TCA welcomes TCAdvance Scholars for Scholarship Orientation

Friday, October 19, 2012 - TCA had the pleasure of welcoming 12 TCAdvance Scholars to Washington, DC, for an inaugural half-day orientation. The event, designed to give the recipients of TCA's prestigious Turkish American scholarship an introduction to political activism, was held against a backdrop of the Washington Monument and Jefferson Memorial at TCA's offices, mere blocks away from the White House. TCAdvance Scholars came together from across the nation to meet members of the TCA staff, learn first-hand about the legislative process and the importance of advocacy from Congressional staff, and take in TCA's mission and vision for the program. Scholarship recipients then engaged in a policy simulation exercise to sharpen their skills as Turkish American leaders and advocates.

In partial fulfillment of its mission to cultivate a new generation of young Turkish American leaders, TCA created the annually-renewable TCAdvance Scholarship program for Turkish American undergraduate and graduate students who aspire to build a long and fruitful career in public service, pubic relations, law or the media. To receive the scholarship, recipients must demonstrate outstanding academic achievement and well-developed leadership.

In 2011, TCA added to its TCAdvance Scholarship program with the establishment of the TCAdvance-Robert C. Byrd Memorial Scholarship. Named in honor of the legendary West Virginia Senator, the scholarship was created with the support of the late Senator Byrd's family to recognize exceptional Turkish American students who demonstrate a deep commitment to public service and who hail from the 13 states of the Appalachian region.

Since its inception in 2007, the TCAdvance program has provided 71 scholarships to 114 Turkish American students.

For more information on TCAdvance Scholarships and our scholars, please click here.