Fikret Yüksel Foundation
The Fikret Yüksel Foundation was established in 1998 by Fikret Yüksel, a graduate of Darüşşafaka. The main objective of our foundation is to support the education of Turkish students and equip them with 21st century skills, particularly by including them in FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) programs.
Funded by the profits of Yüksel A.Ş. and corporate sponsorships, our foundation continues Fikret Yüksel’s passion for education. Our mission is to bring FIRST® programs to more students in Turkiye and help young people develop their skills in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
The Fikret Yüksel Foundation, which plays a pioneering role in the spread of FIRST® programs in Turkiye, provides teams with education, funding, and consulting support, and also contributes to the organization of competitions. By facilitating the participation of hundreds of teams in FIRST® programs, we enable young people to discover the spirit of innovation and teamwork.
We continue to work toward cultivating generations that will shape the future world.
“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire”
– William Butler Yeats
Who is Fikret Yüksel?
Fikret Yüksel graduated from Darüşşafaka High School in 1934 and then studied construction, building, and geotechnical engineering in Germany and the United States. He worked on important engineering projects in both Turkiye and the United States. After retiring, he entered the real estate sector with his daughter Susan Burchard and founded Yüksel A.Ş. Following his passing, he bequeathed the profits of his company to a foundation supporting the education of Turkish students, primarily at Darüşşafaka. His legacy continues to impact the lives of thousands of students through the Fikret Yüksel Foundation.
Misyonumuz ve Vizyonumuz
Our mission: To spread FIRST® programs to as many students as possible in Turkiye. We accomplish this mission by working with teams to assist them with education, financing, and consulting, and by organizing the competitions they participate in.
Our vision: To prepare Turkish youth for the 21st century and beyond as competent, innovative individuals with problem-solving skills in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). We aim to nurture leaders who can produce solutions to the global issues of the future.
Our Events
The FIRST® Robotics Competition (FRC) is an exciting program in which high school students use complex engineering principles and robotic skills to design and build industrial-scale robots over a six-week period. Teams program and control their robots to perform specific tasks in a competitive environment. FRC not only equips students with technical skills but also provides opportunities to develop critical competencies such as teamwork, leadership, problem-solving, and time management. This program encourages young people to pursue STEM careers while giving them the experience of tackling real-world engineering challenges.
FIRST® Tech Challenge (FTC) is a robotics competition program for middle and high school students, where they design and build smaller, more flexible robots. Students design, code, and test their robots to complete various tasks in a designated game area. FTC offers a more accessible entry point compared to FRC, enabling students to gain robotics experience with lower costs and simpler tools. This program provides students with the opportunity to develop fundamental engineering and programming skills, utilize their creativity, and collaborate within a team, while guiding them toward the world of science and technology.
2025-2026 FIRST AGE
Uncover the Future!
Every artifact we uncover holds a story. Each tool, each innovation, each work of art connects us to the people and ideas that came before us. Using STEM skills and teamwork, today we can dig deeper into discoveries than ever before.
Welcome to FIRST® AGE™ presented by Qualcomm, our 2025-2026 robotics season inspired by archaeology. What will you uncover?
Join us for an experience for the ages.
