In its fourth year, the TCAdvance Scholarships have been awarded to 12 Turkish American students for the 2010-2011 academic period.
Each year, American students of Turkish heritage, who pursue a career in public policy, international affairs, media and law compete for the TCAdvance Scholarships. The TCAdvance Scholarship Program aims to cultivate a new generation of Turkish American leaders, who are recognized for their academic achievement and commitment to our community.
In addition to the 12 students who will receive the TCAdvance Scholarship for the first time, 11 former recipients from 2007, 2008 and 2009 who met the renewal criteria will continue to receive scholarships for the 2010-2011 academic year.
The TCAdvance Scholarship recipients for the 2010-2011 academic year are as follows:
Surae Ziyaeva
Born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Surae is of Ahiska Turkish descent. She is a sophomore at the University of Washington, Tacoma where she is pursuing a degree in Communications and Political Science. An active member of the Turkish American community in the Pacific Northwest, Surae plans to earn a PhD in history and work for a Turkish American organization.
Katherine Zerwas
Katherine is a sophomore at the George Washington University, majoring in Political Science and Journalism. Katherine, whose mother is Turkish, is planning to pursue a career in civil service upon graduation.
Caroline Gizem Tunca
Gizem is a first generation Turkish American who will be entering the freshman class at the George Washington University to pursue a degree in International Relations. Upon graduation, Gizem plans to attend law school.
Yurter Özcan
Yurter will be pursuing a Master’s of Science in Middle East Politics at the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies, where he received a full scholarship. Yurter is interested in pursuing a career in public service. Born in Turkey, Yurter has been an active advocate of the Turkish American community.
Eva Outzen
Eva is a freshman at the College of William and Mary in Virginia. She will be majoring in International Relations and Middle East Studies. Eva, whose mother is Turkish, is deeply interested in Middle Eastern and Turkish studies. Eva wants to pursue a career at the State Department.
Selin Hacı
Selin will be pursuing a degree in Political Science, International Relations and Economics at the University of Rochester. Born in Turkey, Selin has been an active volunteer in the Turkish American community. A member of the French Honor Society, Selin has ranked 9th nationally in the 2010 Le Grand Concours annual French Competition.
Seda Gökoğlu
A graduate of the Denison University, Seda will be pursuing a Master’s Degree in Marketing Communication at Emerson College in Massachusetts. A first generation Turkish American, Seda has lent her Turkish and English language skills to teach the elderly and adolescents through various community groups and has been in various leadership positions both in her academic and personal life.
Aliya Perrin Dinçer
Aliya will enter the freshman class at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Fall 2010. A member of the National Honor Society and Academic High Honors throughout high school, Aliya has a passion for leadership and social service. Aliya plans to attend graduate school after college.
Ozan Çubukçu
Ozan will start in Fall 2010 to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Economics at the University of Chicago. A 2009-2010 National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist, Ozan has led his High School Debate team in numerous national tournaments.
Natalia Semrin Aleckson
Semrin will enter the freshman class at George Mason University in Virginia. She will be pursing a degree in International Relations, after which she hopes to earn a Master’s Degree in a similar field with a focus on the Middle East. Semrin was on the Honor Roll for four years at the Aliso Niguel High School in California.
Naomi Helen Amado
Of Sephardic Jewish heritage from Turkey and a graduate of the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities, Naomi will be attending New York University’s prestigious Tisch School of the Arts in Fall 2010. Recognized for her achievements in writing, Naomi is planning to pursue a career in the field of media and communications.
Julie Soo Jung (Seda) Ahn
A Turkish citizen of Korean-American heritage, Julie will enter the freshman class at the Claremont McKenna College in California to pursue a degree in International Relations. Julie has received numerous academic excellence awards throughout high school and has been recognized for her piano skills.
