The Faculty of Academic English Program (FAE) has started The Çiğdem and Hossein Dabir Award for Excellence in Short Fiction. The award is intended for Bilkent students who display exceptional proficiency in the short fiction form. Current applicants were selected from ENG 312 – Introduction to Creative Writing through their submission of a single work of short fiction. The winners were ultimately decided by a committee composed of representatives from ELIT, COMD and FAE.
The first prize winner is Naz Nilsu Ayas with her work “Under the White Lilies.” Second prize went to Deniz Hasanzaadeh with her work “Lamby,” and Khatri Abdul Hadi Ashraf won third with “My Rock Friend.”
Çiğdem and Hossein Dabir were lifelong advocates for creative expression and student achievement. Both generously contributed to the design and delivery of earlier forms of the ENG 312 course. Çiğdem’s love for short fiction and Hossein’s love for students formed the genesis of this award. Their passing, in 2015 and 2020 respectively, was a great loss to the Bilkent Community. This award, in remembrance of their grace, serves to honor their memory by providing Bilkent students the opportunity to be recognized and share their artistry with us all.