Each year, the celebration starts with a 12 o’clock cannon shot fired from the Naryshkin Bastion of the Fortress. This time, it was ITMO University graduates Meruert Nurysheva of the Faculty of Cryogenic Engineering and Sergey Lepeshov of the Faculty of Physics and Engineering that received the honor of firing the cannon.
“For both my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, I studied at the same ITMO University school, though I did tweak my specialization a little second time running. Right now I am planning to apply for a PhD at ITMO. When I was choosing a university, I planned to graduate with a PhD in technical sciences. I wasn’t very successful at science in my Bachelor’s years, but managed to improve the situation during my Master’s: I published several research papers and decided on a branch of research to pursue as part of my PhD studies. This is the deriving of a universal equation for identifying thermodynamic properties of working substances of refrigerative cryogenic systems. I will remember every bit of my time at the university; from the third year onward, I started to lead an active student life: I engaged in social work, was part of the Student Union, and now I am at a crossroads trying to choose between continuing social work in the field of international cooperation and focusing on science to achieve the title of an academician later on,” shared Meruert Nurysheva.
Gathering at the Naryshkin bastion were ITMO University’s 30 best graduates selected as a result of a competition that had been open to any final-year student. It was the graduates with the most impressive successes in science, sports, community work and cultural activities that claimed the coveted title. After the firing of the cannon, the graduates embarked on a Neva river cruise with the university’s rector Vladimir Vasilyev, who awarded them their diplomas on the main stage of the festival after the conclusion of the trip.
“I did my Bachelor’s and Master’s studies at the same faculty, and have now set my sights on pursuing my PhD at ITMO University. For three years already, I’ve been working at the university on the projects that allow research groups to win grants. One of our main focuses is transmitting a signal through light, the Li-Fi technology. We are now nearing the end of one grant, but we have already secured another. I’m thinking to continue my scientific activities. Apart from that, all throughout my studies, I worked at Megabyte Media, doing online broadcasts of events and design. I’m intending to carry on with that too. When I was just starting out at ITMO University, I wasn’t that much of a fan of the education process and how the university looked, but in my six years at the university it has undergone major transformations and I can really see that. Even six years ago, I chose ITMO because I was finding the atmosphere of classical universities really off-putting. Here, I felt at ease,” commented Alexey Borodkin, a graduate of the Faculty of Laser Photonics and Optoelectronics.
“I did my Master’s studies at the program in science communication, coming from the Faculty of Physics and Engineering where I pursued my Bachelor’s degree. Right in the first semester of my studies, I managed to find a job in my professional field: I work in the team of the famous St. Petersburg online publication “Bumaga”, being responsible for the organization of science-pop events. I’m planning to continue working in this capacity and hold off with my PhD studies for the time being. I worked at Megabyte Media prior to Bumaga, so I’d had my share of extracurricular activities during my time at the university,” shared Anastasia Lesova, a graduate of the Institute of International Development and Partnership.
“I did my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at ITMO University’s School of Photonics. I don’t intend to continue my studies, opting for the industry instead. For two years already, I have been working as a test engineer, but plan to continue in my own professional field. My research is connected to image recognition, which is an interesting field that is very in-demand. I was very involved in extracurricular activities on top of my studies: I worked at Megabyte Media and organized events,” said Anastasia Lipetskih, a graduate of the Faculty of Applied Optics.
A total of 1,617 graduates received their diplomas at the ceremony, which commenced with a welcome address by ITMO University rector Vladimir Vasilyev.
“This is a celebration for the university at large, for everyone who is receiving their diploma today or will receive it once again in the future. This is a celebration of graduation from the first nonclassical university, the university with the most dynamic growth in the whole of Russia. This ceremony is a symbolic one, marking the conclusion of a very important chapter that lays the foundation for the rest of your life. You have all accomplished a colossal intellectual work, with your lecturers, colleagues and parents at your side. At the same time, your whole life lies ahead, and I have no doubts that you will be in-demand as specialists and will fulfill your personal and professional potential. Today, you stand prepared for life and the changes that are ongoing in our modern world, and know that you’ll always find support at ITMO University whatever happens in the future,” said the rector.
For the first time in the festival’s history, this year’s awarding of diplomas included a special ceremony by ITMO University’s endowment fund, during which Konstantin Astankov, deputy director of the Scientific Business Partnership Center, presented money prizes to the five students recognized as the best of the best in their category. The prize in the social work nomination went to Meruert Nurysheva, Sergey Lepeshov was awarded in the category of scientific activity, while Yulia Vorozhtsova and Guzel Khisamova (both of the Faculty of Applied Optics) got the prizes for cultural activity and sports respectively. In his turn, Artemiy Babushkin from the Faculty of Software Engineering and Computer Systems received the prize for the best motivation letter.
In another innovation, this year’s ceremony saw all, and not just 30 best, graduates of Bachelor’s, Master’s and specialist studies receive their diplomas on the stage, of which there were two, from the faculty deans.
After the ceremony, the graduates and guests continued the celebration in the interactive zones. Those wishing to make a GIF photo in memory of the event headed to the zone ITMO VIBE, and continued their photo op journey to a special arc which was decorated with colorful balloons and offered a view to St. Petersburg’s most iconic landmarks. The ITMO.Lounge venue was aplenty with opportunities to unwind and play board games.
As in previous festivals, the couples who got caught in the universal fun had the chance to pledge their troth at the ITMO.LOVE zone, receiving a marriage certificate as a result. Situated nearby, the Retro Games zone featured an interactive exposition of retro computers: guests could attempt at playing or even working on all items on display, and have a blast from the past with the widely loved consoles by Sega, Sony PlayStation, Nintendo Entertainment System and others.
Helping the guests pick up their strength were cryogenic ice-cream and lemonades prepared by the specialists of the School of Biotechnology and Cryogenic Systems, whose booth was located right next to a stand offering consultations on applying for Master’s and PhD studies at ITMO. Also present was a booth of the university’s merch shop ITMO.STORE, featuring a wide choice of clothes and memorabilia with the university’s logo.
The live coverage of the celebration was courtesy of the open studio of Megabyte Media, which organized live broadcasts on the festival’s main stage screen featuring small interviews by the graduates in which they shared their impressions of the event and time at ITMO University. All throughout the day, ITMO’s endowment fund, Career Center and Alumni Relations Center held raffles with valuable presents from the university’s partners, including VR glasses, quadcopters, fitness trackers, cinema tickets and others. ITMO’s sports club, KronBars, had put up a venue of their own, offering the visitors a chance to play table tennis and hockey or try out archery.
The cultural program was a jam-packed one, with a number of ITMO student collectives taking to the stage, including a vocals collective EatMore, dance groups Flame and Liniya, as well as KronBars’s cheerleading team. Representatives of the university’s stand-up group POINT entertained the guests with their jokes and performances. Putting on a first-class music act were bands TCHK (ТЧК), Sophisticated Grooves, The Candlelights and Performer Sasha Writes Songs. Apart from that, the main stage of ITMO.Live featured performances by the strings quartet Fumo Rosso, the collective Sunny Vesper and the song-covering enthusiasts Benedict Coverband.
The official graduation ceremony was followed by ITMOtion Night, an informal party held at the AKAKAO club.
