Center-invest Bank and the "Education and Science of the Southern Federal District" Endowment Fund held the second award ceremony for the winners of the "Smart Scholarship. Professionalism" contest for students of secondary vocational education institutions. The RUB 3 million prize fund was distributed among the 100 best projects.

More than 2,300 students from 65 educational institutions took part in the contest. The participants presented their business project and related development strategy. Each scholarship recipient’s application was evaluated according to the degree of business project implementation, academic and community achievements, and high academic performance. 100 students of secondary vocational education institutions were recognised as winners of the contest.

The participants of the ceremony were welcomed by Vasily Vysokov, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Center-invest Bank and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the "Education and Science of the Southern Federal District" Endowment Fund, Doctor of Economics, Professor.

"When I was young, my family discussed my future development path: university or vocational school. My wise grandmother convinced the family: "He is talented — let him go to university!" You are lucky that nowadays you don’t have to choose your status, you choose your profession. Love your profession! The world needs your professional talent: the ability to see the unobvious, do the incredible and achieve the impossible together with other talents — winners of our contest. You are already on the right track! Center-invest Bank wishes you success in your professional studies and work, and do not forget to digitize your vigorous activity with the help of modern artificial intelligence tools and unite a team of other talents around you," commented Vasily Vysokov.

Supporting able-minded and talented youth is the priority mission of the bank’s social and educational projects. Center-invest Bank and the Endowment Fund have been awarding this "Smart Scholarship" since 2002. Over 21 years of the contest’s existence, more than 40,000 people took part in it and more than 6,000 students were awarded with the scholarship.

The capital of the "Education and Science of the Southern Federal District" Fund amounts to RUB 307 million, making it the largest endowment fund in Southern Russia today.