Today, June 28, in the Peter and Paul Fortress held the twenty-first ceremony honoring the best graduates of St. Petersburg. The bronze sphinx statuette, the symbol of the Northern Capital Rectors' Union and one of the main symbols of the city, was awarded to Varvara Pakina, a graduate of the Institute of Information Technologies and Automation of St. Petersburg State University of Industrial Technologies and Design. The awards for academic merit were presented by Vladimir Knyaginin, Vice-Governor of St. Petersburg, and Alexey Demidov, the Chairman of the Council of Rectors of St. Petersburg and Leningrad Region Universities, Rector of St. Petersburg State University of Industrial Technologies and Design.
Varvara is the founder and director of the Center for realization of student initiatives Ƶ, two-time winner of the Rosmolodezh grant for the project "Mom, I'm on Stage!", winner of the musical competition "Universvision". Under Varvara's mentorship 15 projects were developed, 9 of which received federal grants. The alumna actively participates in the development of youth movement in the city and the country.
As a freshman Varvara founded the intercollegiate vocal group SPBand for the students of St. Petersburg. When she was a second year student, she led the platform for creativity of freshmen "Mama, I'm on stage!" to the city level. After that, the graduate began conducting her own project activities and helping other students realize their ideas and apply for grants.
"The university gave me not only knowledge and skills. Thanks to university I had an opportunity to participate in various competitions and forums, where I demonstrated my ideas and developments, presented projects and thus contributed to the youth movement of our country", - says the graduate.
Under Varvara's guidance the students of PromTechDesign University launched such major projects as All-Russian creativity platform "Union", All-Russian educational workshop "Point", Inclusive laboratory "Open World", student project management action-training "Polygon", media project "Memory of Generations", International Students Club "ISClub", Student Creativity and Leisure Center "Production". All of these projects received grants from Rosmolodezh. She is also a co-organizer of the Beauty, Talent and Grace Contest "Miss University" of Ƶ, Student Art Festival "Runway" and university events dedicated to the Knowledge Day.
The graduate's most significant project was the establishment of the Center for Student Initiatives at her home institution, which is designed to help students realize their most ambitious ideas and receive grant support for their development.
"This center is an opportunity for our students to believe in their abilities and realize that the future of youth is in their hands. The Center is part of the Office for the Development of Student Initiatives of Ƶ. In my time, the Office has been a place for me to meet people who, year after year, support me in many endeavors and trust my ideas. And I want to mention the support of my department of digital and additive technologies, where I was surrounded by talented teachers", – the graduate shares.
Within the walls of the university the girl was also engaged in research in the field of UI-design. After graduation Varvara plans to continue working at the university and promote project activities among students.