The Özlem Akçakuş RC 97 Art Scholarship continues to nurture the next generation of Robert College artists.
For nearly two decades, the Özlem Akçakuş RC 97 Art Scholarship has encouraged Robert College students to explore the world through art. Established in 2006 by Özlem Akçakuş’s family and classmates in to honor her love for the arts, the scholarship has enabled talented young artists to attend internationally renowned summer programs, broadening their creative horizons and inspiring new directions in their artistic journeys.
This year’s scholarship recipients, Ayliz Çıldır and Zeynep Su Bayam, continued that tradition. Their work was
on display in the Gould Corridor, offering the RC community a glimpse into two distinct artistic voices shaped by curiosity, experimentation, and creative exploration. Both students were accepted to the Summer Program at the School of Visual Arts in New York, one of the world’s leading art and design schools. Ayliz Çıldır, an illustrator, explored storytelling through interactive illustrations that invited viewers to engage with her work. Zeynep Su Bayam, a book artist, approached narrative through an inventive artist’s book that highlighted the expressive possibilities of form and material.
Reflecting on the scholarship’s impact, RC Art Department Head Alex Downs emphasized its role in encouraging students to broaden their artistic perspectives. The work of both students, he noted, exemplified the richness and diversity that emerge from exploring different facets of artistic practice.
Since its establishment, the Özlem Akçakuş RC 97 Art Scholarship has continued to open doors for young artists, creating opportunities for creative exploration, personal growth, and new experiences. The Gould Corridor exhibition served as a reminder that its greatest impact lies not only in the journeys it makes possible, but also in the artists those journeys help shape.
