Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
On the eve of the Old New Year, the Tower hosted the traditional meeting of Polytechnic University ambassadors. A warm and friendly atmosphere permeated the event. Everyone was delighted to see old friends, meet new like-minded individuals, and simply enjoy a pleasant and enjoyable festive winter evening.
New Year's is never complete without gifts. These were presented by the Fundraising and Alumni Relations Center.
The guests then took part in a traditional quiz. They were divided into 15 teams. They had to answer 20 questions about the history of the Polytechnic University and the biography of the university's first director, Prince Andrei Grigoryevich Gagarin. This year, the ambassadors' meeting was dedicated to the 170th anniversary of his birth.
Some questions were very simple, while others required a lot of brainpower or even just guessing. But the "Once Upon a Time" team handled them all brilliantly. They scored a whopping 17 points out of a possible 20 and became the winners.
After this, the official part of the event began. Maxim Pasholikov, SPbPU Vice-Rector for Information, Youth Policy, and Security, addressed the ambassadors: "It's a pleasure to have you gathered again today for our kind event at the Polytechnic University. As you know, 2024 marked the 125th anniversary of the Polytechnic University. Last year, 2025, marked the 120th anniversary of the Tower, and the main event of 2026 is the 170th anniversary of the birth of our university's first director, Prince Andrei Grigorievich Gagarin. We've already put together a fairly extensive plan of events for this occasion. At the end of last year, we opened an exhibition of art by Andrei Gagarin's great-granddaughter, which is located in the Research Building. This year also marks the 230th anniversary of the Church of the Ascension of Our Lord. It is currently undergoing restoration, and a great deal of work has already been invested in it by Polytechnicians." The church is located a few kilometers from Prince Gagarin's estate in Kholomki. Many of you have been actively involved in replenishing our endowment fund and have helped implement various Polytechnic University projects. So, I say a big thank you for staying with the Polytechnic University.
Maxim Pasholikov also noted other important events planned to mark Andrei Gagarin's birthday, such as the unveiling of a memorial plaque at his estate in Kholomki. Furthermore, as Deputy Chairman of the Polytechnic University Endowment Fund Board, he discussed the program's work for 2025.
Before the meeting of the Polytechnic University ambassadors, a joint meeting of the board and trustees of the SPbPU endowment fund was held, chaired by Elena Vinogradova. Olga Novikova, the fund's executive director, summarized the meeting's key outcomes: "I am delighted to see those who have been here for several years, and new friends of the Polytechnic University, who, I hope, will be inspired by our ideas. The income received by the endowment fund is spent both on preserving historical heritage and developing modern infrastructure projects. I would like to emphasize that we unite not only generations but also historical ideas related to philanthropy. For example, last year we reinstated the Witte scholarship, which was once awarded from charitable funds to low-income students. This was made possible by the reinstatement of the philanthropic mechanism. We are always open to communication with our alumni who are interested in what is happening at the Polytechnic University today. We have a Fundraising and Alumni Relations Center, which organized today's meeting. They will always be happy to see you." Please suggest your ideas for what else we can support with the foundation's funds. Last year, we were also able to reopen after renovations. a large physical audiencePerhaps your ideas will help attract new donors, and we will be able to implement even more useful projects.
After the ceremony, guests were invited to a chemistry show. It was hosted by activists from the ChemTeam student association—second- and third-year students from the Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Materials, and Transport and the Institute of Biomedical Systems and Biotechnology, Eva Kocharova, Stanislava Kononova, and Kristina Shkedya. Everyone was very impressed. It's worth noting that the chemistry team offers a variety of programs for both adults and children.
At the end of the evening, a buffet was organized for the Polytechnic ambassadors, where they could socialize informally and celebrate the past holidays together.
"I am pleased that new Polytechnic traditions are emerging and growing stronger, which undoubtedly include meetings of ambassadors and benefactors. After all, it is the Polytechnic fraternity and unity that constitutes the strength of our university," noted SPbPU Rector Andrey Rudskoy.
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