The Dnipro Oleksandr Hostishchev Security and National-Patriotic Education Lyceum of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine celebrated the first graduation ceremony in its history. The event marked a significant milestone not only for the Lyceum itself but also for the entire departmental education system of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine.
Together with graduates from the other four MIA lyceums, the Dnipro graduates were congratulated by the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, Ihor Klymenko, during a nationwide live broadcast. In his address, he emphasized that over the past two years the students had become stronger, more experienced and more confident, and encouraged them to carry throughout their lives the knowledge, values and principles instilled by the MIA lyceums.
The ceremony began with a minute of silence in memory of the fallen Defenders of Ukraine.
The Guest of Honour at the Dnipro Lyceum was Inna Yashchuk, State Secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine. The event was also attended by Andrii Basko, Deputy Head of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Military Administration; Major General Volodymyr Chenchyk, Deputy Head of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine; Lieutenant General Volodymyr Hordiichuk, Deputy Commander of the National Guard of Ukraine; Police Colonel Oleksandr Rashevskyi, Head of the Special Purpose Police Department and Commander of the Joint Assault Brigade “Liut” of the National Police of Ukraine; Colonel of the Civil Protection Service Viktor Vitovetskyi, Director of the Department of Civil Protection and Preventive Activities of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine; as well as Iryna Shcherbyna, sister of Oleksandr Hostishchev, and his mother, Liudmyla Hostishcheva.
During the ceremony, the graduates expressed their gratitude to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine for creating a modern educational environment. They also thanked the Lyceum’s administration, teachers, educators and staff for their guidance, support, dedication and care. As a token of appreciation, the graduates presented the teaching staff with symbolic gifts.
One of the most emotional moments of the celebration was the graduation waltz dedicated to the graduates’ parents. Through this performance, the students expressed their heartfelt gratitude to their families for their love, unwavering support and belief in them throughout their educational journey.
The ceremony also featured the symbolic placement of a time capsule. Graduates enclosed letters to their future selves containing their dreams and aspirations, along with a video archive capturing the most memorable moments of Lyceum life.
Another important tradition introduced during the event was the ceremonial transfer of the Lyceum Flag to the incoming students as a symbol of continuity, unity and the preservation of the institution’s traditions. Following the handover, the graduates pledged to uphold the honour of being alumni of the Lyceum, remain faithful to its values and contribute to the prosperity of Ukraine through their future achievements.
The highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of certificates of complete general secondary education and commemorative graduate badges of the MIA Security and National-Patriotic Education Lyceum. Established at the initiative of Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko, the badge was awarded to every graduate as a symbol of belonging to the united family of MIA lyceums.
The celebration concluded with a traditional parental blessing ceremony. Walking beneath embroidered Ukrainian rushnyky and blue-and-yellow ribbons, the graduates took their first symbolic steps into adulthood while receiving sincere wishes for peace, success and the fulfilment of their dreams.
The first graduation of the Dnipro Oleksandr Hostishchev Security and National-Patriotic Education Lyceum marks the beginning of a new tradition in the institution’s history. New opportunities, responsible decisions and professional aspirations lie ahead for its graduates, while the Lyceum will always remain the place where they developed their knowledge, character, values and commitment to serving Ukraine.
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