On August 19, in the meeting hall of the Academic Council of the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, our graduates, rugby founders in Ukraine Anatoliy Makeyev and Yevhen Ignatov were honoured to mark the celebration of their 80th anniversary. Rector Michael Zgurovsky, Chairman of the Academic Council Mykhailo Ilchenko, Vice-Rector for Educational Work Natalia Seminska, Vice-Rector for Research Vitaliy Pasichnyk and Deputy Director of the Mechanical Engineering Institute Oleksandr Ohrimenko came to congratulate the rugby players.
In his welcoming speech, the rector reminded the participants of the celebrations of the contribution of jubilees in the development of rugby not only at the university but also throughout Ukraine, told about the diverse student life of the university in the early 60s, when Kiev Polytechnics became the locomotive of this courageous and intellectual sport in our country.
Anatoliy Makeyev, a graduate of the Faculty of Power Engineering, and Yevhen Ignatov, a graduate of the Faculty of Heat and Power Engineering, were awarded diplomas of the University Academic Council, original wall clocks with photos of Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute and commemorative medals of the National Bank of Ukraine.
Other outstanding polytechnic rugby players were also congratulated at this solemn event: Oleksandr Kryvsha - on his 70th birthday, Viktor Maiboroda, Serhiy Dolotov and Vyacheslav Melnyk - on his 65th birthday, Oleh Shuplyk - on his 60th birthday, Yevhen Stryzhius - on his 55th birthday and Yaroslav Polunin - on his 45th birthday.
The awards were given to all jubilees - they were awarded Diplomas of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, Gratitude of the Minister of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, Gratitude of the President of the Rugby Federation of Ukraine, Honorary Badges of Rugby Club "Polytechnic", exclusive medals and other awards.
Next autumn will mark the 60th anniversary of the creation of the first rugby team in Ukraine. Its founders were students of the Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, so it was called "Polytechnic-1962". Our university and the entire Ukrainian rugby community are already preparing for this significant date.