Tarsus American College - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Overview

Tarsus American College or Tarsus American School (official Turkish name: Özel Tarsus Amerikan Lisesi, aka Tarsus Amerikan Koleji) is a private coeducational high school located in Tarsus

Tarsus (city)

Tarsus is a historic city in south-central Turkey, 20 km inland from the Mediterranean Sea. It is part of the Adana-Mersin Metropolitan Area, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in Turkey with a population of 2.75 million...

, province Mersin

Mersin Province

The Mersin Province is a province in southern Turkey, on the Mediterranean coast between Antalya and Adana. The provincial capital is the city of Mersin and the other major town is Tarsus, birthplace of St Paul...

, Turkey

Turkey

Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...

.It is known for the success of its alumni throughout the world. The school maintains a respective fellowship system, in which all students in the school know each other and have strong bonds.

The college was established in 1888 under the name "St. Paul's Institute at Tarsus" after an idea of US newspaper publisher Elliot Fitch Shepard to build an institution in dedication to "St. Paul

Paul of Tarsus

Paul the Apostle , also known as Saul of Tarsus, is described in the Christian New Testament as one of the most influential early Christian missionaries, with the writings ascribed to him by the church forming a considerable portion of the New Testament...

" during his visit to Tarsus.

In its first years, the school had close contact with the American Board Foundation

American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions

The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions was the first American Christian foreign mission agency. It was proposed in 1810 by recent graduates of Williams College and officially chartered in 1812. In 1961 it merged with other societies to form the United Church Board for World...

, a charity

Charitable organization

A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...

organization located in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Alexander Mac Lachlan and presbyterian missionary Harutune Stephen Jenanyan (25 April 1858, Marash, Turkey – 25 September 1907, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), a graduate of Union Theological Seminary in New York City, served as the first school administrators until 1891, Thomas Davidson Christie

Thomas Davidson Christie

Thomas Davidson Christie was a Civil War veteran and a missionary and educator in Turkey from 1877 to 1920. He was born in Sion Mills, County Tyrone, Ireland, the son of James and Eliza Christie. He married Carmelite Sarah Brewer in 1872...

from 1893 to 1920.

Regarding Burke Library alumni records of Union Theological Seminary, dates of Jenanyan's birth and death are given. In addition, the record credited him as founder of St. Paul's Institute.

Education was carried out in the school's first building "Shepard Hall". Mr. Vanderpool, a US citizen, made a large donation in memory of this mother for a much needed building. "Stickler Hall" was once the tallest building in Tarsus with its five stories. Since its construction in 1911 it has been the symbol of Tarsus American College.

The school was called both "St. Paul's Institute at Tarsus" and "Tarsus American College" between 1911 and 1928. Since 1930 the name has been solely Tarsus American College.

Coeducation started in 1979 with 35 girls joining the student body of 506 boys. In 1986, the school graduates its first coed alumni. The same year, the boarding section, available from the preparatory class, was closed until its reopening for boys in 2002.

Events

1888
"St.Paul's Institute at Tarsus " starts its education with eight students.
In the first years, it has contact with the American Board Foundation, a charity organization located in Boston, Massachusetts . Between 1888 and 1891 the first school administrators are Alexander Mac Lachlan and Hartune S. Jenanyan. St. Paul 's Institute starts to become familiar, serving the academic needs of Tarsus and its surroundings.
1888-1911 instruction is carried out in the school's first building "Shepard Hall".

1911
Stickler Hall, which is a symbol of TAC today, is added to the campus.
The construction of Stickler Hall starts in 1905 by a $10,000 donation from an American citizen, Mr. Vanderpool. "Stickler" got its name from Mrs. Vanderpool's mother. The building, whose construction was completed in 1911, is five stories tall. It was once the tallest building in Tarsus, with a height of 21 meters. Stickler Hall stands out with its high roof reflecting a triangle on every side.

