KFU representatives commended at Student of the Year in Tatarstan 2025 ceremony
The names of the winners of the Student of the Year of the Republic of Tatarstan – 2025 award have been announced. The award ceremony took place today with the participation of the Rais (Head) of the Republic of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov.
This year, the award received a record number of applications – nearly 600. The competition included 10 individual and 10 collective nominations.
The event brought together students, provincial leadership, representatives of science, arts, business, as well as legendary athletes and bloggers. The Rais, Deputy Prime Minister of Tatarstan Leyla Fazleeva, Minister of Education and Science of Tatarstan Ilsur Khadiullin, Minister of Youth Affairs Azat Kadyrov, Chairman of the Russian Youth Union Dmitry Pokrovsky, President of the Academy of Sciences of Tatarstan Rifkat Minnikhanov, Rector of Kazan University Lenar Safin, Vice-Rector for Youth Policy and Educational Activities of KFU Arif Mezhvedilov, and others came personally to congratulate the students on this long-awaited celebration.
The Rais of Tatarstan congratulated the youth on Russian Students’ Day and noted that the hall had gathered “the best of the best.”
“As I was told, the League of Students of the Republic of Tatarstan is already 30 years old. We are sincerely glad that our higher education system has enormous potential. Our future is in your hands! Therefore, we are doing a great deal for higher education. In recent years, many federal projects have been implemented for universities, and the Republic actively participates in them. And most importantly – enormous gratitude to you for the active civic position you have. I wish you success!” emphasized Minnikhanov in his welcoming speech.
Now, on to the winners. The best in the Media Personality of the Year nomination was Aliya Kulbarisova, author of the program Iznanka (“The Inside” – editor’s note) for the youth editorial office of KFU’s student television channel UNIVER TV, a first-year master’s student at the Institute of Social and Philosophical Sciences and Mass Communications. Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology student Fredrick Ukaegbu won International Student of the Year. And the honorary title of Class President of the Year went to Alina Safina (Institute of Management, Economics and Finance).
“The history of this celebration is long and has deep traditions. Many leaders have emerged from the winners of Student of the Year,” noted the head of the Ministry of Youth Affairs. “Enjoy this time, dare, create, make friends! And we are always nearby and will help. Forward!”
Second-year, chess player, 2021 Kazan women’s champion, absolute champion of KFU, Tatarstan champion in rapid chess and blitz among women, Alina Galieva was named the Athlete of the Year.
“I’m in shock, for me this is like a dream! This will probably be the beginning of my bright sports and student path,” Alina shared her first impressions. “I thought I would get a special prize, since I’m the youngest in the nomination, and honestly, I didn’t believe it until the very end, until I saw my photo on the screen. Chess has always been valued as a sport because it is an intellectual battle. Besides chess, I professionally practiced swimming and triathlon, so I’m quite a versatile athlete.”
Many students and staff of came to support the participants. For one evening, the ceremony hall turned into a sports arena with an army of fans, where everyone chanted the name of their beloved university. In addition to evening gowns and elegant suits, branded KFU sweatshirts were also spotted.
The title Public Figure of the Year will be held by Nazgul Kalimova, a fourth-year student of the Law Faculty and winner of the Russian National Award Student of the Year 2025.
“For me, this award is confirmation that I’m moving in the right direction and I’m on the right path. I can lead people, inspire them. I hope that the competition will be the beginning of something bigger,” Nazgul shared. “On this path, not a single victory is achieved alone; there are always people behind it. I was very supported by my team from the Student Council of the Law Faculty (Kalimova is its chairman – editor’s note), the faculty administration, and, of course, the entire Kazan Federal University.”
The Student Council of Dormitory No. 9 of KFU’s Student Campus was also recognized as the best in its nomination.
“The recognizability of the KFU brand represents a kind of springboard. With each new victory, we have the opportunity to conduct new events, horizons and new collaborations and partners open up,” believes Timur Mochalov, chairman of the student council of house No. 4 of the Universiade Village, second-year student of the Institute of Management, Economics and Finance.