On 27–28 November, Sumy National Agrarian University hosted the annual large-scale competition SNAU STUDENT’S AWARDS: Ukraine on tour, during which faculties competed for the title of winners and the best stage performance.
The theme of this year’s competition was the interpretation of popular Ukrainian TV series in the realities of different countries around the world. Each faculty got its own combination of ‘TV series – country’ by drawing lots in advance in order to create a high-quality, meaningful and spectacular performance.
Among the invited judges were representatives of youth policy and the cultural sector of the city and region: Svitlana YURCHENKO, director of the Romantika Youth Centre; Viktoria VERBYTSKA, head of the Youth Policy Department at the Sumy City Council; Anton VERBYTSKY, deputy director of the Romantika Youth Centre; and Anna HREBENIUK, deputy head of the Youth and Sports Department of the Sumy Regional State Administration. The competition was opened by student rector Andriy KOLODNENKO.
Admission to the competition was traditionally based on a charitable donation. All funds raised will be used to prepare gifts for children, to whom our students give the gift of winter wonder every year. Once again, the SNAU STUDENT’S AWARDS has become not only a creative competition, but also an initiative of kindness and social responsibility.
On the first day, three faculties performed on stage. The Faculty of Civil Engineering presented ‘Servant of the People’ in the Japanese context — a story about how a history teacher becomes the president of Japan. The Faculty of Economics and Management presented ‘A Village Worth a Million’ in French style — with inheritance, wills, and Bonapartist charm. The Faculty of Agricultural Technology and Environmental Management transported ‘The Kaidashev Family’ to America, where a Ukrainian family conquers Hollywood.
The following participants took to the stage the next day. The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine presented ‘Papaniok’ to the audience in the atmosphere of Ancient Egypt — with humour, warmth and mythological motifs. The Faculty of Law presented ‘Crazy Wedding’ in India — a vivid intertwining of two cultures, traditions and characters. The Faculty of Biology and Technology showed ‘The Last Muscovite’ in the harsh and picturesque Norway, where the plot took on a new colour.
This year, contestants competed in seven creative categories that recognised humour, drama, set design, emotionality, acting transformations, and overall directorial presentation. Special titles were also awarded for ‘Student Choice’ and the king and queen of the competition. The Faculty of Economics and Management won the audience’s sympathy, with its student dean Andrii MAKARENKO becoming king and the student dean of the Faculty of Biology and Technology, Olesia ZAHORULKO, becoming queen.
The Grand Prix of the SNAU STUDENT’S AWARDS: Ukraine on tour was deservedly won by the Faculty of Law — their Indian ‘Crazy Wedding’ impressed the audience with its scale, emotionality and directorial integrity.
This year’s partners were the ‘Dary Moria’ and ‘Epicentre’ retail chains, which supported the student initiative, contributed to the prize fund and added even more grandeur to the event. Community spirit, business participation, the organisers’ responsibility and the creativity of young people created an event that everyone will remember.
SNAU STUDENT’S AWARDS: Ukraine on tour brought together not only participants and fans — it united the university community, gave hundreds of emotions and proved that the main victory is to be together, create, fight for your dreams and support each other. Despite the fact that Sumy region lives under the daily threat of shelling and power cuts, our students continue to create culture, maintain educational support and prove that nothing can stop Ukrainian students.
