The Student of the Year is someone who embodies a true role model – contributing remarkably to student well-being, actively developing university life, and turning the study years into a special and memorable experience. She is always open to new ideas, inspires with her dedication and ambition, and creates positive change both around herself and within the wider student community.
Whenever something at Tallinn University needs fixing, organizing, or saving, Vivian Põld is sure to appear. A third-year student, Vivian has made an outstanding contribution to improving student life both at the university level and beyond. She serves as the deputy chair of the student council and works actively as an advocate for students’ interests, leading the policy committee and initiating important changes to enhance the learning and living environment. In 2025, she championed topics such as accessibility, mental health, and sustainable living, organized large-scale student events, and contributed to the university’s development processes.
Vivian has said she sometimes feels like “a plug for every hole” – when a problem arises, she already has a solution. Her academic dedication hasn’t been neglected either: in her first year, she was among the top 100 first-year students at Tallinn University. Vivian manages to devote herself fully to scientific work in the lab while also focusing on her studies and improving student life. In 2024, she was the author and project manager of the ELU project “Cancer Science Day at Tallinn University”, bringing scientific and health-related discussions into the university community. She has also been one of the main organizers of Green Month and Mental Health Month – in 2025, these included over 40 events. Vivian can be perfectly described with three words: dedication, responsibility, and the desire to inspire those around her.
Upon receiving the award, Vivian directed her words of gratitude to all students: “I’d start by saying that I’m an ordinary student, but as the Chancellor of Tallinn University said, there are no ordinary students – all our students are special. So I believe that each of you here is very special and just as deserving of this award.”
