Alperen Şengün at BAU Campus: A Meeting of Success and Role Models Inspiring the Youth

BAU Campus hosted a special award ceremony on 10 June 2026, bringing national basketball player Alperen Şengün together with students. The Value Contributors to Turkey Award, which has been made traditional by Bahçeşehir University, is given to figures who shape education and development, and contribute to the country's economy, sports, artistic heritage, promotion, and recognition. This year, the recipient of the award was Alperen Şengün, who plays for the Houston Rockets in the NBA and is a two-time All-Star.

The ceremony, held at the BAU South Campus in Beşiktaş, drew great interest from students. BAU students, Bahçeşehir College youth basketball players, academics, and university management attended the gathering, which took place in the BAU Campus atmosphere. The programme, which began with a short documentary screening, made Alperen Şengün's sports journey more tangible and inspiring in the eyes of young people. Sharing his success story in a campus environment created a powerful experience where students could directly connect with their own goals.

One of the key messages highlighted at the ceremony was the strong relationship between sport and education. BAU Rector Prof. Dr Esra Hatipoğlu emphasised that they value helping young people discover their potential, courageously pursue their dreams, and grow as well-rounded individuals. This approach demonstrates that BAU Campus life, alongside academic development, also supports character, courage, discipline, and goal awareness.

In his speech at the ceremony, Alperen Şengün expressed that he aims to be a good role model for the country's youth and that seeing more young people in the NBA is one of his greatest dreams. These words placed the concept of a role model at the heart of the event. Young athletes and university students had the opportunity to hear directly from a successful athlete about the impact of effort, determination, and consistent work on the path to success.

This interaction generated a strong response in terms of student inspiration. Regardless of their fields, university-aged youth need similar values to achieve success: regular work, proper goal-setting, team spirit, time management, and staying calm under pressure. The level Alperen Şengün has reached at a young age showed that these values can be translated from the sports field to academic life and career plans. BAU Campus, therefore, instead of offering an environment where students merely remain in a listening role, created a meeting space that invites them to reflect on their own goals.

The presentation of the award by Begüm Yücel, President of Bahçeşehir College Basketball Club, and the gifting of a signed Beşiktaş jersey at the end of the ceremony strengthened the event's connection to sports culture. Following the programme, Şengün visiting the "Selections" exhibition at Gazi Osman Paşa Mansion added an art and culture dimension to the campus experience.

This gathering was not just an award ceremony for BAU Campus; it enabled students to reflect on success, character, and goal awareness through a living example. With the Value Contributors to Turkey Award, Alperen Şengün's story turned into a powerful role model meeting that inspires youth.