31 August is a solemn event – inauguration of freshmen. It has become a tradition in the new academic year. To the sounds of a brass band, all Departments lined up headed by deans and directors of institutions at the university square. Special attention was certainly given to freshmen who first crossed the threshold of the institution which is now their alma mater.

The freshmen were congratulated by the honorable guests of the meeting, including Lyudmila Kyrylyuk, the Deputy Mayor of the executive of the City Council in the humanitarian sphere, a graduate of the University; Alexander Mykolaychak, a Vice President for Science in the National School Vocational Education in Leszno; Bogdan Valchak, Professor of Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan; Anatoliy Lipkan, the General Director of "Umanfermmash" JSC, honored machinist of Ukraine

Honorable mission at the opening ceremony of the Knowledge Day meeting was assigned to Natalia S. Pobirchenko, the Rector of the University, Professor, Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences, corresponding member of National Academy of Pedagogical Sciences of Ukraine.

Today, our country is experiencing hardships that leave no one indifferent. To the last sounds of the national anthem, everyone paid tribute to the dead soldiers and civilians of Ukraine with a moment of silence.

Then Natalia Semenivna sincerely congratulated the students, parents and faculty on the new academic year and the Day of Knowledge. It is the day that begins the road to the future for all of us. It is always exciting, because on this day the freshmen are on the threshold of becoming a professional, which is interesting and yet difficult path to knowledge, new challenges and independent life.

Ludmyla Kyrylyuk and Anatoly Lipkan have congratulated the students who have joined the friendly and great family of Pavlo Tychyna Uman Pedagogical University.

Aleksander Mykolaychak and Bogdan Valchyk, our Polish colleagues, have voiced their due respect for our university. They are grateful for many years of cooperation and friendship between our educational institutions that unite Poland and Ukraine.

Julia Mudrytska, the head of the Student Council of the University, congratulated the freshmen. The students know about the great opportunities in our university. Of course, today's freshmen of USPU are lucky because they can rely on experienced teachers, wise mentors, and internationally known scientists. Certainly, he who has become a student of our university can be proud of it because our university is considered as one of the best in Ukraine.

Valentyna Kutsak, the mother of one of the first-year students, also an USPU graduate, addressed her parental guidance and blessing to the students. She expressed sincere gratitude to the University and to all pedagogical staff for caring attitude towards them and their children, which was felt throughout the admissions campaign and now, in these exciting moments. Parents believe that their children are in safe hands and have got into a big, friendly, university family. And as a symbol of happy destiny, she presented Natalia Semenivna with a Ukrainian towel as a symbol of brighter future. This gift was decorated by the "Song of the towel" performed Oleksandr Osadchiy, the Vice-Rector for Social Affairs, Head of the Trade Union, Candidate of Agricultural Sciences, Associate Professor. Also, as a kind gift from the "Visavi" Modern Dance amateur folk ensemble (directed by - Lyudmila Androschuk), there a brilliant waltz dancing performed by the students.

Symbolic attributes o f the student ticket and the key to the door of the temple of science were handed to the freshmen by Natalia Pobirchenko and Alexander Mykolaychak. After that, the students made an oath of loyalty to our Alma Mater, promising to maintain and increase its glory. Now, the former applicants who are graduate students, realize that they belong to a large cohort of students of the entire the world. In the choir they sang "Gaudeamus" anthem that unites students around the world since ancient times.

The holiday is over. Tomorrow freshmen begin a thorny path to shining peaks of science.

Good luck to you along the way!