On December 13, In the spaces of Vilnius University Šiauliai Academy (VU ŠA), festive melodies sounded. The smell of natural beeswax and gingerbread cookies fluttered, inviting academic community members to meet the coziest holidays of the year together. The Academy's lecturers attended the Advent afternoon, and staff, students, and guests had the opportunity to participate in educational workshops, taste the most delicious baked goods and chat.

 The Advent afternoon was started festively – with the sound of Christmas songs performed by friends of VU Šiauliai Academy – the musical collective "Fresco" (headed by Aušra Kardašienė).

The congregation was greeted by the director of VU ŠA, prof. Dr. Renata Bilbokaitė was glad that for the second year in a row, we are welcoming the coziest winter holidays as members of the Vilnius University community, spending high-quality and invaluable time together.

Also, the advent afternoon was attended, and the congregation was greeted by the chaplain of VU Šiauliai Academy, Arūnas Jankauskis, who wished the community peace and peace, which we are so much looking forward to during this challenging period for everyone.

The awards of "Lecturer of the Year" and "Athlete of the Year" became a festive highlight. VU ŠA 2022 lecturer was elected assoc. Prof. Dr. Jurgita Lankauskaitė of the Institute of Education, and Kamilė Gaučaitė, a student of the IV course physical education and sports pedagogy study program, became the best athlete of the year 2022. The award members of the community were greeted with rich applause, thanks, and floral arrangements.

After the official part of the Advent afternoon, the congregation enjoyed gingerbread cookies, the VU ŠA cake, which has already become a tradition, and the most delicious herbal tea of the VU ŠA Botanical Garden. Members of the academic community participated in educational classes, during which they had the opportunity to try to make a candle of real beeswax and decorate it, create a sustainable toy, and try to arrange a mosaic from various shapes. The team of VU ŠA Botanical Garden and the team of VU ŠA STEAM Center prepared educational activities for the community.

The academy community congratulates everyone on the upcoming most beautiful holidays and wishes everyone to discover their own st. A Christmas miracle!

More photos can be found on the VU ŠA Facebook account.