Gulen Institute Youth Platform 2015 Winners


Date posted: January 28, 2015

As the Gülen Institute Youth Platform Committee, we are pleased to announce the winners of the Essay Contest 2015.

We appreciate all the hard work you have done to write your essays from all around the world. Over 1000 essays from 65 countries and 35 states were submitted for the contest. There are 30 winners from 12 different countries. The winners will be contacted about the details regarding their flight, hotel and other arrangements.

Gülen Institute Youth Platform Committee especially thanks the judges from University of Houston, University of Houston-Downtown, Texas Southern University, Texas A&M University, San Jacinto College, North American University, Lamar University, Alvin Community College,Midwestern State University, Lone Star College, Prairie View A&M University, Rice University, Tarleton State University, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Texas A&M University-Commerce, Texas State University, University of Texas at Austin, University of Texas at El Paso, University of Texas at San Antonio, University of Texas-Pan American, Wharton County Junior College,  and Houston Community College. We also thank Prof. Tom Gage, chair of this essay contest, for his time, effort, and leadership. Without his support, this event would not have been a success.

Thank you students again for your participation, dedication and efforts!

Gulen Institute Youth Platform Committee

GULEN INSTITUTE – YOUTH PLATFORM 2015 WINNERS

Rank Name Country Award
1 Min Byung Chae South Korea 2,000 USD + 3-day excursion
2 Kuangning Ge Singapore 1,500 USD + 3-day excursion
3 Sung Yeon Kim Canada 1,000 USD + 3-day excursion
4 Eric Frankel USA 300 USD+ 3-day excursion
5 Daniyal Chaudhry Canada 300 USD+ 3-day excursion
6 William Kang USA 300 USD+ 3-day excursion
7 Nicolas Ortega Bolivia 300 USD+ 3-day excursion
8 Teresa Isabel Naval Philippines 300 USD+ 3-day excursion
9 Linh He USA 300 USD+ 3-day excursion
10 Hyeji Suh USA 300 USD+ 3-day excursion
11 Mary Vickers USA 300 USD+ 3-day excursion
12 Emily Kim USA 300 USD+ 3-day excursion
13 Elif Memet Romania 300 USD+ 3-day excursion
14 Barrett Young USA 300 USD+ 3-day excursion
15 Arif Demirkan Turkey 300 USD+ 3-day excursion
16 Oumar Karaga Burkina Faso 100 USD
17 Lucas Lin USA 100 USD
18 Mary Beth Dale USA 100 USD
19 Shivani Pandey USA 100 USD
20 Meilinda Sun USA 100 USD
21 Muhammad Bilal Cheema Canada 100 USD
22 Joseph Gutheinz USA 100 USD
23 Ljubica Pop-Trajkova Macedonia 100 USD
24 Madina Kaliyeva Kazakhstan 100 USD
25 ELIZABETH LUVANDA Tanzania 100 USD
26 Christina Wall USA 100 USD
27 Emma Berthelsen USA 100 USD
28 Arman Dupanovic Bosnia and Herzegovina 100 USD
29 Jeehye Choi USA 100 USD
30 TINASHE PRINCE GWAKUKA USA 100 USD

2015 Essay Contest Theme

“Are Citizens of the World Succeeding in Lessening Global Poverty?”

Poverty entails limitations upon populations in education, finance, human potential, substance and shelter, gender class differences, all limitations that tax food sources, curtailing the potential of the cultures’ youth, loss of capital in maintenance and little for developing sustainable of wealth.

Ending global poverty constitutes a major goal of humanity. There have been many innovative proposals and projects implemented to achieve this goal, several ways of measuring the results of innovative efforts, and considerable publicity to disseminate the results of the effective innovations.

Source: Gulen Institute Youth Platform


Related News

The Future of Islamic Civilization in A Globalizing World

By Muzaffar K Awan, M.D.  Grand Rapids Michigan USA The Muslim civilization was developed historically (spanning from 7th through the 17th centuries) dominating the world close to a millennium. It had transformed the world particularly during its golden age (8th to the 12th centuries); had become universal, supremely successful in all human endeavors, education, democratic […]

Moved by Syrian refugees’ woes, U.S. mayors initiate blanket drive

The conditions the Syrian refugees in Adana refugee camp are in deeply moved the U.S. mayors on an intercultural trip to Turkey. They have collected over 10 thousand blankets through the drive they kicked off once back home.

Peace Islands Institute hosts iftar in NY

The event, organized by the Peace Islands Institute (PII), the New York Interfaith Center and Columbia University’s religious studies department, hosted former US Vice President Al Gore’s daughter Karenna Gore and prominent Indonesian religious figure Imam Shamsi Ali.

Trump’s Top Military Adviser Is Lobbying For Obscure Company With Ties To Turkish Government

An intelligence consulting firm founded by retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, Donald Trump’s top military adviser, was recently hired as a lobbyist by an obscure Dutch company with ties to Turkey’s government and its president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Turkey’s greatest service to the Muslim world

Turkey was a shining star during the years that it implemented democratic reforms internally and improved relations with other countries, particularly its neighbors. Both the West and the Muslim world were watching Turkey’s progress intently and its economic success and democratic transformation would be referred to as exemplary.

Rumi Fellowship Program 2016

Rumi Forum is inviting eligible individuals on a study fellowship that incorporates trips to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Thailand and Cambodia with the mission of exploring social, economic, cultural, security and political issues in these countries and their wider regions in 2016.

Latest News

Turkish inmate jailed over alleged Gülen links dies of heart attack in prison

Message of Condemnation and Condolences for Mass Shooting at Bondi Beach, Sydney

Media executive Hidayet Karaca marks 11th year in prison over alleged links to Gülen movement

ECtHR faults Turkey for convictions of 2,420 applicants over Gülen links in follow-up to 2023 judgment

New Book Exposes Erdoğan’s “Civil Death Project” Targeting the Hizmet Movement

European Human Rights Treaty Faces Legal And Political Tests

ECtHR rejects Turkey’s appeal, clearing path for retrials in Gülen-linked cases

Erdoğan’s Civil Death Project’ : The ‘politicide’ spanning more than a decade

Fethullah Gülen’s Vision and the Purpose of Hizmet

In Case You Missed It

Planned prep school ban [in Turkey] disregards basic rights as in single-party era

Lawmakers from various countries call for better protection of female refugees

Kamel Daoud: Open letter to Erdogan – You’re not welcome in Algeria

Fethullah Gülen: Even democracy needs a metaphysical dimension

Turkish schools helped start trade with Turkiye

Pak-Turk Inter-School Math Olympiad: Prize distribution ceremony held

What is the problem between the AK Party and Hizmet?

Copyright 2026 Hizmet News