Between the years 1911-1928, the school was known as St. Paul's College and as Tarsus College. The school had to endure difficult times in the First World War, and ultimately was entitled to be a high school / lycée governed by the Turkish Republic in 1928, under an administration led by Mr. Woolworth.

1930
The school graduates its first alumni under the name " Tarsus American College "

1954
"Friendship Hall " building opens.

1960
"Unity Hall " building opens.

1963
Senior year students known as the Legendary Class of 63 refused to participate in their commencement ceremony to receive their diplomas, along with rejection to participate in any social activity, due to a conflict with the school administration. Their move was supported by the whole student body, and with official permission from the Governor, organized a March to the Ataturk Monument, the first of its kind in the history of Tarsus, and placed a black wrath, to protest the School Administration.
The School Administration came to terms with this Legendary Class and organized a graduation ceremony for them in the year 2000.

1979
The school starts co-ed education. Alongside 506 boys, there are 35 girls in the student body.

1986
The school graduates its first coed alumni.
The boarding section, available from the preparatory year, is closed.

1988
"Centennial Hall " construction is completed and opened to service

1989
"Sadik Pasha Konak" is rented and starts to be used as an annex to the school buildings.

1990
Maynard Hall is added to the school campus.

1997
The renovation of Stickler building, the symbol of he school, begins. After the law of eight years of primary education becomes effective, the middle school section is removed. Meanwhile, a preparatory year is added to the high school / lycée section. The Health and Education Foundation opens the Tarsus SEV Elementary School to fill the gap of a middle school.

1999
Stickler Hall, which was not used for some time, is re-opened for use.

2002
The school re-launches its boarding section for boys.

2003–2004
TAC initiates a four-year high school / lycée program. Today the school provides its students with modern academics through its laboratories, multi-functional sports hall, sports complexes, auditorium and libraries.

Academics

Tarsus American College offers its students qualified education with options. TAC is authorized to offer the IB Diploma Programme since November 2004, the programme is taught in English.

Student life in TAC

The academic programs constitute the skeleton of the school's work, but other programs are available. These other programs are:

activities in clubs
community service
sport
school trips
after-school social activities
The Student Council

Activities in clubs

Tarsus American College hosts a brotherhood system among students.

Every student from the Prep class to grade 11, is required to take part in a club activity each week. The activity period is the last session on Wednesday afternoon. To oversee the activities of clubs, there is an activity coordinator who oversees the matching of students in clubs at the start of the year and who also helps the administration to monitor attendance of the clubs as well as monitoring the quality of work undertaken by the clubs. He/she is responsible for the reservation and use of the auditorium, for the provision of service buses where necessary and to help guide teachers through the process of getting official approval from the local Ministry of Education Office for trips outside the school.

Club targets could be a production as in a drama club or music club or the publication of a work by students, a writing club or a magazine club or it could include attendance at a certain number of debating conferences or competitions in the case of the Debate Club or Model United Nations and so on.

Attendance to clubs during school time is obligatory.
The activities in clubs to be offered in the 2006-2007 academic year are as follows:

Basketball
ISTA
Dance
Handball
History
Computer
Model Plane
Turkish Drama
Science Club
The Echo Band
English Drama
Book Mobile
MUN
Folk Dances
Athletics
Debate
School Newsletter
Football
Chess
Art/Photography
Table Tennis

Community service

Tarsus American College has a tradition of having students take part in community service. Some community service activities undertaken by students fifty years ago have become important local industries and people who have served with distinction the community around the Tarsus American College have gone on to work to form and to work in government agencies concerned with national development projects. All students are expected to take part in community service activities. These community service activities include the following:

teaching English to local students
supporting a school in a nearby mountain village
organizing sports activities for students who do not get the opportunity to do so many sports
planting trees
visiting senior citizens to keep them company
social activities

Each student is expected to take part in activities of their choice for 20 hours to reach a minimum attendance requirement. Students who exceed 35 hours for the year are awarded a merit certificate for their extra service.
There is a community service coordinator.

