Renowned figures, who have led society in fields such as literature, science, art, and sports since the founding of the Turkish Republic, came together at the traditional Turkish Republic Ball organized by Private Piri Reis Schools.
The traditional Turkish Republic Ball, organized by Private Piri Reis Schools to introduce 5th-grade students to the prominent figures who shaped the history of the Turkish Republic and to help them experience the social life of its early years, was held with great enthusiasm.
Students attended the ball to celebrate the 102nd Anniversary of the Turkish Republic after researching many pioneering figures in the history of the republic – from Vecihi Hurkus, the first Turkish aircraft designer and one of the most prominent names in Turkish aviation, to Vasfiye Ozkocak, Türkiye’s first female legal correspondent; from Sabiha Gurayman, Türkiye’s first female civil engineer, Fenerbahce’s first female volleyball player, and the chief construction supervisor during the building of Anitkabir, to Cemal Resit Rey, one of the first-generation Republican composers and the creator of the 10th Anniversary March.
Inspired by the ball attended by the Great Leader Mustafa Kemal Ataturk eight months before his passing in Bursa, the event was held at the Guzelbahce and Karsiyaka campuses. The 5th-grade students, portraying historical figures, entered the ballroom by walking down the red carpet after announcing the names of the personalities they represented. The evening began with the 10th Anniversary Speech delivered in Ataturk’s own voice and continued as the students waltzed with their partners. Following a concert by the orchestra performing popular songs and folk tunes from the early years of the Republic, the event concluded with a girls’ choir singing songs from that time and a zeybek dance performed by the boys.
Sabrina Ataseven, General Manager of Private Piri Reis Schools, said the Turkish Republic Ball has become a cherished tradition and continued: “We want our students to learn by living through the experiences we teach. The Turkish Republic Ball is one of the most meaningful examples. We aim to help students feel what the early years of the Republic were like. At the start of the year, we pair each 5th grader with a historical figure whose personality resembles theirs and ask them to research that person in detail. During the Republic Week, they attend the ball in that character’s identity. This year, nearly 50 fifth graders from our Guzelbahce and Karsiyaka campuses gained invaluable experiences both educationally and personally—memories they will cherish for a lifetime.”
