Meet Ece Rende, a recipient of the BTF Impact Scholarship for the 2024-2025 academic year. Currently, she is a second-year student in M.S. in Enterprise Risk Management Program at Columbia University in New York, focusing on financial risk management with an emphasis on market risk. Ece’s excellent academic achievement, maintaining a 4.20 GPA in her first year, highlights the importance of fully leveraging the opportunities provided by the Bridge to Türkiye Fund.
Ece earned her B.A. in Economics from Boğaziçi University in Istanbul, graduating with honors. She is from Hatay and was firsthand affected by the February 2023 earthquakes in Türkiye, where she lost loved ones and witnessed her town’s destruction. Her story has never been easy, but her dedication to helping others and being part of the change led her to New York to pursue her dreams. Her application process for the BTF Impact Scholarship began after the devastating earthquake.
She explained,
‘’During that time, I first learned about BTF through their relief efforts in Hatay, which left a lasting impression on me. After being admitted to Columbia University, I reached out to BTF about their scholarship, and I was fortunate to receive their support. The BTF Impact Scholarship has since been the most meaningful support for my graduate education, covering an important portion of my tuition and enabling me to focus on academics, leadership, and career development without distraction. This support has allowed me to make the most of my experience at Columbia and to prepare for a successful career in finance.’’
The BTF Impact Scholarship unlocked the opportunities that Ece deserved when she needed them most after the earthquake. Now a top student in Enterprise Risk Management Program, her academic record is as remarkable as her resilience despite the challenges she faced. Ece has taken advantage of learning opportunities and leadership roles on campus that fuel her passion for creating meaningful change in her town. At Columbia, she has served as a Student Project Associate on the “Building Back Better in Hatay” project with Columbia’s Center for Sustainable Urban Development, where she contributed to risk mitigation and long-term planning efforts in her hometown after the devastating earthquakes. Ece shares that contributing to this effort has been deeply meaningful to her, especially given her personal connection to the disaster. As BTF aspires to invest in students who will serve as a ‘bridge’ to Türkiye’s future, Ece is already building that bridge, starting with Hatay. Her experience exemplifies the heart of the BTF Impact Scholarship — supporting innovative prospective leaders who combine their talents and backgrounds to make a lasting impact.
Financial risk has been Ece’s focus, and she aspires to build a successful career in New York. To deepen her expertise in finance and fully leverage the university’s resources, she has also taken courses at Columbia Business School. In addition to her coursework, she serves as a Teaching Assistant for the Financial Risk Management course, where she supports students with core financial concepts and risk modeling. Outside of the classroom, she also leads as President of the Columbia Investment and Finance Society (CIFS), a student organization dedicated to supporting career development in the financial industry. Ece’s inspiring journey demonstrates remarkable perseverance and academic achievement in the face of adversity, despite the extraordinary challenges she encountered. Reflecting on the BTF Impact Scholarship journey, Ece’s message:
‘’I know that the support of the BTF has played an important role in helping me reach this point, and I carry that with gratitude as I move forward.’’
Ece offers advice to students interested in applying for the BTF Impact Scholarship: ‘’Be authentic in telling your story and clear about your aspirations. Share your journey, your goals, and the impact you hope to make. And remember, you don’t have to do it all alone. Reaching out for help is part of the journey, and there are people in this community who care and are willing to support you.’’
The Bridge to Türkiye Fund’s mission is to support talented students who demonstrate solid academic potential, leadership, and resilience. Ece’s story exemplifies more than the highest standards set by the BTF. Ece attributes her success to the BTF Impact Scholarship, which believed in her potential. By empowering students through financial support, the Bridge to Türkiye Fund opens doors to brighter futures for students across Türkiye.