Two 11th-grade students from Derya Öncü High School (Üsküdar Campus), Ecrin Erdem and İhsan Emre Küçükbarutcu, have been named Trakya-Marmara Regional Finalists in the 15th Oxford Big Read Competition – a prestigious literary contest that encourages reading and creative expression among high school students.
The Oxford Big Read Competition, organized annually by Oxford University Press, invites students across Turkey to engage with English literature through reading, writing, and illustration. Participants submit creative responses inspired by books they have read, aiming to showcase their language skills and imagination.
Ecrin and İhsan impressed the judges with their outstanding work, earning them a spot in the regional finals among hundreds of submissions from the Trakya-Marmara region. Their success reflects both their personal dedication and the strong emphasis on language learning at Derya Öncü High School.
"We are incredibly proud of our students' achievement," said a school representative. "This accomplishment is a testament to their passion for reading and their ability to express themselves in English at a high level."
The Oxford Big Read continues to inspire young readers across the country, and being named regional finalists is a significant milestone in Ecrin and İhsan's academic journey. The school community congratulates them and wishes them continued success in future competitions.