One of the most inspiring giving back stories through TPF, is of our Chairman Mustafa Kemal Abadan’s. Son of two fascinating people, Mustafa Kemal Abadan dedicated his personal philanthropy to his parents. He established a scholarship fund to honor his parents by giving the gift of education, a cause his parents devoted themselves throughout their whole lives.
Mustafa Kemal Abadan’s father, Yavuz Abadan was a renown professor who specialized in politics, law as well as history. Famous for his published works, he was a pioneering constitutional law professor and served as the Dean of the Political Science Faculty of Ankara University for many years. Even though he passed away in 1967, he is still remembered as a legend at Ankara University and his books are still being taught today.
His mother, Neriman Abadan Unat, widely known as “Hocaların hocası” (teacher of teachers) recently celebrated her 95th birthday. Imagine a woman who ran away from home when she was 14 years old to a country which she wasn’t even speaking its native language, just to be able to go to school. That’s Nermin Abadan Unat, who is famous for her determination, hard work and passion for knowledge. She dedicated her whole life to her students, her appreciated work on law and women’s rights. Regardless of her age, she is still teaching at her home where her students from Bosphorus University, come once a week to be nourished by her wisdom and passion.
Inspired by his parents, Mustafa Kemal Abadan established a scholarship fund, The Abadan Awards, at Koç University, to encourage early-career scholars who are pursuing and/or completed their post-graduate studies in Türkiye or abroad. The awards are administered by Koç University and alternate each year between Dr. Yavuz Abadan Constitutional Law Award for studies in constitutional law; and Dr. Nermin Abadan-Unat Social Science Award in the area of social studies with a particular focus on women’s research. What a way to say “thank you for making me who I am today and inspiring me to give back.”