Varna Free University

Prof. Galina Shamonina, PhD was awarded the Medal of Pushkin At a solemn ceremony at the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Sofia, Prof. Galina Shamonina, PhD, Director of the Russian Centre and the Foreign Language Teaching Department at Varna Free University "Chernorizets Hrabar", was awarded the Medal of Pushkin with President Vladimir Putin's Decree No 475 of 9 October 2017. On 20 December, the Embassy of Russia in Bulgaria hosted the traditional reception for the occasion of Christmas and New Year's holidays. In his address, HE the Ambassador of the Russian Federation in Bulgaria, Mr Anatoliy Anatolievich Makarov noted that the past year was good for the Russian-Bulgarian relations. The ceremony for awarding state awards of the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, was held during the reception. Prof. Galina Shamonina, PhD received the Medal of Pushkin for her merits in the strengthening of the friendship and cooperation among the peoples and for her active work for the mutual enrichment of the cultures of nations and nationalities. Guests of the holiday were partners and friends of the Embassy, helping to strengthen and develop the relations between Russia and Bulgaria. The party was attended by the Minister of Defence Krasimir Karakachanov, the Minister of Tourism Nikolina Angelova, the Vice-Chairperson of the National Assembly Valeri Zhablyanov, the President of Varna Free University Prof. Anna Nedyalkova, D.Sc. and other prominent Bulgarian scientists and artists. In her speech, Prof. Shamonina thanked for the award of the high state prize of the Russian Federation, stressing that for every specialist in Russian studies in the world the Medal of Pushkin is a very valuable prize. "I take it as an assessment of my more than 35 years of work. I am a happy person, because my vocation coincides with the profession and that is why I work with pleasure. Secondly, because I see the future. For many people the future is an abstraction. But the lecturer sees this future every day in the audience and we must do our best to make the successful future of Bulgaria happen! For me, it is a great honour to accept this award in the presence of prominent representatives of our country. Of course, the prize is not personally for me, it is a prize for the whole team of Varna Free University "Chernorizets Hrabar". I want to personally thank the President of the University - Prof. Anna Nedyalkova, D.Sc. for the strategic thinking and "the wings"! It is her merit to establish the Russian Centre of the University, to maintain contacts with Russian academic institutions, to incorporate the Russian language into all university and international projects. Thank you, Prof. Nedyalkova, for the opportunity for our students to have the competitive advantage of studying and learning Russian, to participate in international festivals and student competitions, to represent our university worthily and to take first places through their knowledge of the values of the Russian world and Russian language! At this exciting moment, I would like to express my gratitude to the Russkiy Mir Foundation, to its head, the Chairperson of the Education Committee of the Russian Duma - Mr V. A. Nikonov, Honorary Professor of Varna Free University, and to the Executive Director of the Foundation, Mr Vladimir Kochin for the long successful cooperation with our university. Many thanks also to the Russia's General Consul in Varna, Sergei Nikolaevich Lukyanchuk, for the immutable support of all initiatives and events of the Russian Centre of VFU. To my family, thank you for your love and patience! I will continue to work with honour, conscience and dignity.