“Thank you, RUDN, for everything”: Carolina Gaspar Ramirez returns to her Alma Mater after receiving a state award
The Pushkin Medal is one of the Russian Federation’s oldest state honours. Established in 1999, it recognises outstanding contributions to culture, the arts, education and the humanities, as well as efforts to preserve cultural heritage and promote Russian culture abroad.
Carolina Gaspar Ramirez received the medal in recognition of her longstanding work to strengthen cultural ties. She is the founder and director of the Russia–Mexico Friendship House and Cultural Centre in Puebla, the capital of the Mexican state of Puebla. Since opening in 2010, the centre has hosted a wide range of exhibitions, concerts and educational events.
Ms. Gaspar Ramirez also represents Russia’s Honorary Consul in Puebla. In this role, she carries out consular duties, represents the interests of the Russian Federation and liaises with local authorities and civil society organisations. She has represented the Russian Embassy in talks on cooperation between Mexican and Russian universities. The discussions focused on student and academic staff exchanges, as well as joint research projects.
During her visit, Carolina Gaspar Ramirez took a walk through the university’s familiar corridors and met with the rector, alumni and students. She graduated from RUDN’s Faculty of Philology with a bachelor’s degree in 2002 and went on to complete her master’s degree in 2004.
She recalled life in the university dormitory, where students from all over the world lived side by side, and the cultural events they organised to share and discover one another’s traditions. She also remembers the university cafeteria — especially two of her favourite dishes, Russian salad and borscht. She has nostalgic memories about underpasses between the main building and the dormitories, where students were always bumping into friends greeting each other.
Her memories of student life also include her professors and her graduation thesis, which focused on television in Mexico. She remembers defending it and receiving the highest mark.
RUDN, however, was part of Carolina Gaspar Ramirez’s family story long before she became a student. Her father, Horacio Gaspar Lima, was also a graduate of Patrice Lumumba Peoples’ Friendship University. He completed his degree in International Law in 1973.
“My father studied here and was always so enthusiastic when he talked about the university. He encouraged me to come here, too. I grew up listening to his wonderful stories, and eventually I realised that RUDN was where I wanted to study. It had to be RUDN,” Carolina Gaspar Ramirez said.
The family connection with the university continues into the next generation: her son, Fernando Alexey Romero Gaspar, is currently studying at RUDN’s faculty of Science.
“Thank you, RUDN, for everything!” Carolina Gaspar Ramirez and her son smiled and said in unison.
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