TCA Concludes Second Annual Turkish American Youth Leadership Congress

The Turkish Coalition of America (TCA) is pleased to announce the successful conclusion of its Second Annual Turkish American Youth Leadership Congress, November 5-8, 2015. Thirty young Turkish Americans came away inspired to take a more active role in local and national politics and become effective representatives of the Turkish American community.

Youth Congress delegates attended meetings and briefings with Turkish policy experts, congressional staffers, U.S. Former Members of Congress, political activists, and leaders in the Turkish American community. The delegates, who were college students, recent graduates, and young professionals, also had the opportunity to network with leaders in U.S.-Turkey relations and with other young Turkish Americans while learning about the U.S.-Turkey relationship and the political system of both countries. Throughout the weekend, delegates engaged in an active dialogue on the state of U.S.-Turkey relations and specific issues important to Turkish Americans. Participants also learned about the role of citizens in policy-making and the steps they could take to be successful Turkish American advocates.

The delegates also toured the U.S. Capitol and visited the Turkish Ambassador’s historical residence, where they received a briefing by Turkish Embassy staff. Their visit to the nation’s capital was topped off with a jazz concert at the Kennedy Center, a tour of the monuments on the National Mall, and a visit to the National Portrait Gallery.

On the occasion of the Youth Congress, TCA received video messages from the four co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus on U.S.-Turkey Relations and Turkish Americans: Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC/5^th), Congressman Ed Whitfield (R-KY/1^st), Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA/11^th), and Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN/9^th); two prominent Turkish Americans: Cenk Uygur, co-founder of the Young Turks Network and a leading Turkish American political commentator, and Judge Jay Karahan, Harris County/Texas Criminal Court and the highest elected Turkish American; and Turkish German Parliamentarian Belit Onay, a member of the Green Party in Germany.

