|
August 5, 1998: Excerpt from President Demirel letter to Kaya Tuncer |
|
1999: Kaya hosts first NASA astronaut
Kaya hosts our first astronaut visit from Owen Garriott. He also explains the Space Camp Turkey project and the grand opening slated for the summer of 2000 in a special ceremony held in the ESBAS Technology Center.
|
|
June 12, 2000: Kaya presents a "gift to the youth of the world"
Following the two-year project phase (1998-2000), Space Camp Turkey holds its grand opening on June 12, 2000. Kaya cuts the ceremonial ribbon, along with NASA Astronaut Scott Carpenter and NASA Engineer Ismail Akbay. Shortly after the camp opening, interest in the space sciences dramatically increases throughout Turkey and neighboring countries.
|
|
June 19, 2000: Turkish newspaper announces Space Camp Turkey opening
Turkish Newspaper Gozlem announces the camp opening with a catchy headline:
"Want to be an astronaut? The 7th space camp of the world opens in Izmir"
|
|
|
June 12, 2001: 1st Space Camp Turkey Anniversary
Children from a local Izmir orphanage participate in a cake-cutting ceremony with Kaya and Space Camp Turkey Managers Veli Uluer and Scott Woodham.
|
|
2002: Mary and Kaya establish GFTSE
|
|
| Global Friendship Through Space Education (GFTSE) is established to promote friendship among young people from different countries and cultures through the study of space-related science and technology. |
| Nov. 1, 2003: Buzz Aldrin's letter |
Astronaut Buzz Aldrin, the second man to walk on the moon, sends a
congratulatory letter to Kaya for being named Turkish-American of the Year.
|
2003: Kaya launches the Partner School Science Program
The year-long Partner School Science Program connects teachers and their students in different countries through space education. Collaborative projects via e-mail and videoconferencing promotes cross-cultural understanding and friendship.
|
|
2004 - 2008: Kaya provides 661 scholarships Turkey-wide for National Space Camp Weeks
The National Space Camp Week project establishes cooperation with the National Ministry of Education and aims to bring one teacher and two successful students from each of the 81 provinces in Turkey.
Izmir Vice Governor Mr. Fethi Özdemir and Kaya give medals to campers at a graduation ceremony.
|
|
2004: Ellis Island Medal of Honor
Kaya's philanthropic work with Global Friendship Through Education earns him the 2004 Ellis Island Medal of Honor. He is nominated by Michael Parlamis, a former medalist, who is a successful Greek-American businessman and a friend of the Turks. According to Mr. Parlamis, Mr. Tuncer's "philanthropy and the residual effect on the students will have a more lasting effect on world peace than most other efforts-either private or public."
|
|
July 2005: Kaya recognizes the "right stuff"
Joskary Diaz, a student at IS 90 in New York City, is a recipient of SCT's "Right Stuff" Award. Diaz says her experiences in Turkey helped set her on the right path in life.
"My SCT experience made me a good decision maker and it helped me gain self confidence. It made me want to seek knowledge, challenge myself and share my knowledge with others. After attending Space Camp Turkey, I realized that I really wanted to pursue my life with anything that was science related."
Diaz returned to SCT in the summer of 2009 and worked as a counselor intern.
|
|
2005-2011: Kaya hosts NASA astronauts and cosmonauts (counterclockwise: Steve Lindsey-2006; Yuri Baturin-2007; Jay Buckey-2010)
Since 1999, 17 astronauts and cosmonauts have visited Space Camp Turkey and enlightened youth from around the world.
|
 |
2005: Kaya welcomes Greek students from Chios
Kaya stands with his friend Michael Parlamis, the Greek-American businessman who annually sponsors kids from Chios. The background mural reads "Future leaders are born here."
|
|
2006: Kaya participates in a 6-Day Summer Camp
GFTSE's Partner School Science Project brings students together for E-Pal Week during the summer.
Many international friendships are formed at special events like Barbeque Nights and Special Events Nights.
|
|
2007- 2011: Kaya hosts U.S. Ambassadors to Turkey (clockwise: Ross Wilson - 2007; James Jeffrey - 2009; Francis Riccardione - 2011)
|
| |
2010: 10th Year Anniversary
Kaya and granddaughters Peri and Sylvia cut the SCT 10th year anniversary cake.
|
May 7, 2011: Abdullah Gul, President of Republic of Turkey visits Kaya
President of Turkey, Abdullah Gul, visits Space Camp Turkey and receives a space gift from Kaya.
President Gul writes the following remarks in the SCT Guestbook:
"...I believe Space Camp Turkey does a great mission of educating youth in the space field.
I congratulate ESBAS management..."
|
Jan 7, 2012: The world loses a great visionary...
|
| Milliyet Ege newspaper headline reads "A goodbye to Kaya Tuncer with flowers." Kaya holds shuttle mission flag with President Gul and story mentions the loss of a great entrepreneur. |
|
|
