Commencement ceremony for exemplary students took place at SSU Bldg. X on July 4. 539 best students attended the ceremony.
Honorary guests, university administration, teachers, graduates, their friends and families were welcomed by student anthem “Gaudeamus”. Then Saratov University Rector Prof. A.N. Chumachenko took the floor. He congratulated the students said that it is a celebration for graduates and the whole university which trains well-qualified professionals. SSU provides its students with the high-quality education thanks to its long history and the best teachers. Support of the administration plays an important role in it, particularly, the support and help of the First Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration V.V. Volodin, Saratov Region government and the Governor V.V. Radaev, city administration, University Board of Trustees and its Chair O.Yu. Batalina.
Chair of State Duma Committee on Labor, Social Policy and Veteran Issues, Chair of SSU Board of Trustees O.Yu. Batalina welcomed the guests. She thanked the teachers and addressed the graduates: “I congratulate you on the graduation; I am happy that you have spent your university years with dignity, that you have achieved a lot. The University is proud of you, our region is proud of you, we are proud of you because we know we will meet you soon in companies and organizations of Saratov and other regions, in the capital. We will see that you have got good education. You will be in-demand as the University taught you the most important thing – how to learn. The main qualities for any job are the abilities to work hard, to learn something new, to acknowledge that you do not know everything as well as determination and decency. You have it all. Way to go!”
Saratov University President L.Yu. Kossovich reminded the graduates of the time when they were enrollees and chose a Faculty to study at; and today they get their Bachelor and Master degrees. “It is a truly exciting moment when we first meet you and this time now after four or six years when you are already grown up. You have translated possibilities the University provided you with into action. Now you start your adult life. Good luck! I wish you to worthy of the title of Saratov University graduate”.
The award ceremony was for the best students and student activists in social work, student self-governance, union work, sport, culture, and mass media. Their showed their short video presentations.
O.Yu. Batalina gave memorable gifts to students active in self-governance and mass media. For achievements in public words awards went to Faculty of Economics graduate, Students and Graduate Students Union secretary Olga Gavrilova, Institute of History and International Relations graduate, Commander of student teaching team “Phoenix” Vadim Kotelnikov, and Chair of the Student Council of the Faculty of Philosophy Ekaterina Slepakova. Institute of Philology and Journalism graduates Aleksandra Diakova, Galina Gaivoronskaya and Elena Krivitskaya got the awards for their active work in “SGUshenka” (Sweet Milk) magazine.
Saratov University Rector A.N. Chumachenko distributed awards in areas of sport and culture. He awarded Institute of Sport and Physical Culture graduates – candidate master of sports in swimming, Saratov region champion Kristina Korneeva, Europe and World champion in karate Anna Aleksiuk, and candidate master of sports in basketball, Saratov region champion Daria Smolnikova; Faculty of Foreign Languages and Language Teaching Methods graduate Natalia Danilenko; Institute of History and International Relations graduates – soloist of folk band “Prazdnik” Maria Vinogradskaya and head of student theatre “Paribashte” Yuri Muntian; Faculty of Economics graduate, head of dance band “PostScriptum” Victoria Babeshko; Faculty of Physics graduate, solo dancer of dance band “Art-mix” Rosa Mukhambetova.
L.Yu. Kossovich congratulated and awarded graduates active in social work and union work. Among them were Institute of History and International Relations graduate, winner of student competition “Best Union Leader 2014”, winner of All-Russia School “STIPKOM 2015” Anastasia Malkina, Faculty of Nonlinear Processes Union Chair, participant of the international conference “Gold Star” Alesia Kozabniak, Faculty of Biology Union Chair, Faculty of Law graduate, Chair of the Student Union of Dormitory №5 Natalia Scherbakova, winners of All-Russia Student Teachers’ Skills competition “Entering the Profession” – Isntitute of Philology and Journalism graduate Polina Ganina, Faculty of Foreign Languages and Language Teaching Methods graduate Irina Kuzmicheva and Institute of Sports and Physical Training graduate Aleksey Miasnikov.
The audience enjoyed the show by folk band “Prazdnik”, modern dance band “Art-mix”, and author song band “Zhabik”.
On behalf of Saratov University Deans and Directors, Faculty of Law Dean G.N. Komkova congratulated the graduates and wished success in the future: “Do not be afraid to lead, do not be afraid to set ambitious goals. You can do that, you have proved it by getting your diplomas with distinction”.
Faculty of Economics student Olga Gavrilova gave an answering speech on behalf of all Saratov University graduates of 2016. The ceremony finished with a song “Beggin” by Anna Maliakina, winner of “Student Spring” Festival.