Sports

Sport is an important part of the fabric of school. Students have the opportunity to choose sporting activities during the club hours on Wednesday afternoon. The sports clubs on the club afternoon are not limited to school teams. In fact, students from outside the school teams are encouraged to join these clubs for interest, for fitness and for fun.

The school has school teams in various sports.

After school activities

These activities include sport practice, extra study with teachers, community service projects, drama rehearsals and special events such as musical evenings and the carnival.

Student council

The college encourages student representation to discuss student welfare and the enrichment of student life.
The School Council activities are bound by Ministry rules and within the framework of ministry rules, the school has its own Student Council constitution. The TAC Student Council constitution sets down procedures for the election of the members of the Council and guidelines for how the Council should operate.
hi peace out

Notable alumni

Iskender Sayek, Professor of General Surgery, Vice President Turkish Medical Doctors Union, TAO 60 - TAC 63
Tibet Ağırtan, member of the band avi Sakal]
Ozdemir Aktan, Professor of medicine/surgery, researcher, TAO, TAC'71
Mete Akyol, journalist
Kaan Altan
Kaan Altan
Kaan Altan is a founding member of the Turkish rock band Mavi Sakal. He currently performs in the band Kesmeşeker as a guitarist.- References :...

, member of the band Mavi Sakal
Mavi Sakal
Mavi Sakal is a Turkish rock band, founded by Murat Tümer, Kaan Altan, and Tibet Ağırtan in 1980, who were students at the Tarsus American College in Tarsus, Turkey...
Ahu Antmen, Columnist, Arts Critic;
Ayşe Arman
Ayse Arman
Ayşe Arman is a Turkish journalist, and a regular columnist in the newspaper Hürriyet. She is best known for her interviews. Arman is the author of two books, one of which is a compilation of best moments of her interviews made over the past decade.- Personal life :She was born in her father's...

, female columnist
Mustafa Aysan, economist and columnist
Turan Berki, Professor of cardiovascular surgery, TAO, TAC'71
Mert Burian, author
Cengiz Çandar
Cengiz Çandar
Cengiz Çandar is a Turkish journalist and a former war correspondent.-Early life:He finished the secondary school at Talas American College in Talas, Kayseri and the high school at Tarsus American College in Tarsus, Mersin...

(1948), journalist
Oral Çalışlar, journalist, author
Muhteşem Ekenler, businessman
Hakan Eminsoy, CEO of the ING Bank Turkey;
Salim Erdem, businessman
Aydemir Esencan, businessman
Semih Firincioglu, composer, writer/translator and theater director, TAC'71
Alev Gocmez, Bank CEO, TAO, TAC'71
Haluk Gorgun, CEO of Toyotasa/Turkey
Necati Güler, retired captain of the Turkey national basketball team
Turkey national basketball team
The Turkish national basketball team is the basketball section that represents Turkey in international competitions. The team is nicknamed "12 Dev Adam" ....
Hasan Gülesci, former CEO of the SABANCI Group
Uluç Gürkan, politician and former MP, author
Ahmet Hoke, Professor of neurology and neuroscience at Johns Hopkins University,researcher
Ertugrul İçingir, Turkish Surfing champion and leading surfer
Burhan Karaçam, banker and entrepreneur
Ali Samsa Karamehmet, businessman
Muhtar Kent
Muhtar Kent
Muhtar Kent is a Turkish business executive. He is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Coca-Cola Company. He was appointed to assume the position of Chief Operating Officer of the Company in 2008.-Early life:...

