Year after year, on Knowledge Day, students fill the Polytechnic University auditoriums to gain new knowledge. Timid first-year students, those who have been through the school of young warriors, and seasoned seniors rush to lectures, share their summer vacation impressions, and enthusiastically make new plans for the next 365 days.

On September 1st, the doors to a boundless and wondrous land of knowledge opened for the university's first-year students. On this day, students who were applicants just yesterday became part of a single student family—a close-knit, intelligent, forward-looking community that loves its country and homeland. Vice Rector for Ideological and Educational Work Alexander Valerievich Shapovalov opened the ceremonial assembly and congratulated the newly minted students on this important day. Honorary guests of the event included Dmitry Vladimirovich Chernyakov, member of the Presidium of the All-Belarusian People's Assembly, Chairman of the Gomel Regional Branch of the Belarusian Party "Belaya Rus," Director of the Gomel Chemical Plant, and a university graduate; Elena Vladimirovna Klichkovskaya, Chair of the Regional Trade Union Association; and Alesya Sergeyevna Ryabtseva, Deputy Prosecutor of Gomel and Justice Counselor.

The ceremony, dedicated to Knowledge Day, began with the ceremonial presentation of the faculty banners, as well as the raising of the National Flag of the Republic of Belarus, the flag of the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Belarus, and the flag of the Sukhoi Gomel State Technical University. For this honorable mission, the following were invited to the flagpoles: Roman Kazak, Deputy Chairman of the University Student Council; Dmitry Talyuk, Deputy Chairman of the University Student Trade Union and member of the Youth Council of the Gomel Regional Council of Deputies; and Alexander Krupin, Cultural Organizer of the Faculty of Automated and Information Systems and soloist of the Slavyane folk song ensemble.

On this day, Artur Vladimirovich Putsiata, Doctor of Engineering Sciences, Professor, and Rector of the University, greeted the first-year students and congratulated them on the beginning of a new, exciting life full of events and joyful moments.

As per tradition, he accepted the reports of first-year students Artyom Ilyin, Viktoria Shkolenko, and Pavel Sychev and wished them good luck, success, and health. They were also presented with symbolic student ID cards and record books. In a ceremonial ceremony, student ID cards were presented to first-year students who had been admitted with the highest scores on the centralized testing.

Furthermore, Artur Vladimirovich Putsiata presented certificates from the Special Fund of the President of the Republic of Belarus to students of the Faculty of Humanities and Economics: Aleksey Konstantinovich Bogdanov and Diana Anufrieva, and first-category diplomas from the XXXI National Student Research Paper Competition to Nikita Galitsky, Nikita Bocharov, and Darya Filonchik.

"Thirty years ago, I stood at the ceremonial assembly just like this. My classmates and fellow students stood around me, and I didn't yet know that I was surrounded by people who would become lifelong friends. Today, you are standing here; look around you—at the people around you, with whom you will study. Many of them will become your friends, and some will last a lifetime. Perhaps, somewhere nearby, your soulmate is also standing.

I sincerely congratulate you on the right choice! Your life will present many opportunities, many doors to enter: some open, others slightly ajar, and still others will require great effort to open. You've already worked hard and chosen the right doors—you've become students at the Gomel State Technical University named after the outstanding aircraft designer Pavel Osipovich Sukhoi.

I wish you good luck and success, but always remember that your success depends on you. As Rector, I want to say: every staff member and every faculty member at the university is interested in ensuring that you receive a good education and become qualified specialists. You also bear a great responsibility: wherever you are and whatever you do, remember that from this moment on, you are students of the Polytechnic University, and that is a great responsibility.

Once again, I wish you success. I'm confident that you will succeed and have a fulfilling student life! The main thing is not to be lazy. Keep busy. Move forward. Good luck!" remarked Artur Vladimirovich Putsiata.

The students were introduced to the university and faculty leaders. The newly minted students also received symbolic union cards and membership cards for the BRSM Public Union from public organization leaders Yanina Budeanu and Anastasia Isaychikova, who also addressed the students with parting words.

Traditionally, flowers were laid at the monument to Pavel Osipovich Sukhoi, the famous Soviet aircraft designer whose name the university bears, and at the memorial plaque to Albert Semenovich Shaginyan, the university's first rector.

Our university places particular emphasis on the unforgettable heroism and tremendous trials our compatriots endured with honor during the Great Patriotic War. Traditionally, first-year students receive a symbolic "Flame of Knowledge," lit from the Eternal Flame at the Mound of Glory in honor of the fallen soldiers. The right to deliver the symbolic "Flame of Knowledge" to the venue of the ceremonial assembly was granted to Maksim Novak, a candidate for Master of Sports in arm wrestling, a prize winner of the Belarusian Championship, a prize winner of the Republican Universiade, a multiple prize winner and winner of the Gomel Region Arm Wrestling Championships and Championships, and a winner of the Republican Military Applied Game "Breakthrough 2025." The right to hand over the symbolic "Flame of Knowledge" to the first-year students was granted to Anna Sinyakova, a recipient of the Presidential Scholarship of the Republic of Belarus, and Ivan Timoshenko, a recipient of the F. Skaryna Scholarship, a participant in conferences, subject Olympiads and competitions, and a member of the promising personnel reserve of the Gomel Regional Executive Committee.

This ritual, as per tradition, was performed to the sound of the student anthem "Gaudeamus," sacred to students. After the "Flame of Knowledge" was handed over to the first-year students, Victoria Shkolenko, a participant in subject Olympiads and a social activist, was given the opportunity to address the university administration with a speech of gratitude.

First-year students from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of Guinea, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kingdom of Morocco, the Syrian Arab Republic, the People's Republic of China, and the Russian Federation attended the ceremony. Master's students from the People's Republic of China, representing our university's partner university, Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology, were also present.

The ceremony concluded with a musical congratulation from the soloists of the "Style" vocal studio, who performed the university's anthem.

Flower bouquets, elegant uniforms, good wishes, and smiles from those in attendance created a festive atmosphere marking the beginning of the new academic year. The parents of the newly minted students attended the assembly to support them in their next step toward conquering new heights.

The warm welcome at the university undoubtedly inspired the students to excel in their studies and achieve new intellectual, creative, and athletic victories.

We wish the first-year students, who are about to learn the basics of their future profession, to pursue their chosen path with dignity and dedication, and to acquire the competencies and skills necessary to achieve their goals.