Solemn Award Ceremony Held for Winners of the 2026 Rector's Award Laureate

On May 28, 2026, the Financial University hosted the award ceremony for the winners of the 13th Rector's Award Laureate. In a solemn atmosphere in the university's Grand Hall, diplomas were presented to 70 laureates. A total of 185 applications were submitted to the competition by over 300 staff members and students.

The competition aims to foster staff initiative, introduce innovative approaches to university operations, identify and disseminate best practices in teaching, research methodology, and organizational management, and reward the achievements of the university's students and staff. Over the past 13 years, the number of applications has tripled, and the number of winners has more than doubled. More than 3,000 students, faculty members, and staff have participated in the competition over this period, with over 400 individuals receiving laureate diplomas.

Opening the solemn award ceremony, Rector of the Financial University Stanislav Prokofiev stated:

"For 107 years, the Financial University has been training specialists for business, the public sector, the economy, and research organizations. The foundation of our work has always been and remains the seamless collaboration between faculty and students. Behind every student's success lies the daily, selfless dedication of our teachers and researchers. These are people who pour their hearts not only into teaching but also into educating patriots. Our faculty members are recognized scientists, leading experts, and prominent figures in Russian business and government. The Rector's Award Laureate reflects the key areas of the university's development. Over the past five years, all faculties, colleges, the lyceum, and most of our branches have taken part. The competition grows every year: new categories are introduced, and both the number of applications and the quality of the submitted work increase. This year, 12 of our laureates represent our regional branches. I sincerely thank the winners, congratulate you on this high honor, and urge you not to rest on your laurels."

In 2026, the Rector's Award Laureate was held across 14 categories. Following tradition, the awards were presented by the Rector of the Financial University, Stanislav Prokofiev, and the President and Academic Supervisor of the Financial University, Mikhail Eskindarov.

A new addition this year was the introduction of the "Best in Student Social Projecting" category. The competition categories reflect the priority development areas not only of the university but of the entire national higher education system.

Diplomas for the winners of the 2026 Rector's Award Laureate were awarded to:

• Marianna T. Belova, Associate Professor, Department of Banking and Monetary Regulation, Faculty of Finance,

• Oksana V. Lifanovskaya, Associate Professor, Department of Economic Security and Risk Management, Faculty of Economics and Business,

• Oleg V. Lunyakov, Professor, Department of Banking and Monetary Regulation, Faculty of Finance.

• Marina M. Bogdanova, Head of the Department "Accounting and Information Technologies in Business", Altai Branch,

• Vitaliy V. Bogun, Associate Professor, Department of Economics and Finance, Yaroslavl Branch,

• Maxim V. Fedotov, Senior Lecturer, Department of Foreign Languages and Intercultural Communication, Faculty of International Economic Relations,

• Stepan A. Sergeev, Assistant, Department of Business Informatics, Faculty of Information Technologies and Big Data Analysis,

• Yulia A. Chebotareva, Instructor, Pre-University Courses, College of Informatics and Programming.

• Zulfiya M. Ishnazarova, Associate Professor, Department of Finance and Credit, Ufa Branch,

• Svetlana V. Prokopchik, Professor, Department of Artificial Intelligence, Faculty of Information Technologies and Big Data Analysis,

• Andrey D. Zhukovsky, Associate Professor, Department of Strategic and Innovation Development, Higher School of Management,

• Alex M. Shvelidze, Master's student, Faculty of Economics and Business (2nd year, Group KFvTSE24-1m).

"Best in Extracurricular and Patriotic Activities"

Individual awards:

• Alexander M. Ivanov, Associate Professor, Department of Mathematics, Informatics, and General Humanities, Smolensk Branch,

• Nikolai Z. Kunts, Head of the Veterans Council.

Team awards:

• Boris D. Bespartochny, Professor, Department of Humanities and Socio-Economic Disciplines, Kursk Branch,

• Olga V. Zanina, Deputy Director of the Kursk Branch,

• Anna O. Spitsyna, Head of the Department of Humanities and Socio-Economic Disciplines, Kursk Branch,

• Denis V. Zabolotny, Bachelor's student at the Kursk Branch (3rd year, Group KRS23-1B-EB01),

• Roman S. Zhiglov, Master's student at the Kursk Branch (1st year, Group KRS25-M-NBU01).

Team awards:

• Elena S. Volkova, Deputy Dean for Extracurricular Activities, Faculty of Finance,

• Natalia F. Altukhova, Head of the Department of Financial Technologies, Faculty of Finance,

• Alexander S. Lozhechko, Associate Professor, Department of Public Finance, Faculty of Finance,

• Lyubov E. Khrustova, Associate Professor, Department of Financial Markets and Financial Engineering, Faculty of Finance,

• Natalia S. Shmigol, Professor, Department of Public Finance, Faculty of Finance.

