MEDIA: Gülen Institute awards student essay winners in Washington

The Rumi Forum was honored to co-organize with the Gulen Institute the Awards Ceremony on Capitol Hill.

Gülen Institute awards student essay winners in Washington

Student essay winners and US Representatives pose for a group photo on Wednesday night after the award ceremony at the House of Representatives' Rayburn House Office Building in Washington. (Photo: AA, Mehmet Toroğlu)

11 April 2013 /TODAY'S ZAMAN, İSTANBUL

The University of Houston's Gülen Institute on Wednesday bestowed awards on 30 young people for their winning essays on the subject of immigration and evacuation, in Washington, D.C.

Nearly 600 compositions written by students from 40 countries and 30 US states had been entered into the Gülen Institute's international essay competition. The awards ceremony was held at the House of Representatives' Rayburn House Office Building. US Congressmen Scott Peters, Al Green, Andy Barr, Susan Brooks, Gene Green, Pete Olson and Pete Gallego attended the ceremony.

Praising the Gülen Institute for its cultural and educational activities, Green said he has witnessed how the institute brings people together in Houston.

The first place prize of $3,000 went to George Abraham from the US state of Florida. Gawoon Shim from South Korea took second place, while Vaishnavi Rao of California received the third place award in the essay contest.


The congressmen in attendance awarded the 35 young students with certificates of recognition from Congress and congratulated them on behalf on their constituencies.

The winners were also given a three-day excursion in Washington. During this sponsored tour, students had the opportunity to visit various tourist attractions, meet with members of Congress and community leaders and participate in discussions.

Green, US representative for Texas's 29th congressional district, praised the Gülen Institute for its role in strengthening Turkish and American relations during his speech at the awards ceremony, stating that the Gülen Institute helps people understand better Turkey-US relations.

Brooks, the US representative for Indiana's 5th congressional district, said she was very pleased to attend the ceremony and added she took a pride in delivering an award on behalf of the Gülen Institute. Stating that the students studied hard to be able to succeed in the competition, Brook told the students that she was very impressed with their work.

Olson, US Representative for Texas's 22nd congressional district, thanked the Gülen Institute for organizing such a competition during his speech in the ceremony.

Gülen Institute Chairman M. Sait Yavuz said they started holding the essay writing competition four years ago, adding that the students handle the problems in the world with purer and clearer intentions than the adults.

Established in October 2007, the Gülen Institute is a non-profit research organization dedicated to the promotion of peace and civic welfare.


SOURCE: http://www.todayszaman.com/news-312300-gulen-institute-awards-student-essay-winners-in-washington.html

Gülen Institute awards student essay winners on Capitol Hill (Washington DC)

The Rumi Forum along with the Gulen Institute organized the Annual Essay Competitions Award Presentation program in Washington DC recently

Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Ileana Ros-Lehtinen stands with the winners of the int’l essay contest. (Photo: Today's Zaman)

31 May 2012 / ALI H. ASLAN, WASHINGTON

Houston University's Gülen Institute bestowed awards on 35 young people from 65 countries and 45 US states for their winning essays on how to address crimes against children around the world on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.


Nearly 1,300 compositions had been entered into the Gülen Institute's international essay competition. The award ceremony was held at the House of Representatives' Rayburn House Office Building.

Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, and lawmakers Gene Greene and Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and Tom Petri of Wisconsin attended the ceremony.

Calling Turkey and the United States “unwavering allies,” Ros-Lehtinen said “Our two countries have been steadfast allies for the past six decades and continue to cooperate closely on so many of the challenges that we are facing today.”

She continued to speak of Turkey's actions in Syria and Afghanistan with praise and added that “generations of Turkish immigrants have come to the United States, enhancing our society with their talents and their skills.”

The first place $3,000 prize went to Alexander Kamberov from Bulgaria for his essay on child soldiers in Sub-Saharan Africa. Ruby Guo from the United States took second place for her work on child workers. Jae Woo Jang from the Philippines, who addressed the issue of human trafficking, won third place.

Members of Congress David Dreier of California, Joe Heck of Nevada and Greg Walden of Oregon awarded the students with certificates of recognition from Congress and congratulated them on behalf of their constituencies.

Gülen Institute Youth Platform Head Dr. Tom Gage, University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work Dean Dr. İra Colby and think tank Rethink Institute President Dr. Fevzi Bilgin also attended the ceremony.

The 35 young winners were also awarded a five-day trip to Washington and New York. Gülen Institute Executive Director Ali Rıza Çandır said of the trip: “The young people will not just visit these cities as tourists. They will learn about different cultures as they dialogue with other young people from different countries.”

James W. McJunkin, deputy director of the FBI's Washington office, discussed the methods of fighting crimes against children with the contestants. The contestants visited the Turkic American Alliance (TAA), a leading Turkish-American umbrella organization, and the United Nations office in New York.

SOURCE: http://www.todayszaman.com/news-282059-gulen-institute-awards-student-essay-winners-on-capitol-hill.html

Papa New Guinea Press covers Rumi Forum event

PNG female students doing well

By DAVID MURI

A student attending Port Moresby’s PNG Paradise High School is one of the top assay writers in the world among her peer group.

Grade 11 student, Reebecca Tobena, has returned to the country with thrilling accolades after participating in an international essay contest in USA.

Turkish organizations honor world youth in Washington D.C.

The Rumi Forum was proud to be associated with the Gulen Institute in organizing an international essay competition that reached its finale in Congress yesterday.

International Essay competition - sponsored by Rumi Forum and Gulen Institute

Rumi Forum in line with its mission of promoting global peace has come together with the Gulen Institute to organize an International Essay Competition - details of which are below

Youth Summit 2011: An International High School Essay Contest

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Rumi Forum and the Gulen Institute, University of Houston is organizing an International Essay Contest for all high school students in grades 9 through 12 enrolled in public or private schools. Winners will receive up to $4000 in prize money and a trip to the USA capitol, Washington DC






Students from all over the United States and abroad are encouraged to participate in the Essay Contest to address the following topic:

The use of military means as a solution to today’s international and national political issues: Diplomacy or war, democracy or military coup?


For more information follow this link: www.guleninstitute.org/youthplatform or email:
youthplatform@guleninstitute.org