Special Graduates of Giresun University: Journalist and Hazelnut Farmer

On June 11, 2026, the Çotanak Sports Complex Stadium witnessed one of the most emotional graduation ceremonies in recent years. Giresun University (GRÜ) celebrated the end of the 2025-2026 academic year in a grand ceremony, sending 5,710 students into the workforce [1][2]. However, among the thousands of caps tossed into the air, the stories of two 65-year-old graduates captured the most attention.

Ufuk Kekül; The Journalist Who Became Top of His Class at 65 Ufuk Kekül, a journalist who has spent 40 years of his life in newsrooms and in search of news, took the stage today not as a reporter, but as the top student of the Tirebolu Faculty of Communication [3]. Having worked for years in radio, television, and the local and national press, he decided to bridge his practical experience with academic knowledge. In his speech, Kekül emphasized that learning knows no age limit and that he pursued this difficult path with the goal of becoming a role model for the younger generation [4].

Metin Akdeniz; From Hazelnut Orchards to the Podium of Honor Beside him stood Metin Akdeniz, a hazelnut producer and father of five. Akdeniz had a different but equally impactful story. Having dedicated his entire life to his children's education, he decided to pursue his long-held dream after all five of his children had graduated from university [4]. By simultaneously managing his hazelnut orchards and attending classes, he succeeded in graduating as one of the top students at the age of 65, proving that family and professional responsibilities should not be an obstacle to personal growth [3].

A Message of Hope for the Younger Generation Professor Dr. Yılmaz Can, Rector of Giresun University, pointed to the university's international successes during the ceremony, including its ranking among the top 2000 universities in the world, and emphasized the importance of knowledge and technology as a matter of national survival [1]. Additionally, Mustafa Koç, the Governor of Giresun, congratulated the graduates, stating that universities are not just centers for transferring knowledge, but hubs that shape the thinking and future of society [2]. The ceremony concluded with the presentation of awards to top students and the traditional cap-tossing ritual, while the stories of Kekül and Akdeniz were recorded in the university's history as symbols of will [3][4].