New York, NY (May 12, 2026) – Meet this year’s Sena Eken Schieber Economics Award recipients: Öykü and  İlbilge.

Both are economics students at Koç University and will take the next step this fall, continuing their studies at leading institutions in the United States with the support of the Sena Eken- Schieber Economics Award.

Economics remains a field where women are significantly underrepresented. In the United States, women account for roughly 36% of economists, lower than in any other social science. This gap is reflected at the highest levels of the profession: since 1914, only 8 of the 140 presidents of the Federal Reserve have been women, and among Nobel Prizes in Economic Sciences, only two have been awarded to women.

The Sena Eken-Schieber Economics Award, established by Dr. George Schieber in memory of his wife, Sena Eken-Schieber, honors the values she exemplified: compassion, perseverance, intellectual curiosity, and the courage to lead in this traditionally male-dominated field. This award creates opportunities for these young women to pursue advanced studies in economics and realize their full potential. With Öykü and İlbilge joining this distinguished group of alumni, the program has now supported 21 female economists in pursuing their studies in the United States, helping to ease the financial burden of tuition and living expenses, and enabling access to leading academic and research environments.

Öykü Bulut will begin her master's at Yale University, joining an incoming class of only 35 students. A double major in Economics and Mathematics at Koç University, Öykü hopes to inspire other young women aspiring to become economists, just as Sena Eken Schieber did for her. "Receiving the Sena Eken-Schieber Economics Award is both a great honor and a powerful reminder that we should not hesitate to always dream big. The recognition of my efforts and the trust placed in my goals have motivated me more than ever to pursue my ideals," says Öykü with gratitude. Looking ahead, Öykü aspires to work with leading experts in the field and apply what she learns toward preserving the values in Türkiye that she hopes will not be lost.

İlbilge Acır, also an Economics major at Koç University, will continue her journey at the University of Chicago. For  İlbilge, being a Sena Eken-Schieber Economics Award recipient is an honor. "As an aspiring economist who wants to serve my country and its youth in the best way possible, receiving this scholarship in the name of Sena Eken—who held senior positions at the IMF and served as an advisor to the Central Bank of Türkiye—is a great source of pride for me,"  İlbilge shares. She is determined to make a difference as an economist, shaping our world.

Dr. George Schieber also shared a message for this year's recipients: "Congratulations to our scholarship recipients. Your motivation and courage to continue pursuing your education in the United States during these unpredictable times bode well for your future contributions to our rapidly changing global environment. Your in-depth national and international exposure will serve you well both culturally and intellectually. I am sure your future efforts will help create a more compassionate, equitable, and prosperous place for all of the world's citizens."

The selection committee welcomed the new scholars with delight and pride. "You have earned a significant platform and a rare opportunity to effect meaningful change on a grand scale. As you embark on this next chapter, we look forward to seeing how your work challenges the status quo and contributes to the architecture of a more robust, thoughtful, and inclusive global community," shared Esra Krause, niece of Sena Eken Schieber. 

Dr. Seyhan Erden added, "It is a joy to see the Sena Eken-Schieber Economics Award continue to recognize outstanding young economists. Öykü and  İlbilge embody the curiosity, rigor, and promise that this award stands for, and I wish them every success in their journeys ahead." 

TPF’s Executive Director, Şenay Ataselim Yılmaz, PhD reflected, “This award goes beyond academic achievement. It speaks to potential. Öykü and  İlbilge represent a generation of economists who are not only technically strong but also deeply engaged with the systems they seek to understand and improve. We’re excited to see where that path takes them.”

What lies ahead for Öykü and İlbilge is not just the next step, but a continuation of the questions they’ve already begun to explore, and the impact those questions may shape.