		Berk Adanur Berk is a sophomore at Auburn University in Auburn, AL majoring in Chemical Engineering. At school, he is a member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, works as a tutor, serves in the Turkish Student Organization at Auburn University, and volunteers at his local community food market. He plans to attend medical school after he graduates.
		Ali Akgul Ali is a PhD Student in Veterinary Medicine at Mississippi State University. He has been involved in his local Turkish Student Association, has volunteered for international week and children’s science fairs at MSU, and is a member of the Dialogue Student Association. He plans to continue to work in academia following graduation.
		Ozan Akpinar A recent graduate of SUNY - Stony Brook in Stony Brook, NY, Ozan studied Political Science and Psychology. He has served as a Summer Camp Counselor and General Manager at Metropolitan Education LLC and was the Student Manager at Stony Brook University Center for Leadership and Service. He was also an executive board member in the Stony Brook Quidditch Club throughout his undergraduate career.
		Selin Altintas A freshman at the George Washington University in Washington, DC, Selin is studying International Affairs at the Elliott School of International Affairs. An aspiring lawyer, she is involved in the Turkish American Student Association, the International Affairs Society, and a club volleyball team. While in high school, she also interned at TCA.
		Fatosh Arabacioglu Fatosh is a Program Coordinator at the Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA), the country’s largest Turkish-American umbrella organization. She graduated from Middlesex University in London with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Performance for Flute. She previously studied at the University of Arizona and Eastern Mediterranean University in Cyprus, where she is from. Fatosh also founded the music band Turkoise with four musicians from Istanbul, Izmit, and Cyprus to share Turkish music and culture in America.
		Kubra Babaturk A junior at the University of Texas at Austin, Kubra is studying International Relations and Global Studies with minors in Middle Eastern Studies and Arabic. She is a Next Generation Brumley Scholar in the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, and is a volunteer for the Harry Ransom Center, a humanities archive and research center at UT. An aspiring lawyer, Kubra is also involved in Model United Nations and other politically centered student groups.
		Ozlem Direk Ozlem is the current president of the American-Turkish Association of Houston (ATA-Houston). She received a MA in European Studies from Bilgi University in Istanbul, Turkey, and previously studied at Bogazici University and the Institut d’Etudes Europeennes et Internationales du Luxembourg. She was chosen to represent Turkey at the International Air Cadet Exchange at West Point. Besides volunteering for several organizations, Ozlem is also a professional Argentine Tango dancer.
		Turgut Dogruluk Born in Adapazari, Turkey, Turgut is a PhD student at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX studying Molecular and Human Genetics. He previously studied at Yeditepe University in Istanbul, Turkey. He is a member of the American Association for Cancer Research and the Turkish American Scientists and Scholars Association, and has worked extensively on cancer research. Turgut has been involved with Baylor Students Against Cancer as well as the American-Turkish Association of Houston.
		Ceyda Dundar Ceyda is a PhD student in Human Factors Psychology at Old Dominion University (ODU) in Norfolk, VA. Previously she studied at the Middle East Technical University (METU) in Ankara, Turkey, where she received an MA in Traffic and Transportation Psychology. She is currently a Graduate Research Assistant at the Applied Cognitive Performance Laboratory at ODU. She was a board member of the Psychology Student Association of Turkey and of the Psychology Club of METU.
		Cemre Efe Born in Turkey, Cemre has lived in the U.S. for almost five years. He is a junior at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, pursuing a Political Science degree with a Global Studies (Security Track) minor. He wants to become a Foreign Service officer after he graduates. Last summer, he participated in the 2015 TCA Washington Summer Internship Program as an intern at TCA.
		Zelda Elcin A recent graduate of the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, Zelda is currently a first year associate at the law firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP in New York City. She was a recipient of the TCAdvance-Robert C. Byrd Memorial Scholarship for all three years of law school, and has been a fervent advocate for Turkish American issues. While in law school, she was President of the Student Animal Legal Defense Fund and the President and Founder of the Muslim Law Student Association. Previously, she interned for Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY).
		Emre Eren Emre is the Assistant Director of the Turkish NGO MUSIAD USA, in Washington, DC. He received a Finance MBA from Strayer University and an Executive MBA from Bahcesehir International University. He previously attended Uludag University in Bursa, Turkey. In the future, he would like to pursue a PhD in Finance.
		Korhan Ereren Korhan is is currently a Project Manager at the Boeing Company in Orange County, CA. A recent graduate of California State University, Fullerton, he majored in Operations Management and Economics. He has served as a volunteer coach for the National Junior Basketball Association and was involved with several organizations while in school. He plans to pursue a Finance MBA in the near future.
		Michelle Foley Michelle grew up in Glen Rock, New Jersey, and is an alumna of McGill University where she pursued a BA in Political Science and Russian Studies. A former Fulbright Scholar in Turkey, she is interested in pursuing a career in International Affairs, specifically in international education and development. She previously interned for the office of Congressman Frank Guinta (R-NH/1st), and is a current intern at the Atlantic Council in Washington, DC.
		Jem Griffith Jem is a recent graduate from George Mason University in Fairfax, VA where he majored in Government and Communications. He currently resides in Morrisville, NC, where he has been heavily involved the American-Turkish Association of North Carolina (ATA-NC) for many years with his family. Previously, he was a TCAdvance Scholarship recipient, and he has interned for Representative Steve Cohen (D-TN/9th) and North Carolina State Representative Chris Haggarty. He would like to pursue a career as a journalist in the Washington, DC area.
