences are starting to be seen.
Prof. Dr. Tarhan stated that some values, which are the accumulation of humanity, have been relegated to the background and expressed that every person has value judgments in their life.
“Teaching people correct values instead of wrong ones”
Prof. Dr. Tarhan said, “In psychology, we used to define humans as emotion, thought, and behavior. In recent years, values have been added to this. 3rd Generation psychotherapies have begun. In these therapies, psychological resilience trainings aimed at teaching people correct values instead of wrong ones have started to be used.”
Prof. Dr. Tarhan also noted that it is a responsibility to explain to young people the value judgments that have been formed over centuries, and explained that role model individuals are very important in the transfer of values.
Prof. Dr. Tarhan also stated that awards are presented to individuals who serve as role models for society, reminding that in Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, self-transcendence is seen as the highest value.
“If a person works only for themselves, that is enough for them to be malevolent”
Prof. Dr. Tarhan continued his speech by saying, “If a person works only for themselves, that is enough for them to be malevolent. They cannot empathize. They cannot establish close relationships or experiences and become lonely. The type of person who works solely for their own benefit is the biggest cause of loneliness. Such people have increased. It is not enough for a person to realize themselves. If a person is not beneficial to society, does not contribute anything to humanity, does not leave with more positives at the end of their life, having completed their mission in the world, and if such people multiply, humanity will go to ruin,” and emphasized the importance of psychological resilience and values education.
Prof. Dr. Tarhan also noted that there are 24 character strengths and 6 virtues, explaining that these are a universal accumulation, information drawn from Eastern wisdom, Anatolian enlightenment, and Mevlana.
“Actually, there is no such thing as evil; there is the absence of good”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan said, “If goodness does not increase in the world, the world is going to ruin. There is an entropic relationship between good and evil. Just as coldness occurs if heat does not increase. In fact, there is no such thing as coldness; there is the absence of heat. In fact, there is no such thing as darkness; there was the absence of light. In fact, there is no such thing as evil; there is the absence of good.”
Prof. Dr. Tarhan also noted that they prepared a book titled 'Science of Happiness' from Üsküdar University Publications, consisting of 19 modules, through a 5-year study, stating that this explains values education at a 9th-grade level with scientific methodology.
9th High Human Values Awards Find Their Owners…
Translator-Writer Ayçin Kantoğlu Honored…
Translator and writer Ayçin Kantoğlu received her award from Üsküdar District Governor Adem Yazıcı. Kantoğlu stated that she accepted the award on behalf of everyone who tries to stand by Gaza, regardless of the conditions, and continued her words as follows:
“Violence has now targeted newborns, the innocence of humanity. We will not accept children being defined as secondary war casualties. In this regard, on December 23, we launched a signature campaign to declare 'World Martyred Children's Day'. We have a request for wet signature campaigns to be organized in universities. Our goal is to collect 200,000 signatures in Turkey and 600,000 signatures worldwide. With 600,000 signatures, we want to knock on UNICEF's door and ask why our children are treated differently from other children.”
Science Teacher Tuba Dumlu Güler, who touched the hearts of little girls, was deemed worthy of the award…
Science Teacher Tuba Dumlu Güler received the award from Prof. Dr. Nazife Güngör. Güler said, “Approximately 10 years of my 17-year career were spent in village schools. I tried to instill that geography is not destiny, that impossibilities are not an excuse, and that one should never give up on reaching a goal. We think we are touching the hearts of tiny children, but when that child grows up, they touch the heart of society.”
Prof. Dr. Adil Mardinoğlu also received an award…
Prof. Dr. Adil Mardinoğlu received his award from Üsküdar University Vice-Rector Prof. Dr. Muhsin Konuk. Mardinoğlu stated, “I have received many awards, but it is an honor to be deemed worthy of an award that motivates the exaltation of fundamental human values, science, and the values associated with them. I thank you on behalf of myself and my students.”
Human values award to successful national archer Mete Gazoz…
National Archer Mete Gazoz, who could not attend the ceremony due to being in camp, had his award presented by Üsküdar University MDBF Dean Prof. Dr. Osman Çerezci to Üsküdar University Rector Advisor Prof. Dr. Türker Tekin Ergüzel for delivery. Mete Gazoz sent a video to the ceremony, saying, “I am in camp for the 2024 Olympic Games preparations; as you know, the goal is big, and there's no time to lose. I thank everyone who deemed me worthy of this valuable award.”
Özlem Denizmen received her award with her father…
Businesswoman and Financial Literacy Educator Özlem Denizmen received her award from Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan on stage with her father, Fethi Denizmen. In her speech, Denizmen said, “With these awards, our responsibilities actually increase, and more burden falls on our shoulders. I believe that the foundation of success is being able to give back more than what you received.” She concluded her words by saying, “I promise to work harder to uphold the value and meaning of the award.”
Journalist Sami Özey also deemed worthy of the award…
Journalist and writer Sami Özey received his award from Rector Advisor Prof. Dr. Mehmet Zelka and 25th-26th Term Deputy Reşat Petek. Özey said, “I thank you for deeming me worthy of such a superior award as the High Human Values. I accept the award both on my own behalf and on behalf of the members of the Council of Friends.”
Journalist and writer Yavuz Bülent Bakiler, who could not attend the ceremony due to illness, had his award presented by Vice-Rector Prof. Dr. Hikmet Koçak to Prof. Dr. Arif Aktuğ Ertekin.
Became a home to thousands of animals…
Meral Olcay, founder of Yedikule Animal Shelter, also received her award from Vice-Rector Prof. Dr. Sevil Atasoy. Olcay said in her speech:
“I was honored and proud to be deemed worthy of this award. I used to change my path when I saw cats and dogs on the road. Now I regret my lost 25 years very much, because I was afraid of creatures I didn't know or recognize. I dedicated myself to stray animals; the spiritual satisfaction of this is indescribable, one must experience it.”
Awards; 'Feeling Human' Sculpture and ÇEKÜL Certificate
At the ceremony, the award recipients were presented with the 'Feeling Human' Sculpture and a ÇEKÜL Certificate.
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.