You are cordially invited to the below Virtual Award Ceremony:

WE HAVE THE WINNERS… 
THE 2021 J.U.C. MEDIA, RESEARCH AND WRITING AWARDS

Immediate Media Release | Date: May 27, 2021
Organization: The Light Millennium, Charitable Global Human Advancement Org.
Email: JUCAwards(at)Lightmillennium.org
Website:  www.lmglobal.org | www.lightmillennium.org | www.turkishlibrary.us

Date: ON FRIDAY, JUNE 4, 2021

TIME Zones: 10:00a.m. to 12:00p.m. (EST) | 9:00a.m. to 11:a.m. (CT) | 7:00a.m. to 9:00a.m. (PT) | 4:00 to 6:00p.m. (CET) | 17:00 – 19:00 (TR) | 19:30 – 21:30 (India)

Please kindly REGISTER in advance for the Virtual Award Ceremony:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_kpTmq3YGSA-4ygz8hZbP5w
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

LIVE: Facebook@LIGHTMILLENNIUM/LIVE/

“Happiness is the universal force to be attained as the final objective of humanity.” –J.U.C. (2018)

“A heart of steel and a mind of iron can defend you from any weapon!” –J.U.C. (2006)

“Hope Never Fades” –J.U.C. (2004)

 
[May 27, 2021 – Lightmillennium.Org] The J.U.C. Media, Research and Writing Awards project has been established in memory of John Unver Culkin, the son of the founder of The Light Millennium (LM), Charitable Global Human Advancement Organization (2001, New York), and was initially introduced publicly in New York City on January 29, 2020.

Initially, the J.U.C. Awards project was designed to be presented in a physical space along with potential virtual participation. Due to the fact that the Covid-19 pandemic pushed not only us but the entire world to virtual life in every aspect of life, and based on the both presented and demanded conditions of Covid-19; the LM Board of Directors decided to organize and present it online and postponed the initially announced Award Ceremony date from January 29, 2021, to June 4, 2021.

Welcome & Introduction speech will be delivered by Bircan Ünver,  M.A. Founder–President and Head Representative of The Light Millennium, Charitable Global Human Advancement Organization to the United Nations Department of Global Communications; and Opening Remarks will be delivered by Ramu Damodaran,  the First Chief of the United Nations Academic Impact initiative (2010-21). Prof. Gary M. Grossman, School for the Future of Innovation in Society at Arizona State University, U.S.A. will elaborate on the Evaluation Criteria and Process. 

Further, Prof. Olcay Ünver, Arizona State University, Vice-Chair UN-Water (2018-2020) & Senior Water Advisor, United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization; will deliver a motivational speech, in particular, targeting high school and university students on “Valuing Water and the Future of Water”. 

The Organization is very excited to announce that half of the submissions were received through the well-established Darüşşafaka Educational Institution, the oldest Non-Governmental Educational Institution in Turkey, formed in 1863. With this effect, Past President and Board Member of Darüşşafaka Alumni Association, Advisory Board Member of Darüşşafaka Association Davut Ökütçü will briefly present of Darüşşafaka Educational İnstitution. 

The finalists and awards will be introduced and presented by the following names:  Edward Foster, President, Pioneer Valley Poetry Productions (PVPP), Poet, Publisher & Retired dean and professor at the Stevens Institute of Technology; Prof. Olcay Ünver, Dr. Aslıhan Çakmak, NGO Rep. of The Light Millennium to the United Nations Department of Global Communications; Chairperson, Business and Computer Science Department, Middlesex College, NJ. and Bircan Ünver. Opening Music (pre-recorded) of the virtual ceremony will be presented by Alexander and Ares Ecos Brothers. 

The Evaluation Committee was formed for the 2021 J.U.C. Awards with the following members and met to evaluate the received submissions on May 14, 2021. The evaluation process was concluded on May 20,  2021. It was a very competitive process, in particular, the close margins in between the winners in each category.
The Members of the Evaluation Committee are: Prof. Edward Foster, Prof. Gary M. Grossman, Prof. Olcay Ünver, Dr. Aslıhan Çakmak, Dr. Hande Subaşılar & Bircan Ünver, M.A. 

And, the project’s Social Media Committee Chair is: Prof. Sebahattin Devecioğlu

On the summary of the submissions: 

The J.U.C. Awards received a total of 15 submissions in the Media, Research, and Writing categories.15 to 17 years old High School students were the majority mostly based in Turkey, and 4 ofthe submissions were from India.