		Denise Hammond Originally born in Turkey, Denise came to the United States after finishing high school. She is currently receiving her Master’s in Biological Engineering at the University of Missouri-Columbia, and she previously attended Missouri State University where she received the President’s Volunteer Service Award, was recognized by the Office of Citizenship and Service Learning, and served as secretary of the Association of International Students. She is currently involved in the Turkish Student Association, serves as the president of the Graduate Society of Bioengineers and has worked as an interpreter for the Turkey U.S. Department of Agriculture tour.
		Julide Iye Julide is a sophomore at Wellesley College where she is majoring in Middle Eastern Studies and minoring in Chemistry. She was part of the initial founding group of Dreamporte, a student founded and operated non-profit that works to incorporate virtual reality technology in the classroom. She has also volunteered in the Brain Injury Activity Group at UPMC Mercy in Pittsburgh, PA, as well as with the Muslim Student Association Mentoring Program at MIT. She is currently an undergraduate Research Assistant at the McGovern Brain Institute at MIT, and plans to go to medical school in the future.
		Emine Kasapoglu Emine is pursuing her MBA at Montclair State University while also working full time as a Corporate Communications Specialist at NRG Energy in Princeton, NJ. She previously received a Master’s of Science in Public Relations and Corporate Communication at New York University. She has served as an intern in the TCA office and has volunteered with Mercer Street Friends Food Bank, the Rescue Mission of Trenton, and Big Brothers Big Sisters.
		Erin Kaya A first generation Turkish American from Spokane, WA, Erin is a sophomore at the University of California, Berkeley. She is a regular volunteer at the Ronald McDonald House Charities and is a member of the marketing and PR committee for Camp Kesem, a summer camp and year round support system for children whose parents have cancer. She also serves as a tutor, has her student pilot’s license, and is a philanthropy committee member of Sigma Kappa sorority. Following graduation, she plans to attend medical school.
		Oner Kiziltan Oner is a first generation Turkish American. He is a graduate from Florida Atlantic University where he graduated honors with a BA in History. He is currently attending law school at Nova Southeastern University where he is also Treasurer of the Federalist Society.
		Gizem Korkmaz Born and raised in Ankara, Turkey, Gizem came to the United States in 2009 for her senior year of high school. In 2014, she graduated with a degree in Political Science and a minor in History from Virginia Tech University, where she was a member of the business fraternity Alpha Kappa Psi and interned for a State Senate candidate’s campaign. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Political Science at George Mason University. Previously, Gizem worked for a healthcare advisory company in Istanbul and served as an intern for Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA/11th) and the Middle East Institute’s Center for Turkish Studies.
		Evrim Polat Evrim is from Istanbul, Turkey and came to the United States seven years ago. In 2015 she graduated from George Mason University with a Global Affairs major and a Business minor. While in school, she was a member of several honors societies including Phi Theta Kappa and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. Evrim is planning to pursue a Master’s degree that focuses on Turkey and Turkish politics, and she wants to pursue a career in U.S.-Turkey relations. Previously, she was an intern in the TCA office.
		Esra Sevinc Esra is a Master’s candidate in Public Administration at Rutgers University in Camden, NJ. She is currently interning at LEAP Academy, a local charter school, where she tutors students in various subjects. Following graduation, she plans to pursue a PhD.
		Nuri Tahir Originally born in Bulgaria, Nuri has lived and worked in Turkey, Europe, and the United States. He received his PhD in Political Science from the University of Trieste in Italy, where he conducted research on trans-border policies and their impact on local daily life. He previously attended Gazi University in Ankara, Turkey, and has served as a visiting researcher at the University of Southern Denmark, Catholic University of Leuven, and the University of Texas at Austin. Currently he is completing a postdoc in Istanbul, Turkey.
		Can Temel Can is a PhD student in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology, where he is currently president of the Turkish Student Organization. He has also served as a council member of Georgia Tech’s Presidents’ Council and Center for Signal and Information Processing Student Action Council. He has organized and helped organizing events including but not limited to fundraising for students in need, multicultural festivals, commemorating and celebrating national holidays and organizing business forums with CEOs of fortune 500 companies. He is actively involved in industry, academia and Turkish-American community.
		Matt Tezgiden Matt is a second generation Turkish American from New York who is a junior in Economics and Applied Statistics at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI. He is the Director of Cultural Relations of the Turkish Student Association, has served as a board member for several years of the Michigan Economics Society, founded a sports debate club called the Sports Court, and volunteers helping student navigate the college application process. Last summer, he served as a risk analyst intern at Moore Capital Management, and he plans to pursue a career in finance.
		Elanur Ural Elanur is a sophomore at Michigan State University majoring in International Relations and Gender and Women’s Studies. She serves on the executive board for the Women’s Council and is a member of several clubs and organizations including the International Relations Organization and Common Sense Action. She has been an active member of the Turkish American Cultural Association of Michigan (TACAM) for many years and is involved with the MSU Turkish Student Association. Previously, she served as an intern for the campaign of U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI).
		Selin Urgen A freshman at Georgia Institute of Technology, Selin is purusing a degree in Business Administration. An honor’s student in high school, she has been involved in several clubs and organizations including National Honors Society, Beta Club, and Mu Alpha Theta. She also worked as a teacher at Youth Technology Learning Center, where she taught after school classes to students between the ages of 3 and 14.