January 25th is Students Day in Russia, also known as Tatyana's Day. In anticipation of this holiday, students from South Ural State University participated in a grand show, which has been held on a skating rink this year.
The celebration began with a performance by figure skaters who demonstrated incredible ease and grace in dance. A theatrical prologue dedicated to the history of the foundation of Lomonosov Moscow State University took the guests of the event back to the distant 18th century, when Empress Elizabeth had signed a decree on the establishment of the university.
Then the SUSU Rector Alexander Wagner stepped onto the ice. He congratulated students on their holiday and wished them success in their studies, good luck and unlimited opportunities.
"Dear friends, I sincerely congratulate you on this wonderful holiday – Russian Students Day! This day unites university teachers, staff and, of course, students. It reminds us why we come to the university, and what the university gives to our students. The new format of the celebration was very interesting and exciting. I think it's great to start the holidays this way!"
A bright flash mob took place on the skating rink; students participated in a quiz, enjoyed performances by the university's creative teams, and also took photos. Guests were treated to hot pies, aromatic non-alcoholic mulled wine, tea and coffee, which was especially seasonable on a frosty winter day.
One of the most anticipated moments was the Rector’s traditional announcement of the students' wishes, which would be fulfilled during 2025. The commission examined all the wishes in detail, selecting not 3, as it had been before, but 4 of them.
The first wish is a new access control and management system that allows using QR codes to enter the university. Students have already appreciated the advantages of this system in the SUSU main building, and now it will be available in the second one.
The second wish is to create a new food outlet in the SUSU Building No.2, which will be available to everyone. It will be a spacious, aesthetic and modern space where you can enjoy delicious food and drinks.
The third wish is a Chinese New Year greeting, which can be seen on the main building. In the evening, the windows on the SUSU main building will light up, depicting the corresponding hieroglyphs.
The fourth wish is especially for Anastasiia Shamanaeva, a student at the SUSU Institute of Media, Social Sciences and Humanities. She asked the Rector for an 8-volume edition dedicated to the history of the South Ural region as a gift.
"I study at the Department of National and Foreign History, and receiving these books was my cherished dream. I did not expect it to come true so quickly, and it was especially nice that they were presented by the Rector of our university. It was an incredible feeling. I really liked today's celebration, which took place in an unusual format, it was a lot of fun," shared Anastasiia.
There were also some pleasant surprises: students received memorable gifts for participating in the quiz. And free skating was a great end to the celebration and gave the students and teachers of the university a lot of positive emotions.
Students noted that they liked the unusual format of the holiday, and they are looking forward to what the organizers will prepare next year.