January 25th is celebrated in Russia as Students Day, one of our country’s brightest youth holidays. On the eve of the main university celebration, South Ural State University (SUSU) hosted a festive event filled with vivid emotions and a warm, friendly atmosphere that brought together students, faculty members, and university leadership.
The celebration program included creative and intellectual activities, workshops, contests, and long-standing university traditions.
Participants were welcomed by the SUSU Vice-Rector for Student and Social Affairs Anastasiia Lapo:
“On behalf of the university leadership, I am very pleased to congratulate you today on this wonderful holiday, Students Day. Student life is a period when you absorb knowledge to the fullest, shape your competencies, and build your future career path. But it is also a time of the brightest emotions. I wish all of you, during your years of study at SUSU, to find great friends and mentors and to form your own vision of the world.”
The highlight of the celebration was the traditional announcement of student wishes that would be granted by the SUSU Rector during 2026. This year, the selection committee has faced a difficult choice, as there were many worthy ideas. As a result, six initiatives were put forward for open student voting. Students determined the three most important and useful wishes for our university:
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Accessible psychological support for SUSU students.
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Creation of a comfortable basement-level space in the main university building.
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Optimization of meal preparation in Dormitory No. 13 (new microwave ovens).
Surprises did not end there. University leadership pays special attention to students’ aspirations for science and development. As part of the celebration, Director of the Institute of Sports, Tourism, and Service Vadim Erlikh granted a personal wish of student Aleksandr Tsimmerman by presenting him with a gift of six volumes of the Man. Sport. Medicine sports science journal.
The event also featured intellectual competitions held this year in a quiz format. Student and faculty teams faced off in a friendly but intense contest. The competition was lively and emotional: participants recalled student traditions for successfully passing exams, sang songs, and tested their knowledge in various scientific fields. Victory, fittingly for the holiday, went to the students!
“I really liked this format — everything was bright, sincere, and kind. You could feel that this celebration was truly for us. Despite the frost outside, it was very warm and cosy inside,” shared SUSU student Arina Ivanova.
The celebration was enhanced by vibrant performances from creative groups of the SUSU Recreation Centre. Throughout the event, two workshops were held: badge making and decorating honey gingerbread cookies. Students were able to create and take home a small piece of their beloved university.
After the festive program, guests enjoyed a celebratory buffet, and on their way out, they could take part in a raffle for branded merchandise from the university’s brand studio.
“The quiz was especially memorable; it was unusual to see our professors in such an informal setting,” noted SUSU student Artyom Kuznetsov. “It is great that the tradition of granting wishes exists — you immediately feel that the university truly listens to its students, values their opinions, and helps find solutions to important issues.”
The event left warm memories in the hearts of students and faculty alike. The celebration became not just a bright occasion, but a confirmation of the strong bond between students and teachers.