Selçuk University (SU) and Selçuklu Municipality organized a sapling planting event on the occasion of May 19 Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day for Selçuk University academic and administrative staff and students who lost their lives due to Covid-19.

In the program held in the area where Merve Mercan Park will be built in SU Alaeddin Keykubat Campus, saplings were planted by Faculty Member Prof. Dr. Kadir Can Özkan from Faculty of Veterinary Science, Dr. Lecturer Mehmet Taşer from Faculty of Science, University administrative staff Sabit Dinç, A. İlk Küçüktunç and Durmuş Tuna (retired), in memory of  Faculty of Medicine 6th year intern student Merve Mercan and Faculty of Agriculture 2nd year student Ömer Batuhan.

AK Party Deputy Chairman and Konya Deputy Leyla Şahin Usta, Selçuk University Deputy Rector Prof. Dr. Emrullah Eken, Selçuklu Mayor Ahmet Pekyatırmacı, Selçuk University Vice Rectors Prof. Dr. İlhan Çiftci and Prof. Dr. Ahmet Tuğrul Polat, University Secretary General Prof. Dr. Kamil Beşoluk, Deputy Secretary General Hikmet Özdemir, AK Party Konya Provincial Youth Wings President Mustafa Selman Avcı, academic staff and students attended the program.

AK Party Deputy Chairman and Konya Deputy Leyla Şahin Usta said that they are celebrating the 102nd anniversary of May 19 Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day and commemorated Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and his comrades-in-arms with mercy and gratitude.

Stating that they came together on this meaningful day both to visit the Merve Mercan Park and to plant the first saplings where their names will come to life, Usta said, "Merve Mercan will be a 'symbolic name' for all healthcare workers during these difficult times. She was a friend and colleague who was an intern doctor. May God have mercy on her and grant her heavenly abode. Under her name, we wish God's mercy to all our citizens during the pandemic process, we wish condolences to her loved ones. I would like to emphasize and remind everyone, especially those who are in line for vaccination, to participate in the vaccination without delay and to get their vaccines done, especially here today, while commemorating Merve Mercan's name. We wish us to reach many more years in which we commemorate May 19 Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day with excitement as a nation."

Mayor of Selçuklu Municipality Ahmet Pekyatırmacı stated that today we are celebrating the 102nd anniversary of Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk's landing in Samsun and said, "Today, we are moving towards the future in a free way in these lands. In commemoration of this day, we are planting the first saplings of Merve Mercan Park, which we started to build in the campus area of Selçuk University. In memory of May 19, we will have realized a beautiful event. We wish God's mercy to all our citizens who lost their lives due to Covid-19 and our condolences to the Selçuk University family and the families and relatives of our citizens who lost their lives."

After the speeches, the saplings were planted by the participants. Signboards with names were also placed next to the saplings.