Head of the Department of service and tourism of the Volga region Academy Lyudmila Petrik and fourth-year student Gulnara Rakhimova presented letters of gratitude for her contribution to the development of the tourism industry of the Republic of Tatarstan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Republican Fund "Revival" Mintimer Shaimiev at a meeting with representatives of the Assembly of tourist volunteers of the Republic.
The meeting was held in the Kazan Kremlin and was timed to the world tourist Day. It was attended by more than a hundred activists of the volunteer movement of the Republic, Mintimer Shaimiev, head of the state Committee of Tatarstan on tourism Sergei Ivanov, Minister of youth Affairs Damir Fattakhov, Minister of culture of the Republic — Irada Ayupova and Executive Director of the Fund "Revival" Tatiana Larionova.  
The Academy was represented by Lyudmila Petrik and 20 students who showed themselves in volunteering. Gulnara Rakhimova was awarded as one of the best volunteers of the Association. Two more students of the Volga region Academy with volunteer stories worked as part of the award group and brought letters of thanks to the stage for presentation.
For those who do not know: young men and women in bright jackets, fluent in foreign languages and helping tourists in Kazan and other cities of the Republic to navigate in an unfamiliar place – this is the tourist volunteers. 
- You are guys who are engaged in important and necessary business from the heart and for the soul. The volunteer movement is great for everyone, for the whole society. And for each of you — this is the way to success", — said Mintimer Shaimiev, noting that the volunteer movement in Russia as a whole - and tourist volunteering, in particular - appeared one of the first in Tatarstan.
The state Councilor reminded the audience about the contribution of volunteers to the brilliant organization and holding of the matches of the world Cup in Kazan.
The teacher of the Academy Lyudmila Petrik was awarded for professionalism and high level of training of students-volunteers. And the meeting with the state Councilor made a lasting impression on her: 
- I am delighted that Mintimer Sharipovich is well aware of the development of tourism in Tatarstan. He knows almost everything that Tatarstan can offer today to tourist guests of the Republic. I think that the students who attended the meeting were very lucky. Listen to the advice of such a wise mentor is worth a lot.