The Çiğdem and Hossein Dabir Award for Excellence in Short Fiction is an annual award that recognizes Bilkent students who demonstrate exceptional proficiency in short fiction. The 2024 award ceremony took place on Friday, February 7, at the İhsan and Ayser Doğramacı Science, Culture and Arts Center. Applicants were selected from ENG 312 – Introduction to Creative Writing through their submission of a single work of short fiction. The winners were chosen by a committee of representatives from ELIT, COMD and ENG.
The 2024 first-prize winner was Almira Balaban with her work “Laurent-Perrier.” Second prize went to Zeynep Serdaroğlu with “Getaway,” and İpek Aydıngül won third with “Genesis.” Sedil Salimoğlu’s story, “The Roses in Your Name,” was awarded the distinction of Honorable Mention.
In addition to the short fiction awards, a poster design competition was held to visually represent these creative works. The winners of this competition were also recognized at the ceremony with certificates. The recipients of this honor were İpek Bilek, Nisa Miray Gidirişlioğlu, Ayşe Aytekin and Elif Ada Koç.
Çiğdem and Hossein Dabir, lifelong advocates for creative expression and student success, contributed greatly to the development of the ENG 312 course. Their passion for short fiction and students inspired this award, established in their memory following their passing in 2015 and 2020. It honors their legacy by recognizing and celebrating the artistic achievements of Bilkent students.