The contest “Abay readings” was held at Nazarbayev University
On February 21, Nazarbayev University hosted the student contest “Abay readings” dedicated to the 175th anniversary of the great Kazakh poet, thinker, and philosopher Abay Kunanbayev. The competition aims to not only popularize the works of Abay for the younger generation but also instill in students a sense of patriotism and love for the motherland.
At the start of the competition, Gultas Kurmanbai, the director of the Rukhani Zhangyru Cultural Center, told the students and guests about the rules and conditions of the competition. The audience made up of poetry lovers wished the students success and victories before settling in to enjoy an unforgettable evening.
The contest “Abay readings” was divided into three parts. First, contestants were judged on their expressiveness of reading the verses of Abay by heart. The second category included performances of Abay’s songs. Lastly, in the third part of the competition, the contestants’ translations of Abay’s poems into other languages was assessed.
About fifty students of Nazarbayev University took part in the “Abay readings” contest. To ensure the most objective refereeing, Altynai Nugerbek – theatre and film actress, State Prize and Kazakhstan Youth League “Serper” Prize laureate, Asker Piriyev, a member of the Assembly of People of Kazakhstan, chairman of the Turkish cultural center “Akhyska” in Nur-Sultan, and Nazerke Zhumabay, a journalist of the republican newspaper “Egemen Kazakhstan” took part in the jury.
As a result, the prizes in these nominations were:
1st place:
- Anel Yerkinbek, a 3rd-year student of the School of Sciences and Humanities
- Medet Yerkin, a 2nd-year student of the School of Mining and Geosciences
- Moldir Bizhanova, a 2nd-year student of the School of Sciences and Humanities.
2nd place:
- Nazerke Les, a 3rd-year student of the School of Sciences and Humanities
- Aimedet Taufik, Foundation student
- Marlen Kosakov, 2nd-year student of the School of Engineering and Digital Sciences
- Daniyar Niyetkaliev, a 3rd-year student of the School of Engineering and Digital Sciences
- Moldir Atenova, a 3rd-year student of the School of Sciences and Humanities.
The 3rd place prize was distributed as follows:
- Seydanova Ayazhan, 2nd-year student of the School of Sciences and Humanities
- Zholdas Bekzhan, a 2nd-year student of the School of Engineering and Digital Sciences
- Asylgazy Aybek, a 2nd-year student of the School of Sciences and Humanities
- Zhumabayeva Elmira, a 4th-year student of the School of Engineering and Digital Sciences
- Katrenov Sayan, a 4th-year student of the School of Sciences and Humanities
- Otkel Madina, a 3rd-year student of School of Sciences and Humanities
- Zere Kabdygalieva, a 2nd-year student of the School of Mining and Geosciences.
“The contest “Abay readings”, dedicated to the memory of the great Abay, was held in a very warm and friendly atmosphere, the contest’s participants performed Abay’s songs, Kazakh folk songs, adding even more solemnity to the evening. I think that the event we organized has achieved its goal, and both the participants and the listeners enjoyed this evening a lot”, Gultas Kurmanbay noted.
On behalf of the International Turkic Academy, supporting the spiritual development of youth, valuable books were presented to the winners of the competition.
The event was organized by the Nazarbayev University Cultural Center Rukhani Zhangyru, whose representatives express their gratitude to the administration of the Nazarbayev University, professors of the Department of Kazakh Language and Turkology and all participants of the contest “Abay readings”.