"Best in Creative Arts"

Individual award:

• Arseniy I. Zarovnyaev, Bachelor's student, Faculty of Information Technologies and Big Data Analysis (3rd year, Group ITM23-5),

"Best in Sports"

Individual award:

• Alina D. Kutergina, Bachelor's student, Smolensk Branch (1st year, Group SMLS25-1B-MA01),

Team award:

• Tatyana V. Butova, Director of the Institute of Open Education, 

• Ekaterina O. Vyatkina, Deputy Director for Academic and Methodological Work, Institute of Open Education, 

• Denis Yu. Gladyshev, Content Development Center Editor, Institute of Open Education.

• Maria O. Ermolenko, Deputy Director for Educational Work and Admissions, Yaroslavl Branch,

• Inna V. Logunova, Associate Professor, Department of Management and Public Administration Disciplines, Lipetsk Branch.

• Massengar Rongar Ngetobay, Senior Lecturer, Department of International Business, Faculty of International Economic Relations,

Individual award:

• Igor V. Yushkov, Senior Lecturer, Department of Political Science, Faculty of Social Sciences and Mass Communications,

Team awards:

• Nikita V. Slobodenyuk, Assistant, Department of Information Technologies, Faculty of Information Technologies and Big Data Analysis, 

• Ivan V. Abutkov, Bachelor's student, Institute of Open Education (1st year),

• Ilya A. Vereshchagin, Bachelor's student, Faculty of Information Technologies and Big Data Analysis (1st year, Group TRPO25-2),

• Denis O. Alekseenko, Bachelor's student, Faculty of Information Technologies and Big Data Analysis (1st year, Group TRPO25-2).

Team awards:

• Ekaterina R. Bezsmertnaya, Dean, Faculty of Economics and Business,

• Svetlana D.Yushkova, Deputy Head of the Basic Department of the Ministry of Construction of Russia, Faculty of Economics and Business,

• Andrey A. Tikhomirov, Project Manager, Faculty of Economics and Business,

• Irina A. Merkulina, Deputy Dean for Research, Faculty of Economics and Business,

• Vadim V. Fedorov, Bachelor's student, Faculty of Economics and Business (4th year, Group EKiESG22-2)

Team award:

• Gulnara F. Ruchkina, Dean, Faculty of Law,

• Mikhail R. Zagaynov, Associate Professor, Department of Legal Regulation of Economic Activity, Faculty of Law,

• Sergey M. Gavrilov, Director of the Student Sports Club,

• Darya A. Shreyder, Bachelor's student, Higher School of Management (2nd year),

• Ivan A. Bryzgalin, Bachelor's student, Faculty of Taxation, Auditing, and Business Analysis (3rd year, Group NIB23-1).

• Natalia S. Sergienko, Deputy Head, Basic Department of the Ministry of Labor "Modern Social Policy", Higher School of Management,

• Anastasia A. Sinelschikova, Master's student, Faculty of Finance (1st year, Group UFR25-1m),

• Svyatoslav A. Fominykh, Bachelor's student, Faculty of Economics and Business (4th year, Group KF22-1),

• Rafael Mulenga, PhD-track student, Faculty of International Economic Relations (2nd year, Group EME24-2a).

Team award:

• Yulia Yu. Korol, Deputy Vice Rector for Social and Extracurricular Activities – Head of the Department of Social Work, 

• Viktor Alekseevich Baranov, Legal Advisor to the Rector, Rector's Secretariat,

• Anastasia S. Drozdova, Specialist, Department of Social Work,

• Yuri A. Izgorodin, Lead Specialist, Student Sports Club,

• Matvey V. Guzhov, Lead Specialist, Student Sports Club.

Individual award:

• Darya D. Muratova, Master's student, Faculty of Taxation, Auditing, and Business Analysis (1st year, Group AiSMvB25-1m),

Team award:

• Artem I. Vasiliev, Bachelor's student, Faculty of Information Technologies and Big Data Analysis (4th year, Group ITM22-5),

• Ivan S. Ulyanov, Master's student, Higher School of Management (1st year, Group PRM25-1M).

Individual award:

• Elisey I. Sakharov, Bachelor's student, Higher School of Management (3rd year, Group CGiE23-1),

Team award:

• Ivan R. Kravtsov, Bachelor's student, Faculty of Social Sciences and Mass Communications (4th year, Group PEP22-1),

• Veniamin K. Borisov, Bachelor's student, Higher School of Management (4th year, Group GMU22-5),

• Polina A. Brezgounova, Bachelor's student, Faculty of Law (3rd year, Group YuMEP23-2),

• Elizaveta I. Bylo, Bachelor's student, Faculty of Social Sciences and Mass Communications (4th year, Group PEP22-1),

• Anna D. Savinova, Bachelor's student, Higher School of Management (4th year, Group GMU22-4).

Individual award:

• Elena A. Malinina, Associate Professor, Department of Business Informatics, Faculty of Information Technologies and Big Data Analysis,

Team award:

• Anastasia S. Karikova, Deputy Dean for Relations with Russian and International Partners, Higher School of Management,

• Ekaterina V. Merkulova, Academic and Methodological Support Specialist, Higher School of Management,

• Leonid P. Lapshin, Bachelor's student, Higher School of Management (3rd year, Group MiUB23-10),

• Alexey S. Mironov, Bachelor's student, Higher School of Management (3rd year, Group MiUB23-10).