Hatay's Elites Shine Globally: First Place in Science Olympiad

New Pride in the Heart of Hatay On June 25, 2026, Hatay province witnessed another major international scientific success. According to the Antakya Newspaper, Ümit Keçik, a fifth-grade student, won first place in the world and a gold medal at the "Future Intelligence Science Olympiad" (FİSO) [1]. This success followed a brilliant performance in the national stage of the competition held at Izmir University of Economics.

This scientific achievement not only highlights the individual capabilities of this student but also establishes Hatay as a hub for nurturing scientific talent in Turkey. Ümit Keçik surpassed powerful competitors from various countries to achieve the highest score in basic sciences, raising the Turkish flag in this global competition [1].

Continued Scientific Success in 2026 Ümit Keçik's success is not the only scientific achievement for Hatay students this calendar year. Earlier in 2026, Ayşe Naz Kara, a 17-year-old student from the Dörtyol district of Hatay, won first place in the world at the Copernicus International Olympiad held in Houston, USA [2]. Ayşe Naz was named the "Absolute Winner" in Natural Sciences after answering all questions correctly and received her medal from NASA professors [3].

The collaboration of prestigious scientific institutions such as NASA and Rice University in organizing these Olympiads demonstrates the high level of competition. Two global first-place rankings by students from a single province within a few months indicates a serious scientific leap in the region's educational system, which continues to flourish despite the challenges of recent years [2][3].

Importance of This Achievement for the Region's Spiritual Reconstruction Hatay province, which has faced difficult times in recent years, is now rebuilding spiritually and scientifically through its young elites. Successes like those achieved by Ümit Keçik and Ayşe Naz Kara send a message of hope and resilience to the local community. Regional education officials believe that investing in modern education and supporting student scientific projects will be the key to sustainable development in Hatay [1].

These young geniuses have now become role models for other students. Receiving scholarship offers from prestigious international universities and reference letters from NASA scientists for these students paves a bright path for their scientific future and, consequently, Turkey's scientific progress [2].