On August 31, 2026, the extended Drohobych University family, distinguished guests, and friends gathered at the Drohobych People’s House to congratulate the newcomers at the traditional first-year student initiation ceremony.
Among them were members of the university administration headed by the rector, Professor Valentyna Bodak, deans of faculties, head of the university teachers’ union committee Olena Kutsyk, head of the students’ union committee Ihor Hivchak, student chaplain Father Oleh Kekosh, honorary doctor of Drohobych Ivan Franko State Pedagogical University Beata Skvarek.
Initiation is an important event remembered for a lifetime. This day would not have been possible without the heroes who defended the Ukrainian land from the russian occupiers. A minute of silence was observed to honour the memory of the defenders who died in the fight for Ukraine’s independence. It is thanks to the courage of our Armed Forces, whose ranks include many graduates, students, and teachers of Drohobych University, that the university continues to work, teach, and educate a new generation of Ukrainians.
According to tradition, the ceremony began with the laying of flowers by freshmen at the monuments to outstanding Ukrainians: Ivan Franko, Taras Shevchenko, the heroes of the Heavenly Hundred, and the soldiers who died in the war with russia.
To support the new generation of Drohobych University students at the ceremony were partners and friends who work for the benefit of Ukraine: Drohobych Mayor Taras Kuchma, Deputy Head of the Drohobych Military District State Administration Yarosłav Petsiukh and representative of the Witelon Collegium State University (Legnytsia, Poland) Dariusz Stefaniak.
The rector of Drohobych State Pedagogical University, Professor Valentyna Bodak, delivered a welcoming speech noting that she was delighted to see the inspired faces of the freshmen who took a decisive step into the future by becoming students at Drohobych University: “Study hard, be creative, set ambitious goals for yourselves. After all, it is you who will create the future of our country – a free, invincible and successful Ukraine! You will be accompanied by experienced mentors and teachers throughout the entire period of study, and the guarantor of education will always be the university, which ensures the quality and sustainability of the educational process, maintaining a leading position among domestic pedagogical institutions of higher education.”
Deputy Head of the Drohobych Military District State Administration Yaroslav Petsiukh wished students to take full advantage of the opportunities provided by Drohobych University and to obtain a high-quality education. “May your student years be impressive and filled with opportunities for development!” emphasized the official – a graduate of Drohobych University.
Also congratulating those present in the hall were Beata Skwarek, Honorary Doctor of Drohobych Ivan Franko State Pedagogical University Drohobych; Father Oleh Kekosh, University Chaplain; and Nadiya Yaniv, Deputy Chair of the Student Government.
Following congratulatory remarks from the university administration and distinguished guests, a ceremonial initiation ceremony for first-year students and the recitation of the student honour code of Drohobych Ivan Franko Drohobych State Pedagogical University took place. Rector Valentyna Bodak presented symbolic student ID cards to the first-year students.
The festive atmosphere of the event was enhanced by musical performances by students and faculty members. These included the Faculty of Primary Education and Arts Student Choir (conducted by Associate Professor Lyubomyra Lastovetska); Faculty of Primary Education and Arts students Elizaveta Kushnir and Alexandra Hromova (class of Associate Professor Svitlana Kyshakevych); members of the “New Wave” ensemble from the Faculty of Primary Education and Arts (directed by Olha Martyniv) and Associate Professor Roman Mykhats who performed “Hrymyt” with lyrics by Ivan Franko and music by Natalia Storonska.
After the festive event, the first-year students met with the leadership of their faculties and met with the group supervisors.
