EDUCATION IS INVESTING IN THE FUTURE Photo report from the solemn meeting at BSAA, dedicated to the Knowledge Day

There are many notable dates and events in the History Calendar. But among them there is a holiday, equally dare and understandable to everyone - this is the Knowledge Day. Despite the fact that by historical standards we began to celebrate it not so long ago, it has been for many decades that it unites people of different generations into a huge educational family. Makes us remember the past. Evaluate the present. And look confidently into the future.

"Nothing contributes so much to prosperity, power, and happiness of a nation as education," claimed American President Thomas Jefferson. "Education is the foundation of society, a pass for the state and the whole nation in tomorrow," these words belong to President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, a graduate of the Belarusian State Agricultural Academy. On September 1, the Head of State took a personal part in the opening of a new school in the city of Bobruisk. And on the solemn meeting dedicated to the Knowledge Day, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Subbotin came to his alma mater.

Every year at the end of August, the district center of Gorki begins to acquire the features of one of the youth cities. It is all thanks to students that come to study from all parts of the republic, as well as countries near and far abroad.

Fanfare sounded solemnly. Presenters announce the guests of honor of the holiday. In addition to the Deputy Prime Minister, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor A.M. Subbotin, the First Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food of the Republic I.V. Brylo took part in the celebrations. Member of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus, Deputy Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Parliament on Education, culture and science E.P. Kolesnev, Chairman of the Gorki District Executive Committee M.V.Guly, Archbishop Sofronius of Mogilev and Mstislavl, rector of the church of the Icon of the Mother of God father Nikita, Director of Gorki Elevator P.I. Panasyuga, Director of Uchkhoz BSAA A.I. Yankovich, director of the center of banking services No. 708 of LLC Savings Bank Belarusbank branch S.V.Kutovskaya, and director of the private manufacturing unitary enterprise "VasLes" S.P. Kokits visited the event.

The solemn meeting is declared open. The national anthem of the Republic of Belarus and the anthem of the Academy are heard. The honorary right to raise the flag of the BSAA is granted to excellent students Daria Marchenko and Ilya Chopik. Under the traditional performance with faculties' banners there is a roll call of all faculties of the academy.

Vitaly Velikanov, Rector of BSAA, addresses the participants of the solemn event with words of greeting and congratulations. He addresses special words to "heroes of the hour - the freshmen of the oldest university in our country, the leading university in the industry."

The rector warmly congratulated the teachers, wished "everyone good health, well-being, peace, prosperity of our academy, our Gorki district, our region and our beautiful republic." He presented the Symbolic Knowledge Key to freshmen Daria Kabashova and Nikita Evdokimov.

Welcoming the participants of the solemn event, Deputy Prime Minister of the Government A.M.Subbotin spoke not only about the importance of higher education, but also about the need for consolidation in society. He wished the freshmen to perform as real citizens of Belarus. Deputy Prime Minister handed freshmen Arina Kharevich and Alexander Stakhovsky the Symbolic Student Ticket. Then A.M.Subbotin awarded one of the oldest teachers of the academy, candidate of economic sciences, professor Max Freidin for his conscientious work.

First Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food I.V. Brylo congratulated everyone not only on his own behalf, but also on behalf of the head of this republican agrarian department. He handed over the Welcome address signed by Minister I.I.Krupko to the rector V.V. Velikanov. A group of representatives of the academy was handed awards of Ministry of Agriculture and Food.

The fact that today every tenth works in the field of education was said by deputy Elena Kolesneva in her greeting. And this is almost 2 million students and postgraduates, about 4 thousand representatives of faculties. These figures emphasize the high educational level of Belarusian citizens and the wide opportunities for obtaining a diploma.

"There is nothing more noble than to teach someone, treat someone, and feed someone," said E.P. Kolesneva.

The head of the district presidential "vertical" M.V. Guly warmly congratulated all those present. He also presented Letters of Thanks of the district executive committee to students of the academy who actively worked during their stay in Gorki in the republican project "Youth Patriotic Train".

A wheat sheaf of the new crop was presented to students by P.I. Panasyuga. The instruction not to forget about spiritual improvement was given to everybody by Bishop Sophronius. A.I. Yankovich, S.V. Kutovskaya, S.P. Kokits warmly congratulated the participants of the meeting on Knowledge Day. A well-known entrepreneur S.P.Kokits presented a restored car GAZ-61 1968 for the academic museum of retro-technology.

Veronika Pshennikova, a student of the Faculty of Economics, spoke on behalf of freshmen, Batjargal Ganchuluun, a student of the Faculty of Land Management, from foreign citizens, who emphasized that "BSAA” is an academy of successful people." And therefore, he confidently chose this Belarusian university from a thousand foreign universities.

Then he culmination of the festive solemn event went on. Excellent student of the Faculty of Economics Ruslan Vishnyak lights the Fire in the Knowledge Bowl. At this time, girls let go into the sky the balloons of the colors of the state national flag - a symbol of pride and unity of all generations of the Belarusian people.

And from the ritual square with garlands of glory to the holy places of memory and sorrow dedicated to the Great Patriotic War, there leave the students - members of youth public organizations of the academy. This academic tradition has been going on for many years. As well as the red carpet, along which students are heading for the main educational building in order to leave the walls of the oldest university four years later with prestigious diplomas of European-level specialists. Good way, freshmen!

Lyudmila GONCHAROVA, Elena TUZHIKOVA
Photo: Alexander GURIKOV

The evening programme ended with the performance of Open air "POSITIVE.START.DANCE" of Vitebsk Cultural Centre the square near Academy’s Cultural Centre.