S. Toraighyrov Pavlodar State University students are the winners of the 2014 Student of the Year nation-wide competition in the following categories: Volunteer of the Year and Patriot of the Year.

The main purpose of the competition is to encourage students' social activities, find new leaders and support active students and groups.

Aydana Moldakhanova, a fourth-year student of the Faculty of Energy Engineering of S. Toraighyrov PSU, was nominated for the Volunteer of the Year award, while Ghalymzhan Kabir, a second-year student of the Faculty of Metallurgy, Mechanical Engineering and Transport, won the main prize in the Patriot of the Year category.

Aydana Moldakhanova is involved in organizing and holding such events as “Cede a Seat to a Senior”, “Spring Week of Goodness” and “One Day of Army Life”. She also works with Alramy clubhouse and Regional Orphanage SI. “I am proud of being a volunteer! I know that children in the orphanage are waiting for me. I know that veterans of the Great Patriotic War are glad to see me and grateful for the help that I provide not just before May 9, but all year round. Working as a volunteer helps you realize that there are some things that are more precious than money and that is making someone's life better and seeing joy in people's eyes and smiles on their faces,” said Aydana Moldakhanova.

Students from 49 universities representing all regions of our country took part in the competition. All participants of the competition were selected based on following criteria: excellent academic record, personal contribution to the public life of the university, active participation in research work, membership in youth organizations, etc.

According to Kayrat Ashenov, the Director of the Department of Educational and Social Affairs, such activities contribute to the development of our students' personal potential, encourage them to take part in socially important activities, thus helping them reach the goals that they set for themselves.

The awarding ceremony of the 2014 Student of the Year competition will take place on November 19, 2014 at the Student Palace of Ye. Buketov Karaganda State University.