- 10.07.2026 07:20
Red Masters are the heroes of this day!
Red is often called the color of many faces. Rich, bright, hot, intense, and deep, it always symbolizes victory, success, and achievement.
Red was the dominant color at Tula State University on July 10th. On this day, our university held a ceremony to award diplomas with honors to master's degree graduates.
The square in front of the main academic building was shining. The festive venue, as per tradition, was decorated in the spirit of the victory and the main attraction was the smiling faces of our students, whom we've proudly called “Red Masters” for many years, and they are doubly so!
This year, 258 young men and women, not counting graduates of the Advanced Engineering School, graduated from Tula State University's full-time master's program, 115 of them with honors. Of these distinguished graduates, 59 also graduated with honors in their bachelor's degree. They were the center of attraction today.
Among the twice-red winners are one A.I. Solzhenitsyn scholarship laureate, two S.P. Korolev scholarship laureates, 12 Russian Government scholarship holders, two Russian Presidential scholarship holders, 11 rector's grant recipients for students studying in higher education programs (master's programs) and four employees of youth research laboratories.
Government scholarship recipient Veronika Kaplina is the only recipient of the A.I. Solzhenitsyn scholarship.
Veronika has a very interesting educational trajectory. She majored in Journalism for her undergraduate degree and Political Science for her master's degree. She credits the support of faculty in the Political Science and Sociology Department for her rapid mastery of the new discipline.
“In my undergraduate degree, I learned to effectively apply research tools, analyze large data sets, and understand media consumption”, Veronika said. “It was this knowledge and competencies that formed the basis of my master's thesis, which analyzed the media resources of political parties in the Tula Region. This combination of skills helped me successfully defend my dissertation.”
The graduate shared that her student years were very eventful. In her master's program, she focused on research. She actively participated in research and practical conferences, formalized academic political debates, and published articles.
“Implementing grant-supported projects was a new and very important experience for me. This is an area I've long wanted to explore”, Veronika said. “During my master's studies, I won two grants. One was a scientific grant from the university, and the other was a social grant dedicated to patriotic work with orphans and veterans of special military operation.”
Veronika plans to enroll in graduate school in political science. She would also like to pursue a teaching career. She already works as the deputy head of public relations at a branch of the Fatherland Defenders Foundation.
“This year has been memorable not only for my professional achievements but also for a significant event in my personal life”, Veronika shared. My boyfriend, Yegor Yakovlev, proposed to me and I'm getting married in September.” Yegor completed his master's degree in agronomy at Tolstoy Tomsk State Pedagogical University this year and is already working in his field. He also wants to enroll in graduate school.
Her mother, Zinaida Mikhailovna, and grandparents, Vera Ivanovna and Yevgeny Mikhailovich, came to support their honors graduate on this momentous day. They can be proud of their Veronica!
Tula State University Rector Oleg Aleksandrovich Kravchenko opened the ceremony. He warmly congratulated the graduates, their parents, and faculty.
The master's students have completed their student phase, said the university's rector, and a new one is beginning - one that is no less challenging and no less interesting. These students have endured a challenging path, but they persevered and demonstrated excellent results.
Rector wished the graduates that they would find work they enjoy and that all their initiatives would be supported.
“You are the future of our region!” Oleg Aleksandrovich addressed the honored master's students. “I would very much like for you to stay and work in your native land! And may everything in your lives work out!”
Regional and city leaders presented diplomas to the honored masters.
On behalf of Tula Region Governor Dmitry Vyacheslavovich Milyaev, Mikhail Yuryevich Panteleyev, First Deputy Governor and Chairman of the Tula Region Government, welcomed all participants.
Among those present, he emphasized, were engineers, economists, architects, and representatives of other fields. Each has their own path, but they are united by a desire to develop and move forward.
Tula Region, Mikhail Yuryevich stated, is implementing large-scale projects. The success of this common endeavor depends on people willing to implement new technologies and take responsibility for the results, and today's graduates are such people.