The submitters are in alphabetic order according to the last names:
In Media:  Zainab Bie, High School.; Ahmet Yasir Destebaşı, High School; Deepak Kumar, MBA; Korkmaz Can Sağlam, University/Freshman.
Research: Kaif Ali, University Student;Zeynep Bayraktar, High School;  Sevinç Orman, High School; Nazlı Eren, High School. 
WritingMenekşe Ezgi Akyol, High School; Sude Çapaoğlu, High School;11. Esma Nur Sarı, High School; Begüm Serttaş, High School; Didem Özdemir, university prep.; and Zainab Bie, as the 2^nd submission in the Writing Category. Further, one of the submissions received in Turkish.

* * *

BACKGROUND OF THE J.U.C. AWARDS* #JUCAwards #JUCMRWA: 
Bircan Ünver, the mother of J.U.C., described how this project came to life:
“I fully believed in my son’s untapped rich potential and intellect. I fully believed that he would eventually find a way to activate that potential and contribute to his and society’s wellbeing…

[…]
He gave so much importance to being intelligent at all times. J.U.C. focused on these IQ tests he had authored and designed himself, which he shared with me from time to time with great excitement.

[…]
Unfortunately, J.U.C. (‘Canım’) is no longer with us in person and that is the harsh reality. With this in mind, my whole attempt is to transform my love for him along with my deep sorrow and pain into a constructive path as if he is still with us, and as if he will see this project named after him to inspire many children/youth.

[…]
It is now my hope to be able to carry out and touch those children’s lives in positive, constructive, and inspirational ways through The Light Millennium, Inc. – A Charitable Global Human Advancement Organization.

 […]
As the saying goes:  “While one hope dies, thousands may be reborn.”

Please join us via Zoom platform and meet with the finalists and the winners during the virtual award ceremony on Friday, June 4, 2021 at 10:00 (EST).

# # #

DATE: ON FRIDAY, JUNE 4, 2021

TIME Zones: 10:00a.m. to 12:00p.m. (EST) | 9:00a.m. to 11:a.m. (CT) | 7:00a.m. to 9:00a.m. (PT) | 4:00 to 6:00p.m. (CET) | 17:00 – 19:00 (TR) | 20:30 – 22:30 (India)
Via ZOOM Platform: Please kindly REGISTER in advance for the Virtual Award Ceremony:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_kpTmq3YGSA-4ygz8hZbP5w

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Facebook@LIGHTMILLENNIUM/LIVE/

For question or inquiry, please email to: JUCAwards(at)lightmillennium.org

Web sites: www.lmglobal.org | www.lightmillennium.org | www.turkishlibrary.us

References: 
Story: The Legends of Altifia by J.U.C. (2006): https://www.lightmillennium.org/2007_20th/juc_altifia.html
Watergates – Story by: J.U.C. (2018): https://turkishlibrary.us/watergates/
“Hope Never Fades”, 2004, On the banner: https://www.lightmillennium.org/index16.html

Related:

1.     [2020] Full-introduction, Guideline, Time-Line, Suggested Themes and Eligibility

2.     Summary of the January 29 2020 Meeting (with photos):
J.U.C. MEDIA, RESEARCH AND WRITING AWARDS, and potential SCHOLARSHIP Project INTRODUCED in NYC.

3. [Initial Booklet] Introduction & Definition: J.U.C. MEDIA, RESEARCH AND WRITING, and potential SCHOLARSHIP (Pdf, Jan. 29, 2020, NYC)

 4. J.U.C. M-R-W-A Story

5. 2019 “Amended & Broadened” PURPOSES of The Light Millennium Organization (Pdf).

Initial Media Release – Dated: June 29, 2020

Hashtags #2021JUCAwards #JUCAwards #JUCMRWA #lightmillennium #JUCAwards #Youth #Student #InnovativeIdeas #Encouragement #lightmillennium #TurkishLibraryMuseum #Turkey #Darussafaka #India

Special Thanks to:
1. Figen Bingül, for her editing contribution in the related initial documents in 2020.
2. United Nations Department of Global Communications – Civil Society Unit #UNDGC_CSO, for the inclusion of the initial CALL FOR STUDENT ENTRIES in the UN DGC’s Weekly Announcements during the Summer 2020.
3. Turkish Forum – Kaya Büyükataman, for disseminating the initial call to the “Biz-eturkiyeyiz” grup in 2020.
4. To the members of the Evaluation Committee for their given valuable time, inputs, attention and contributions towards reaching out an outcome of the Evaluation Process.