President of Kyrgyz Republic Presents a Prestigious Award for Academic Excellence to UCA Student
Kyzzhibek Zhanibekova, a senior student at the University of Central Asia’s (UCA) School of Arts and Sciences (SAS), was recently honoured with the Presidential Award for Academic Excellence, one of the most prestigious awards in the Kyrgyz Republic for university students.
The award has been established by the President of the Kyrgyz Republic to recognize and celebrate the most talented university students in the Kyrgyz Republic for their outstanding academic excellence, research record, and active community engagement.
The selection is undertaken by a high-powered committee chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister. The honour includes a personalised certificate signed by the President of the Kyrgyz Republic and a cash award of 60,000 Kyrgyz Soms (approx. USD 670).
Nominated by UCA, Kyzzhibek was one amongst the only 75 students nationally who qualified to receive this rare distinction.
Following the award ceremony, Kyzzhibek spoke to the UCA news team on her journey with the University of Central Asia.
UCA News: Congratulations on your award.
Kyzzhibek: Thank you. I attribute my success to my passion for learning and dedication to excellence. Behind this award are years of hard work.
UCA News: Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Kyzzhibek: I was born and raised in Osh and graduated from the Aga Khan School in Osh. Coming from a family of academicians and teachers, love for knowledge is ingrained in my DNA.
UCA News: What influenced your decision to join UCA?
Kyzzhibek: As students at the Aga Khan School, we were introduced to UCA through UCA’s student recruitment team. My mother, who visited UCA in 2019 for teacher training, was so impressed with the University that she also strongly encouraged me to choose UCA.
UCA News: How has your time at UCA transformed your personal and academic life?
Kyzzhibek: I joined UCA at the age of 16 and now I am on the verge of graduating. Over the past five years, UCA has become a second home for me. The University offers excellent teachers who are also inspiring mentors. UCA's emphasis on English language proficiency has significantly contributed to how fluently I am able to speak the English language. The wealth of resources made available by UCA to its students allows them to bring their projects to life.
I also gained valuable lessons in teamwork by mentoring incoming students. I play the guitar, dance, run marathons, take part in basketball events, and draw and write.
Given my major in Communications and Media, videotaping, editing, and recording podcasts are integral to my creative expression. Interestingly, many incoming UCA students have mentioned watching my YouTube videos about UCA prior to joining.
A highlight for me will always be the opportunity I received, thanks to UCA, to attend the winter school at the Glasgow School of Arts. That experience broadened my horizons and exposed me to different perspectives on design.
