Penza, 9 November 2015. PenzaNews. Members of over 20 leading student teams in the Penza region have returned from the countrywide gathering in commemoration of the end of the 56th service semester, held in Chelyabinsk.

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Before the official part of the event, activists took part in the public rally by the Chelyabinsk Eternal Fire monument where they honored the legacy of people who died in the Second World War and laid wreaths and flowers.

The opening ceremony of the gathering, that took place in “Traktor” ice rink complex, resembled the opening ceremony of the Sochi 2014 Olympic Games, with flags of regions represented by student teams replacing flags of countries.

The list of official guests at the event included such people as Boris Kirillov, deputy presidential envoy in the Ural Federal District; Boris Dubrovsky, governor of the Chelyabinsk region; and Mikhail Kiselev, chief of the central headquarters for Russian Student Teams.

The audience witnessed a grandiose show, and the award ceremony for grantees of Russian Student Teams memorial rewards and medals “70 Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War.”

The opening ceremony also featured a live videoconference with the International Space Station where the Russian cosmonauts sent a word of welcome to the student delegates from the ISS.

During the gathering, the Penza delegation actively participated in various roundtable meetings and debates, and exchanged experience with activists from other regions.

Ilya Astakhov, commissar of student team “Vertical,” has won a diploma and a letter of gratitude in the countrywide contest “Best Student Team Leader (Comissar).”

The delegates also saw the conclusion of the campaign “Shock Work Day” where student activists were tasked to donate the money they earned through social services for good deeds. The Penza region movement plans to donate its money to various volunteer campaigns – helping veterans and improving the outlook of memorials to the Second World War.

The gathering also featured the Second Russian Student Teams Spartakiad that pitted together joint teams of various federal districts. Penza, as part of the Volga Federal District team that was placed third, had been represented by Alexander Blyudin, leader of the student pedagogical team “Kolorit” in the PSUAC.

Those who took part in the Spartakiad were invited at a Q&A session with Alexei Voyevoda, Olympic champion, world-class athlete in bobsleigh and arm-wrestling.

The closing ceremony, that also took part in “Traktor” ice rink complex, brought together over 2,000 people.

One of the surprises prepared for the audience was a performance number titled “Paradox” that featured handicapped students and student team volunteers.

During the official part, Artem Kolobov, leader of the Penza regional Russian Student Teams headquarters, performed the unofficial hymn of the organization.

Sergei Pospelov, leader of the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs, addressed student activists with a word of welcome and once again pointed out that such teams act as the foundation for many work initiatives in the country.

Another highlight of the event was a guest performance by the singer Dominik Joker.

In his post-forum commentary for PenzaNews agency, Artem Kolobov pointed out it had been the first time in several years when the Volga Federal District representatives realized themselves as a united and solid team ready to support each other.

“The recent 5th anniversary federal district gathering in Kazan facilitated the matters,” he stressed.

The Penza student teams activists have returned from the countrywide gathering with new ideas to implement in the future, Artem Kolobov added.