Date & Place of Birth: April 20, 2009, New York, Levittown, USA
Parents: Dr. Architect Günay Erdem & Landscape Architect Serpil Öztekin Erdem
Citizenship: Dual Citizenship (USA / Turkey)
IB Diploma & IGCSE Diploma, High School (2024 - 2027 expected)
BLIS (Bilkent Laboratory & International School), Ankara, Turkey
Note: Transferred to BLIS after DoDEA Ankara EHS was barred from enrolling Turkish citizens following a Turkish government decision.
The International Baccalaureate® (IB) Middle Years Programme (MYP) Diploma, Middle School (2021 - 2023)
BLIS, Ankara, Turkey (Completed 2023).
Elementary School (2015 - 2020)
DoDEA Ankara EHS, Ankara, Turkey
Note: Due to her parents' professions, she began her education at this multinational school attended by students from around the world.
Kindergarten (2014 - 2015)
DoDEA Ankara EHS, Ankara, Turkey
President's Education Awards Program: Outstanding Academic Excellence
Personally presented by the U.S. Ambassador David M. Satterfield at the elementary school graduation ceremony for outstanding achievement (2020).
DoDEA Science Fair Award
Received for the project: "The Effects of Ship Hull Forms on Velocity."
DoDEA Library Top Reader Award
Recognized as the student who borrowed the most books from the library in 2021.
Medical Shadowing (2025-2026)
Institution: Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Cardiology
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Tamer Sayın
Scope: Developed a special interest in heart health. Observed the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), ECHO, EKG, and Angiography laboratories. Attended angiography procedures, receiving information from faculty members. Communicated with resident doctors about their education and professional experiences, which further increased her interest in the medical field.
Academic Research Focus (Medical Law & Ethics):
During the shadowing experience, she was drawn to Prof. Sayın's openness to new communication techniques and the positive dialogue he established with his patients. She observed this approach was significantly different from the typical doctor-patient relationships encountered in Turkish state hospitals.
Prof. Sayın's method of making patients feel valued and being easily accessible via internet technologies inspired her to find ways to promote this approach throughout Turkey.
She initiated an academic and legal research process to investigate legislation governing doctor-patient relations in Turkey and other developed countries, with the goal of producing recommendations for legislative improvements.
Objective: Aims to publish findings in peer-reviewed academic journals in the fields of medicine and law.
Project: "Solisfoco" Sustainable Heating System
Designed the "Solisfoco" project, utilizing "Trombe Wall" principles, to enable the solar heating of all residences in continental climate zones.
The project was supported by the BLIS Science Committee and selected for the Robotics Legoleague Project group.
Represented BLIS at the Ankara Science Festival, organized by the Science Heroes Association (Bilim Kahramanları Derneği) (2023).
Project: "ForestAnkara" Urban Reforestation Project
As a result of environmental awareness developed during the pandemic, she designed this project to address Ankara's problematic flora choices and the negative impacts of climate change, proposing a mass-scale reforestation plan for the Ankara region.
Project: "The Effects of Ship Hull Forms on Velocity"
Participated in the DoDEA Science Fair and received an award for this project.
Publications
(Currently developing publication goals in the field of Medical Law & Ethics).
5th Grade Volunteer Math Teacher (2025 - 2026)
School Support Association (Okul Destek Derneği), Turkey
Private Piano Tutor (2022 - Present)
Ankara, Turkey
Private Tennis Tutor (2022 - Present)
Ankara, Turkey
Founder & Organizer: BLIS Tennis Working Group
After years of unanswered requests to the BLIS Sports Department for a Tennis Club and observing the profit-oriented nature of existing clubs, she took the initiative to unite BLIS students interested in tennis.
Organized tennis matches and tournaments among students during out-of-school hours.
Volunteer Library Mentor (DoDEA)
Maintained her connection with DoDEA Ankara after the pandemic, continuing to use the library and attend events.
Read books to new students and taught them reading and writing.
Awarded "Top Reader" status in 2021.
Scouting Experience (2016 - 2017)
Joined the scouting group organized by DoDEA and U.S. Embassy staff.
Gained survival experience in various challenging natural conditions.
Set up tent camps in Ankara's cold winter conditions on the school campus, in the U.S. Embassy residence garden, and in the Bolu mountains.
Social Responsibility Projects
Actively participated in the organization of numerous social responsibility projects during her time at DoDEA.
