These days, the Belarusian National Technical University has written a history of achievements in education and science, celebrated the remarkable victories of its students, and witnessed truly cosmic heights.
March 23
This day will forever be remembered as one of the most inspiring pages in the history of not only BNTU but all of Belarus. On March 23, 2024, at 3:36:10 PM Moscow time, the Soyuz-2.1a rocket launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome carrying the Soyuz MS-25 spacecraft, carrying the first female cosmonaut from Belarus, Marina Vasilevskaya.
Nadezhda Tolstikova, a student of the BNTU Faculty of Transport Communications and Miss Minsk 2023, witnessed the historic event. She arrived at Baikonur as part of the Belarusian delegation on March 20 and personally escorted Marina Vasilevskaya to the spacecraft. The scale of the cosmodrome, the endless steppe expanses, the enthusiasm that gripped the delegation—all of this left a lasting impression on Nadezhda. When the rocket finally soared into the sky, tears welled in Nadezhda's eyes: she was thrilled to be part of this historic moment.
Remarkably, the launch was originally scheduled for March 21, but due to technical difficulties, it was postponed for two days. The Belarusian delegation decided to stay and see their compatriot off into space, and this anticipation became part of the overall celebration.
March 24
The final of the Miss Minsk 2023 beauty pageant was held at the Palace of the Republic on March 24, 2023. Among the twenty contenders for the main title were two BNTU students: Tatyana Karzyuk from the Faculty of Architecture and Nadezhda Tolstikova from the Faculty of Transport Communications. Following the competition, Tatyana won the title of "Miss Top Model," while Nadezhda won the main crown – "Miss Minsk 2023." BNTU Rector Sergey Kharitonchik congratulated the winner directly from the stage by telephone. At the time, Nadezhda was a fourth-year student majoring in highway engineering and was known as an active participant in the university's social life: she was the chair of the faculty's student council, a finalist in the "BNTU Student of the Year 2022" competition, and a recipient of an incentive payment from the BNTU Council. In December 2022, her photo was posted on the university's Honor Roll.
March 29
By decision of the BNTU Council on March 29, 2019, Andrey Kologrivko was appointed Head of the Faculty of Mining and Environmental Engineering. A graduate of the Ordzhonikidze Moscow State Geological Prospecting Academy, he holds a PhD in engineering, is an associate professor, and is the author of over 140 scientific papers. Before his appointment as dean, he served as deputy dean of the Faculty of Mining and Ecology and head of the department for training highly qualified scientific personnel at BNTU.
The history of the Polytechnic University continues to be written – every day, by each of us.
