The second round of the 14th Regional Humanities Olympiad for Schoolchildren, "Clever and Smart," was held at Derzhavin University. The intellectual competition was supported by the Government of the Tambov Region and the regional Ministry of Education and Science. Ninety-four students from Tambov; Kotovsk; Michurinsk; Morshansk; Kirsanov; Rasskazovo; Sampursky, Gavrilovsky, Pervomaysky, and other municipal districts participated in the Olympiad.
The key topics of the Humanities Olympiad were: "Tambov on the General Map… 390 Years Since the Founding of the City"; "Nikolaev's Russia: 230 Years Since the Birth of Emperor Nicholas I"; "N.S. Gumilev and the Silver Age: 140th Anniversary of the Poet's Birth." Agonists and theorists competed in the semifinals. High school students demonstrated their knowledge of history, philology, and local history on the game tracks.
Last season's winners, eleventh-graders Fyodor Oleynichenko from Gavrilovskaya School No. 2 and Danil Bukharov, a student at Secondary School No. 3 with Advanced Study of Selected Subjects in Kotovsk, shared their experiences of participating in Channel One's "Clever and Smart" television show. The theme of their television series was dedicated to famous Russian lawyers of the 19th and early 20th centuries.
"My history teacher, Olga Mikhailovna Vityutneva, motivated me to participate in the "Clever and Smart" project." However, being on a television project is psychologically challenging because you have to cope with your nerves, find the right answer, and then tensely await the moment when you're given the floor," says Fyodor Oleynichenko, a student at Gavrilovskaya Secondary School No. 2. "To prepare for the All-Russian Olympiad, 'Clever and Smart,' I used historical encyclopedias and e-books. Because I live in a village, access to printed publications is somewhat problematic. I had to rely heavily on online materials. For the kids who are taking to the court for the first time this season, I would advise them to believe in themselves."
Among the ninth-grade students, the winners of the second round of the regional humanities Olympiad for schoolchildren, 'Clever and Smart,' were: Larisa Pronina from Branch No. 1 of Pervomayskaya Secondary School in Ilovai-Dmitrievskoye; Oleg Tovgazov from the Morshansk Gymnasium; Daria Yozhikova – Michurinsk Secondary School No. 18 named after E.D. Potapov.
The ninth-grade winners and runners-up of the Olympiad will receive priority admission to the Derzhavin Lyceum without competition. The tenth-grade winners will receive an additional 5 points toward admission to Derzhavin University, as well as a recommendation to participate in the "Clever and Smart" television Olympiad. The overall winner will be awarded an additional 5 points toward admission to Derzhavin University or a university grant guaranteeing free tuition.
"The 'Clever and Smart' project helps students exchange knowledge and experience and realize their potential. This is my second time participating in the competition, and I love the atmosphere of emotional connection, creativity, and shared values," says Alexandra Zaytseva, a student of the Skolkovo-Tambov School. "In preparation for the Humanities Olympiad, I used textbooks, took additional lessons with a history teacher, read online publications, searched for archival documents, and tried to gather as much material as possible. I plan to pursue a career in the humanities and enroll in the Faculty of History, Political Science, and Philology at Derzhavin University."
The top agonists and theorists among tenth-graders will continue their competition in the finals, which will take place on May 16. Yuri Vyazemsky, author and host of the program "Clever and Smart," writer, and head of the Department of World Literature and Culture at MGIMO, will be a special guest.