Cultural & Sports Event Participant
Participated in all school-organized sporting (soccer, basketball, tennis) and cultural (theater, music shows, etc.) events at DoDEA.
Online Course: The Health Effects of Climate Change
Successfully completed the course offered by HarvardX, the online learning initiative of Harvard University (Summer 2025).
Piano (2015 - Present)
Instructor: Artist Lecturer Dr. Aylin Ipekçioğlu
Institution: Hacettepe University Ankara State Conservatory
Note: Began in the 1st grade.
Tennis (2016 - 2020)
Institution: Ankara Tennis Club (ATK)
Note: Began professional tennis training in the 1st grade and quickly became a professional athlete for ATK.
Scouting (2016 - 2017)
Institution: DoDEA Ankara EHS, Ankara, Turkey
Theater (2016 - 2019)
Instructor: Mr. Stuart Downing
Institution: BESA (British Embassy School Ankara)
Note: Selected as an actress through auditions. Participated in weekend rehearsals for over 6 months each year for 3 years.
Swimming (2017 - 2018)
Institution: Ankara University, Faculty of Sport Sciences
Volleyball (2022 - 2023)
Institution: Ankara Atak Sports Club
Volleyball (2023 - 2024)
Institution: BLIS
Skiing (2019 - Present)
Instructor: Retired Special Forces Colonel Hüseyin Balcı
Ballet (2013 - 2015)
Institution: Fame Dance Studio, Ankara, Turkey
Online Course: Watercolor Painting (2020)
Institution: DoDEA Online Courses
Online Course: Astronomy (2020)
Institution: DoDEA Online Courses
Note: Took classes taught by former NASA employees.
Online Course: Laboratory (Chemistry) (2020)
Institution: DoDEA Online Courses
Note: Took chemistry classes during the pandemic.
Science Performances
"Solisfoco" Trombe Wall Presentation (2023)
Venue: Science Festival, Science Heroes Association, Çankaya University, Ankara
DoDEA Science Fair Participations (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020)
Venue: DoDEA Ankara EHS, Ankara
Note: Won an award in 2019 for "The Effects of Ship Hull Forms on Velocity."
Piano Performances
Winter Concert (2017)
Venue: DoDEA Ankara EHS, Ankara
Spring Concert (2018)
Venue: DoDEA Ankara EHS, Ankara
Recital (2023)
Venue: Çankaya Municipality Yaşar Kemal Kültür Merkezi, Ankara
Note: Performed globally recognized musical pieces at school music events in the 4th and 5th grades.
Theater Performances
Note: Performed in plays staged dozens of times for audiences of over 500 at the Farabi Stage, Ankara.
The Jungle Book (2017)
Director: Stuart Downing (BESA), Venue: Farabi Stage, Ankara
Prince and the Pauper (2018)
Director: Stuart Downing (BESA), Venue: Farabi Stage, Ankara
Witchwood (2019)
Director: Stuart Downing (BESA), Venue: Farabi Stage, Ankara
Ballet Performance
[Show Title Not Specified] (2015)
Institution: Fame Dance Studio, Venue: Cüneyt Gökçer Stage, Ankara
Running Performance
International Runkara Half Marathon (21K) (2025)
Location: Ankara (Organizers: Ankara Governorship, Ministry of Youth and Sports, ABB, Runkara)
Tennis Tournament Performances
Note: As a professional athlete for ATK, participated in tennis tournaments across Turkey.
Summer Cup (2018)
Club: Ankara Tennis Club, Ankara
Winter Cup (2018)
Club: Atlı Tennis Club, Ankara
Winter Cup (2018)
Club: Ankara Tennis Club, Ankara
Spring Cup (2019)
Club: Gölbaşı Tennis Club, Ankara
Summer Cup (2019)
Club: İzmir Tennis Club, İzmir
Autumn Cup (2020)
Club: Ankara Tennis Club, Ankara
Volleyball Tournament Performances
Ankara Inter-School Volleyball Tournament (2023)
Venue: Batıkent xxx Middle School, Ankara
Ankara International Schools Volleyball Tournament (2024)
Participants: DoDEA, BLIS, OASIS, Charles De Gaulle
Venue: OASIS, Ankara
Languages
English: Native
Turkish: Native
Spanish: Intermediate
Software Skills
Microsoft Office
Adobe Photoshop
Lumion