, President and CEO of the Coca-Cola Company, TAC'71
Uygur Kocabasoglu, author of the book "Anadolu'daki Amerika";
Suphan Kovenklioglu, Professor of engineering at Stevens Institute of Technology, researcher
Ömer Ural Kükner, journalist
Reşit Ömer Kükner, journalist
Osman Faruk Logolu, former Ambassador of the Turkish Republic to the USA
Malik Mufti, Associate Professor, Tufts University
Tufts University
Tufts University is a private research university located in Medford/Somerville, near Boston, Massachusetts. It is organized into ten schools, including two undergraduate programs and eight graduate divisions, on four campuses in Massachusetts and on the eastern border of France...
Celil Oker, Author, mystery novels, TAO, TAC'71
Suleyman Ozekici, Professor of engineering, researcher, TAC'71
Tamer Ozsu, Professor of engineering, researcher, Director of University of Waterloo, David R. Cheriton School Of Computer Science
Mehmet Sabancı
Mehmet Sabanci
Mehmet Sabancı , a member in third generation of the renowned Sabancı family in Turkey, was a businessman.Mehmet was born on April 25, 1963 in Adana as the third child and the second son of Hacı Sabancı...

(1963–2004), businessman
Ömer Sabancı
Ömer Sabanci
Ömer Sabancı , a member of the Turkey’s second wealthiest Sabancı family in third generation, is a Turkish businessman. He has the ex-chairman of the prestigious Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association .-Biography:...

, businessman
Özdemir Sabancı
Özdemir Sabanci
Özdemir Sabancı was a Turkish businessman and a second generation member of the Sabancı family.-Biography:He was born in Adana, Turkey. After finishing the high school at the Tarsus American College in Tarsus, province Mersin, he received his B.A...

(1941–1996), businessman
Demir Sabancı
Demir Sabanci
Demir Sabancı , a member of the Sabancı family in third generation, is a Turkish businessman and entrepreneur.He was born in year 1971 as the son of Özdemir Sabancı, who was murdered by a terrorist attack in 1996 in the building of headquarters of Sabancı Holding in İstanbul, Turkey...

, businessman, son of Özdemir Sabancı, entrepreneur
Şevket Sabancı
Sevket Sabanci
Şevket Sabancı , a member of the renowned Sabancı family in second generation, is a Turkish businessman and philanthropist.-Biography:...

, businessman
Ahmet Satir, Professor of management, decision science, researcher
Tayyar Sen, Professor of engineering, researcher, TAC'71
Hamit Serbest, Professor of engineering, researcher, TAC'71
Ayhan Sicimoğlu, musician
Cihangir Sonat, retired basketball player, member of the Turkey national basketball team
Turkey national basketball team
The Turkish national basketball team is the basketball section that represents Turkey in international competitions. The team is nicknamed "12 Dev Adam" ....
Ogan Soysal, Chief Aide for Turgut Özal; the President of the Turkish Republic;
Aydin Sunol, Professor of engineering, researcher, TAC'71
İstemihan Talay, politician and former minister
Mehmet Topal, First Turkish Erasmus Mundus
Erasmus Mundus
The European Union's Erasmus Mundus programme aims to enhance quality in higher educationthrough scholarships and academic co-operation between Europe and the rest of the world.Erasmus Mundus comprises three Actions:-Erasmus Mundus Joint Programmes:...

Fellow
Cevdet Tosyalı, member of the band Mavi Sakal
Mavi Sakal
Mavi Sakal is a Turkish rock band, founded by Murat Tümer, Kaan Altan, and Tibet Ağırtan in 1980, who were students at the Tarsus American College in Tarsus, Turkey...
Olcayto Ahmet Tuğsuz, columnist
Ilter Turan
Ilter Turan
İlter Turan is a Turkish academic. He is a professor of Political Science in the Department of International Relations at Istanbul Bilgi University. He was Rector of the University from 1998 to 2001....

, Professor
Murat Tümer, member of the band Mavi Sakal
Mavi Sakal
Mavi Sakal is a Turkish rock band, founded by Murat Tümer, Kaan Altan, and Tibet Ağırtan in 1980, who were students at the Tarsus American College in Tarsus, Turkey...
Kemal Yegenoglu, President of Kennametal Europe, engineering researcher, TAO, TAC'71
Erkut Yücaoglu, Member and former President of the Turkish Industrialists and Businessman Ass. (TUSIAD);

External links

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