Turkey Caucus Reaches 135 Members
Books Published with University of Utah Turkish Studies Project
TCA Accepting 2015 Study Tour Grant Applications
TCA is accepting applications for its Study Tour Grant Program for the summer of 2015. Now entering its fifth year, the TCA Study Tour Grant Program seeks to provide an incentive to American institutions of higher education to choose Turkey as their study tour destination for their students. As of 2014, a total of 16 Study Tour Grants have been awarded and 176 students have benefitted from the program. Institutions that are interested in applying for a 2015 Study Tour Grant should submit their applications by the second week of March.
TCA Study Abroad Scholarships for Students of Minority and Heritage Communities
In February 2015, 11 students received the TCA Study Abroad Scholarship for Students of Minority and Heritage Communities, bringing the total number of students receiving the scholarship to 389 since the program began in 2008. The program benefits American students of African, Armenian, Bosnian, Filipino, Hispanic, Macedonian, and Native American heritage. Scholarship recipients receive funds to contribute to the costs of study abroad in Turkey, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, or Bosnia and Herzegovina. The students who were awarded scholarships this month hail from the University of Southern California, Valdosta State University, Northern Arizona University, the University of Texas at Austin, San Diego State University, Stony Brook University, UCLA, Belmont University, and Boston University.
TCA President Travels to Turkey
On February 3-11, TCA President G. Lincoln McCurdy traveled to Istanbul and Ankara. With TCA Vice Presidents Guler Koknar and Basak Kizildemir, McCurdy met with U.S. Ambassador John Bass, U.S. Consul General Chuck Hunter, Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs Istanbul Representative Ambassador Kenan Ipek, and new TUSIAD President Cansen Basaran Symes. In addition to meetings with government officials and representatives of the business community, the trip also included roundtable discussions with academicians and with representatives of Turkish NGOs.
Former U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Visits TCA
In early February, former U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Francis J. Ricciardone visited TCA offices. Ricciardone is now Vice President and Director of the Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East at the Atlantic Council. TCA President G. Lincoln McCurdy and staff spoke with Ambassador Ricciardone about TCA programs and activities and discussed ways in which TCA and the Atlantic Council might collaborate on future projects.
TCA Hosts NAIHC Meeting
Launch Event & Networking Reception for Future Leaders Series
On February 9, TCA hosted the launch event for the Future Leaders Series, a three-part workshop presented by the American Turkish Association of Washington, DC (ATA-DC) in partnership with TCA and the Communication, Culture, and Technology (CCT) Program at Georgetown University. The Future Leaders Series workshops will be offered free of charge to the general public with the purpose of empowering youth and young professionals in Washington, DC.
TCA President Trip to Florida
TCA President G. Lincoln McCurdy traveled to Florida on February 13-15. In Key Biscayne, McCurdy participated in a roundtable discussion on U.S.-Turkey relations with representatives of the Turkish American community of southern Florida and Congresswoman Virginia Foxx, Co-Chair of the Turkey Caucus. In Miami, McCurdy met with Turkish Consul General in Miami Ozgur Altan and members of the Turkish American business community of southern Florida.
TCA President Meets with Key Figures
On February 18, TCA President G. Lincoln McCurdy attended a dinner at Turkish Ambassador Serdar Kilic’s residence with Turkish Minister of National Defense Ismet Yilmaz and leaders of the American Muslim community in Washington, DC. On February 24, McCurdy attended the annual event of the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG). The NAAG reception was held in the Upper Great Hall of the Supreme Court of the United States. At the event, McCurdy met with a number of attorneys general who had participated in the TCA-sponsored NAAG trips to Turkey in 2012 and 2013. In addition, on February 27, McCurdy traveled to New York to meet with officials of the Turkish Philanthropy Funds to discuss areas of collaboration.
Chairman of Turkish American Friendship Group in Turkish Parliament Visits TCA
On February 24, Turkish parliamentarians Saban Disli and Reha Denemec paid a courtesy visit to TCA offices during their time in Washington, DC. Disli is the Chairman of the Turkish American Friendship Group in Turkish Parliament, which is similar to the Caucus on U.S.-Turkey Relations and Turkish Americans in the U.S. Congress.
Turkish Cuisine Event at National Press Club
On February 25, TCA participated in The Fourth Estate at the National Press Club's Chef & Author Dinner with Sheilah Kaufman, author of The Turkish Cookbook. TCA purchased a table at the event and hosted three guests: Aydan Karamanoglu, First Counselor and Spokesperson of the Turkish Embassy; Althea Georgantas of the World Affairs Council; and Betty Aikens, Study Abroad Director at Howard University.
Mentora College Conversation Partner Welcome Party
On February 26, TCA hosted the Conversation Partner Welcome Party for Mentora College, an English Language Institute in Washington, DC. The Conversation Partner Program pairs up Mentora students who are intensively studying English with peers from the U.S. The American peers are students and young professionals interested in sharing American culture and language through meetings and social activities throughout the semester. The event provided an opportunity for the Mentora students and their American conversation partners to meet for the first time, have dinner together, and learn about this internationally minded initiative.
George Washington University Turkish Night
TCA was a partial sponsor of George Washington University’s Turkish Night, which took place on February 27 and was hosted by the GWU Turkish Student Association. The event invited students, alumni, and community members to celebrate Turkish culture through special guest speakers and Turkish coffee, food, music, and dance performances.
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