Honourable Minister,
Dear young people, teachers, and parents,
Distinguished laureates of the Atis Kronvalds Award,
Ladies and gentlemen!
It is a great pleasure for me to welcome you all today in the Festive Hall of the Riga Castle. I must say that this hall rarely sees so many intelligent and talented people, both young and not so young, gathered in one place. I am truly delighted to welcome physicists and chemists, mathematicians and computer scientists, biologists and geographers, astronomers and philosophers.
You are the ones who have taken part in Olympiads. You are the ones who have become laureates and winners, those who give us full confidence in the future of our country and society, for it is people like you upon whom Latvia and its society stand.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude not only to those who, overcoming stress and nerves, took part in the Olympiads, but also to the teachers and parents, for without you, these achievements would not have been possible. You are the ones who encouraged and motivated them. I hope that at times you also reminded them to slow down a little and not study too much. With your dedication, effort, and support, you have helped our talented young people to succeed.
It so happens that many of you have already finished school. Many are now studying – both here in Latvia and abroad. I am genuinely glad that you are studying what you truly wish to learn. I would like to encourage you, when you finish your studies, to either stay in Latvia or return here, because we need you.
Perhaps the most important thing in this era of technology and innovation, in an age increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence, is that you have not lost your ability to think – both structured thinking and creativity. That is crucial.
I am pleased that many Olympiad winners and laureates come from schools included in the Atis Kronvalds rankings. This demonstrates the synergy between strong schools, dedicated teaching staff, and the environment they create for young people to enable them to realise and prove their potential, to see their creativity and curiosity fully acknowledged.
This is the right moment to express our sincere thanks to teachers and schools that receive the Big Owl and Little Owl awards and other forms of recognition this year.
Finally, achievement is never the accomplishment of one person alone. Success in an Olympiad, recognition or an award are the result of collective effort. It is the work of teachers, of parents and families, and to a great extent also of the support provided by your municipalities and communities.
Therefore, today is a day for celebration. A day to relax a little and think about what will come next upon receiving this award. What will be the next step, the next triumph that schools, teachers, and students achieve together.
Thank you! Thank you for your intellect, your integrity, and your heart.
Latvia needs you now more than ever.
