The festivities on January 25th clearly surpassed everything that had been done before.

The joyful mood of the Tatiana Day 2017 was initiated by a group of singers and dancers stylized as the historically famous Russian gypsy bands. They met Rector Ilshat Gafurov and other executives and guests in the Main Building and escorted them to UNICS Cultural Center. There they had to go through several little fortunetelling amusements, such as African-style dice throwing, Russian-style valenki throwing, or Chinese Yi Jing.

Rector Gafurov then proceeded to congratulate everyone and wish students best of luck in their studies. Also extending their best wishes were Larisa Sulima, Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Tatarstan, and Rustam Garifullin, Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs and Sport of Tatarstan. Some guests shared their good luck charm rituals for exams, including quite exotic ones like placing a nickel under your heel when going to a test. A concert program then followed.

Of course, the day wouldn't be what it is without the eponymous Tatianas (of which there are a lot in Russia since the name is very popular). Those included Tatiana Vodopyanova, Chairwoman of the Federation of Trade Unions of Tatarstan, and Tatiana Larionova, Executive Director of Revival Foundation. The other Tatianas – students of KFU – also appeared on the stage and were congratulated.

The evening continued at the Pyramid Entertainment Center with the Student of the Year award ceremony. Kazan University carried away many nominations, including Intellect of the Year, Best Student Self-Governance Body, Best Student Research Body, Best Dormitory Administration by the Students, Best Student Media, and Student Journalist of the Year. The main prize – that for being the student of the year – went to a KFU senior Nafis Serazetdinov. The winner was awarded by Rector Gafurov and Chairman of the State Council of Tatarstan Farid Mukhametshin. Nafis received a smartphone and a scholarship certificate from the provincial government – he now can choose any university in the world for his postgraduate studies.