ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ Initiation Ceremony 2025
November 13, 2025

On Tuesday, November 11th, the ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ community gathered to celebrate one of the most anticipated traditions of the year the Initiation Ceremony 2025. This time, the event took place not at the Toktogul Satylganov Philharmonic Hall as in previous years, but right within the walls of the ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ campus, which was transformed for the occasion. A grand stage was built especially for the event, one that could easily rival the Philharmonic itself, both in scale and atmosphere.
The ceremony opened with a warm and inspiring speech by President Timothy O’Connor, who welcomed the newly initiated students into the ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ family.
“Dear ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ students, your path at the university will be like a journey. You will have guides with you – your faculties and mentors, and companions – your classmates and friends. But there can be no ready-made map for such a journey, because you create it yourself. You can fill your trip with whatever you want, and ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ is always ready to provide you with these opportunities. And most importantly, don’t be afraid to make mistakes on this journey! No one expects you to know everything. Mistakes are the material for your growth and the data for analysis.â€
President O’Connor also shared that this Initiation Ceremony marks his third year as ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ President and expressed his deep joy in celebrating this meaningful tradition together with the ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ community. He extended special thanks to Nikolai Shulgin and the Mirrors Theatre for their creativity and dedication in organizing such a wonderful and memorable show.
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Following the President’s address, the newly elected Student Senate took the solemn oath to ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ, officially marking the beginning of their service to the student community:
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Mohammad Qahim Sadiqi
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Renata-Mariia Gradwal
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Saadat Dzholdosheva
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Aktan Toichubekov
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Cholpon Toktogulova
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Baiemir Akzholov
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Artur Kim
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During the Initiation, the recipients of the Nikolai Shulgin Scholarship were announced. Funded jointly by ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ and Mirrors Theater graduates, this scholarship honors the legacy of creativity, dedication, and community spirit fostered by the Mirrors Theatre.This year, thanks to the collective fundraising efforts totaling $4,000, several exceptional students were awarded this prestigious recognition
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The evening concluded with a captivating performance by Theatre Mirrors, who presented their new adaptation of “Romeo and Juliet†inspired by William Shakespeare’s timeless story. The students reimagined the romance through the lens of 21st-century culture, blending expressive dance and a cappella performances to convey emotion and modern interpretation.
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As tradition dictates, the Initiation Ceremony 2025 came to a close with the ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ Anthem, uniting students, faculty, and guests in a moment of pride and community spirit — a perfect finale to a day that welcomed a new generation into the vibrant ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ family.