The guest thanked the university's administration and faculty for maintaining the high level of training for young specialists. Mikhail Yuryevich wished all graduates interesting work and confidence in their abilities. He emphasized that a diploma from Tula State University should always be a source of pride for them.
Russian Federation Senator and member of the Federation Council Committee on Economic Policy Mikhail Mikhailovich Borshchyov expressed gratitude to the parents of the master's students, who have shared this challenging journey with their children. He also noted that the graduates face a challenging journey ahead. Today, in the era of digitalization, robotics, and artificial intelligence, it is crucial for these students to find their place in life and prove themselves. Tula Region, Mikhail Mikhailovich said, is proud of Tula State University graduates and hopes their innovative solutions will benefit the region.
Russian Federation Senator Nikolai Yuryevich Vorobyov emphasized that the students graduated from a university that every Tula resident is proud of, and expressed confidence that their love for the university will last a lifetime.
Academic staff, the speaker continued, not only imparted knowledge to their students but also taught them how to use it effectively. parents devoted a great deal of effort to their children, and with the graduation of their sons and daughters, their excitement will not diminish, because a new, important stage begins for the graduates. This stage will last for the rest of their lives.
Nikolai Yuryevich wished all the students well and success.
First Deputy Chairperson of the Tula Regional Duma Marina Viktorovna Levina read a welcoming address from the Chairman of the Tula Regional Duma, Andrei Vladimirovich Dubrovsky. It stated that a diploma with honors is not just a document certifying higher education, but a true mark of quality, proof that a person can achieve excellence.
On behalf of the Tula City Duma deputies and on his own behalf, Alexey Aloisovich Erk, Head of the Tula Municipality, warmly congratulated the graduates, their parents, and teachers. He urged the students to stay home, on their native Tula soil, and to work for the good of their country. He also advised the graduates to think not only about work but also about their personal happiness. Happiness, he emphasized, is, above all, a strong family. Alexey Aloisovich wished the students to find their destiny, start a family, and have children. He hoped the Tula Region would become a haven for family happiness for them.
Konstantin Ivanovich Danilov, head of the Rostech State Corporation representative office in the Tula Region, noted that the graduates' parents had endured these difficult years and thanked them for their contribution to their children's upbringing. He also expressed gratitude to the entire Tula State University faculty and staff for the high-quality training provided to these specialists.
“The students have a long road ahead”, said Danilov. “There will be ups and downs. We must always rise and keep moving forward.”
“Tula is the arms capital of Russia”, the distinguished guest addressed the master's degree students. “We will be delighted to welcome those who come to work in the defense industry to our close-knit family!”
Yuri Igorevich Brovko, commander of the 39th Separate Guards Medical Detachment (Airmobile) of the Airborne Forces, Guards Colonel of the Medical Service of the 106th Guards Tula Airborne Division, and participant in the special military operation, emphasized that people always go through difficult times. Today is also a difficult time for all of us, but while our fellow countrymen are fighting, this time demands accomplishments. The guest urged the students to remain true to human principles, to proudly bear the title of Tula State University graduate, and to glorify their native land with their accomplishments.
Following Yaroslav Dyakov, a Master of Mechanical Engineering major, the students took an oath of allegiance to science and adherence to the motto “Novus. Cursus. Eventum” – “Innovation. Career. Success”. The graduates performed a ritual: they flipped the tassels on their confederate caps from left to right.
Master's students then posed for a souvenir photo with the distinguished guests and university administration, and, as tradition dictates, they tossed their confederate caps into the air.
A sweet gift for all the graduates and their families was a beautifully decorated “Red Velvet” cake. Delicate in texture and rich in flavor, it literally melted in your mouth.
The musical highlight of today's celebration was a performance by the “Star Project” duo - Tula State University professor Maxim Chizhov (saxophone) and his colleague Anna Timofeeva (violin). Among the pieces performed by the artists was a piece dedicated to the color red - the color of winners!
Tatyana Krikunkova
Photographs by Ilya Khodakovsky, Viktoriya Shevchenko and Tatyana Kosenkova
