The most talented students were honored at the Governor's Ball

On December 21, the White Hall of SPbPU was once again transformed for the Governor’s Student Ball — one of the most long-awaited and atmospheric events of the year. The event is held by the Committee for Science and Higher Education of the St. Petersburg Government for the eighth time already, 700 best students from 58 universities and 66 professional educational organizations took part in it. Dance promenade, acquaintance with St. Petersburg balls of 19th — 20th centuries, interactive digital entertainment — the evening turned out to be grandiose. For the first time in the history of the Governor’s Ball it was accompanied not by a military brass band, but by a band of SPbPU students.

I am glad to welcome the participants of the eighth Governor’s Ball, which traditionally takes place in Polytechnic and gathers the best students of St. Petersburg! You are brilliant, unique, God-kissed, talented and purposeful. You are the backbone of the Great Russia. Dance, have fun, Happy New Year! Rector of SPbPU, Academician of the RAS Andrei Rudskoi addressed the students.

On behalf of the Governor of St. Petersburg Alexander Beglov the outstanding students were welcomed by the Chairman of the Committee for Science and Higher Education Andrey Maximov.

A wonderful tradition of student balls was born in Polytechnic. White Hall is a unique place, and Polytechnic is a unique university. And today you are gathered here because you have shown yourselves in studies, sports, science, volunteering. I wish you happiness, love, health and prosperity. Dare, win, you are coming to replace us, said Andrey Maximov.

On behalf of the Legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg and its Chairman Alexander Belsky, Deputy Alexander Novikov congratulated the students on the upcoming holidays.

And then the music started to play, and the couples swirled around the hall. Dance promenade, polonaise, waltz, quadrille, polka, vocal numbers from PolyVox studio of SPbPU, disco and interactive digital entertainment — there were so many activities that there was no time to be bored. The musical accompaniment of the ball was provided by the Polytech Orchestra of SPbPU under the direction of Dmitry Misyura. The orchestra of future engineers appeared in 2013 on the initiative of SPbPU Rector Andrei Rudskoi and Boris Kondin, Head of the Directorate of Cultural Programs and Youth Creativity, as a successor of the symphony orchestra created by the first Director of the Institute, Prince A. G. Gagarin. On this festive evening the musicians of the orchestra were dressed in historical costumes of the first students of the Polytechnic Institute: black cloth jackets, officer’s cut, fastened with five gilded buttons, with a collar of dark green velvet and counterbands with gilded monograms.

The students who showed outstanding achievements in studies, creativity, sports, social activities, scholarship holders, winners of contests, Olympiads, etc. were invited to the ball.

Violetta Li, a second-year master’s degree student of the SPbPU Humanitarian Institute, has an «excellent» academic record and is the head of the volunteer staff of the Harmony Volunteer Projects Center. This year the girl won the city stage of the contest «Student of the Year» in the nomination «The best in the organization of the volunteer movement».

Another representative of the Center for Volunteer Projects «Harmony» is Maxim Smirnov, a second-year master’s degree student of the GSMC&PR HI. With the team of Dobro.Center «Harmony» he became a semi-finalist of the award «WeWeBeMe» and won the competition «Rosmolodezh.Grants».

Olga Ladina, a fourth-year student of Novikov St. Petersburg State University of Civil Aviation, participated in the Governor’s Ball for the second time, and this time she prepared an image that attracted the attention of the audience. The girl came in the outfit of an angel.

Sofya Egorova, a second-year student of the Admiral Makarov State University of Sea and River Fleet, found herself for the first time both at Polytechnic University and at a ball event. In order not to be confused, she was with her partner Rostislav Shikhalev, who has experience in such activities.

Polina Kudryakova, a first-year master’s degree student at Herzen Russian State Pedagogical University, demonstrated an unusual dress. For the ball she prepared an outfit decorated with children’s drawings. The girl studies at the Institute of Defectology Education and Rehabilitation, works with children at school and is involved in volunteer work.