The best of the city of Alytus in 2023 were solemnly honored

In the Alytus City Theater, the persons and companies who have merited the city in various fields in the past year are traditionally solemnly honored. All the winners of the nominations were presented with Alytus year awards – “Alytus-Myliu” statuettes and thanks from the mayor of the municipality.

More than 70 candidates were offered 13 nominations at the eleventh annual Alytus Awards. This is the highest number of nominated candidates in all the awards held.

“No one plans to become a hero, no one knows how many children they will help or what grandiose business plan they will create, but it happens because human possibilities are limitless. The most important thing is to believe in yourself and what you do, it is important that you have that fire in your heart that leads you forward. Your achievements are the achievements of Alytus, your steps forward are the steps of Alytus, you are Alytus. Today we have to pause and look back at what was the most interesting and the best in 2023. Many will receive awards not only for this year – in the fields of culture, sports, medicine, activities of public organizations, business, job creation, you did various activities not just for one day or year, but all your life. Thank you for creating, thank you for working, for loving, thank you for glorifying our beloved Alytus”, said Alytus City Municipality Mayor Nerijus Cesiulis during the festive event.

The first nomination for charitable activities was awarded to the “Zonta” club of the city of Alytus. “According to the main motto of the international organization “Zonta” “Let’s create a better world for women and girls”, the “Zonta” club of the city of Alytus dedicates its support to the young talents of the Alytus Music School and Youth Center, the Rumbonii Old People’s Home, and the Kindergarten for the Elderly. Last week, a support evening was held – the community of Alytus, invited as a friend, watched the play “Kaja” by the drama studio “Skrajokliai” of the Alytus Youth Center. The collected funds will be used for the trip of young theatergoers to the theater festival in Italy”, said its president Rūta Jasionienė about the activities of the Zonta club in the city of Alytus.

The award for involving disabled people in volunteering went to the creators of the “Heroes Coffee” initiative. The purpose of this social initiative is to provide an opportunity and develop the working skills of young people with intellectual disabilities and to increase society’s tolerance. “Heroes coffee” has already become a tradition – we can enjoy it at various city events, in the Alytus City Theater before every performance.

The “Alytus-Myliu” statuette was awarded to journalist, moderator of cultural projects and events, long-time host of city events, head of radio station “FM99” Liudus Ramanauskas for his contributions to culture. This award is dedicated to him for his value-based long-term work and volunteering in cultural projects. “Culture is not events, culture is not phenomena. Culture is the lullaby heard in childhood and from it to Bach’s toccata, it is the sandcastle on the beach and Čiurlionis’ vision, culture is the first quatrain and Kant’s Critique of Pure Reason, culture is us, the people, in this crazy brutal world, culture is the only thing , which helps us to remain human”, said nominee L. Ramanauskas about the importance of culture.

The Newcomer of the Year award for services to business is given to the museum-café “Train M23”. “Kauno grūdai” AB was awarded for the investments made in the city of Alytus.

The innovative business award was presented to the Alytus Vocational Training Center (PRC) for its services to business. “Every year, more than 700 people graduate from PRC, who acquire various qualifications and integrate into the fields. 34 educational programs of various directions are implemented – some of them change, others are implemented continuously. Not only residents of all districts of Alytus county study at the center, but also from Prienai and Kaunas. We cooperate very closely with business and we are happy with our partnership both in the implementation of professional training programs and in their preparation, providing opportunities for students to do internships and integrate into the labor market. There is good cooperation with the companies AB “Astra LT”, “Lanksti linija”, AB “Kauno grūdai”, all the municipalities of the Alytus region in order to make this region better”, said Vytautas Zubrus, director of the Alytus PRC.

Simona Nedzinskienė, the chief nursing administrator of the Alytus Polyclinic, was awarded for her services to health protection. For services to education – Lina Abromavičienė, music teacher, methodologist, concertmaster of the Alytus School of Music.

The “Alytus-Myliu” statuette was awarded to Klementina Gruzdiene, head of the Alytus Autism Support Foundation “Pokyčių ambasada” for her services to child welfare. “Our activities consist of many activities – this includes ongoing services for the family: consultation, therapy, education, advocacy, and the film with which we travel around Lithuania revealing the lives of such families, changing society’s attitudes towards autistic people,” said K. Gruzdienė.

Dzūkija football club “Dainava” was awarded for its services to sports. “Aušrinė” dance studio is responsible for popularizing the name of the city of Alytus in Lithuania and abroad.

For heroic deeds and exceptional deeds, the “Alytus-Myliu” statuette was awarded to Erland Didziulis, who provided first aid to a little girl hit by a car at a pedestrian crossing. While receiving the award, the officer wished the girl great strength and health.

Alytus City Municipality Mayor N. Cesiulis presented the award for active public activity to Alytus St. Ryčius Baltrušaičius, pastor of Kazimierz parish. “Let’s not owe each other anything, except for mutual love,” wished the clergyman while taking back the “Alytus-Myliu” statuette.

During the festive evening, Katažina and Deivydas Zvonkai, Inga Jankauskaitė, actress Andra Kavaliauskaitė, dancers of the contemporary dance studio “Aušrinė”, Ignas Tamulis, winner of the TV project “Lietuvos talentai” and Ignas Tamulis, the young pianist of the Alytus Music School, Paulius Abromavičius and the wind orchestra of the Alytus Youth Center of Contemporary Dance performed during the festive evening. dancers from the “Vakare” studio, the “Jete” ballet studio, the “Vaja” vocal studio and the saxophone quintet.

The event was hosted by radio FM99 presenter Eglė Malinauskienė and actor, member of the Alytus city council, Tadas Gryn.