In Service of the Talents of Transcarpathian Hungarian Youth -The 2025 Annual Assessment Report of the "GENIUS" CF

Our programs in 2025 included, but were not limited to, the following:

Competition Preparation Weekends

X. Mathematics Talent Development and Competition Preparation Weekends

The mathematics competition preparation weekends were organized for the tenth time at the University of Rakoczi on November 22–24, 2024, December 6–8, 2024, and February 14–16, 2025. ⁶ Among the invited students, 66 participated in the first weekend, 38 in the second, and 40 in the third, representing 20 different educational institutions. ⁷A total of 13 qualified educators worked with the young talents during the program.

XI. Mathematics Talent Development and Competition Preparation Weekends

In the 2025/2026 academic year, mathematically talented students were invited for the eleventh time to participate in a series of three weekend sessions held at the University of Rakoczi.  The first session took place on December 12, 2025, with the second scheduled for February 6–8, 2026, and the third for February 20–22, 2026. The talent program was attended by 56 children from 17 institutions, taught by 21 teachers with the assistance of 1 university mentor.

X. Biology, Chemistry, and Geography Talent Development and Competition Preparation Weekend

The biology, geography, and chemistry talent development weekends were held for the tenth time, with dates: September 12–14, 2025, October 10–12, 2025, and February 6–8, 2026. The program takes place at the Ferenc Rakoczi II Transcarpathian Hungarian University, including its Forest School and Research Base in Velyka Dobron. Over the past ten years, 283 young people have participated; this year, 22 students (8 biologists, 7 chemists, and 7 geographers) representing 13 institutions indicated their intention to participate.

IV. Checkerboard Lily Tour

Students participating in the biology, chemistry, and geography weekends, together with the lecturers and students of the Transcarpathian Hungarian Lyceum and the Department of Biology and Chemistry, participated in the fourth Checkerboard Lily Tour on April 4, 2025, in the Velyka Dobron Wildlife Reserve, under the professional direction of Department Head Dr. Erzsébet Kohut. At the beginning of the tour, participants set off in centrally organized vehicles to the University’s Forest School and Research Base, dressed in appropriate outdoor clothing. From there, they continued their journey to the banks of the Szernye Canal, then crossed over in canoes to reach the Masonca meadow. In the meadow, they observed the highly protected checkerboard lilies.

Summer Camps

In the summer of 2025, the Foundation organized a total of 9 summer camps in Transcarpathia over 4 weeks across 4 settlements (Berehove, Velyka Dobron, Mali Heivtsi, Petrove) at 5 locations (bases established by the University of Rakoczi). A 10th camp was held in Dunajska Streda for the winners of the "Szól a Fülemüle" Talent Contest held in the spring.

No.	Camp Name	Date	Students	Teachers	Univ. Mentors	External Mentors
1.	XV. Bereg Region Folk Music and Folk Dance Camp	June 30 - July 4, 2025	40	12	7	0
2.	Summer Camp in Dunajska Streda combined with the XVI. Court Music Festival in Dunajska Streda	July 7-11, 2025	35	5	0	0
3.	I. "Magic of Music" Classical Music Camp	July 21-26, 2025	54	32	0	0
4.	V. Ung Region Sports Camp	July 28 – Aug 2, 2025	36	5	4	0
5.	VIII. Ung Region Folk Music and Folk Dance Camp	July 28 – Aug 2, 2025	18	7	4	3
6.	VI. Guitar, Song, and Poetry Camp	July 28 – Aug 2, 2025	25	7	3	0
7.	XV. Maria Jankovics Art Camp (Turn I)	July 28 – Aug 2, 2025	30	5	4	2
8.	V. Ugocsa Sports Camp	July 28 – Aug 2, 2025	40	7	6	0
9.	XV. Maria Jankovics Art Camp (Turn II)	Aug 4-9, 2025	33	5	4	0
10.	VIII. Bereg Region Sports Camp	Aug 4-9, 2025	40	6	5	0
	Total		351	91	37	5

Eight specialized camps were realized with the support of the Prime Minister's Office, the State Secretariat for National Policy, and the Gábor Bethlen Fund, while the debut "Magic of Music" classical music camp was supported by the Ministry of Culture and Innovation, and welcomed participants aged 8–16 from 65 educational institutions. ²⁴

Highlights from selected camps:

• XV. Bereg Region Folk Music and Folk Dance Camp: Held at the Vocational High School of the University of Rakoczi, led by Gabriella Szilágyiné Tóth. 40 participants from 12 settlements and 14 institutions attended.
• Performance of “Fülemüle" Talents in Dunajska Streda: Winners of the "Szól a Fülemüle" Talent Contest participated in a 5-day camp (July 7–11) and performed at the 16th Court Music Festival in Dunajska Streda. Groups representing Transcarpathia included the Orchidea, Csüllő, Eszenyi Ritmus, and Kék Viola folk dance ensembles.
• I. "Magic of Music" Classical Music Camp: Held July 21–26 at the University of Rakoczi with 54 students and 17 teachers from 22 settlements. Participants studied piano, strings, wind instruments, and accordion, and engaged in art therapy and painting.
• Sports Camps (Ung, Ugocsa, Bereg): Held in Velyka Dobron, Petrove, and Berehove. Participants practiced various sports including football, handball, basketball, karate, and chess. The Bereg region camp's closing ceremony on August 8 attended by Dr. Balázs Hankó (Minister of Culture and Innovation) and Dr. Veronika Varga-Bajusz (State Secretary).
• XV. Maria Jankovics Art Camp: Two turns held for students interested in painting, sculpture, and drawing. Led by Ágnes Kulin, president of the Imre Révész Society.

Sports Programs

20 Handball Talent Points

Established in the summer of 2022 in cooperation with the University of Rakoczi and the Hungarian Handball Federation, covering all of Transcarpathia. In the first semester of the 2025–2026 academic year, training took place in 52 groups with 808 children from 37 educational institutions, led by 26 coaches.

XIII. Jeno Buzanszky Football Cup - Held on April 12, 2025, across 8 pitches with 31 teams from 26 educational institutions (313 players).

XII. József Zupko Handball Memorial Tournament Took place on May 10, 2025. 36 teams (417 young athletes) competed across 4 courts.

Coach Training

• Spring: April 25, 2025, in Hajdúnánás (Hungary), focusing on U12–U15 development.
• Autumn: November 22–23, 2025, at the University of Rakoczi, focusing on motivation and injury prevention.

III. Rakoczi GENIUS Handball Cup Held on December 6, 2025, with 360 participants from 20 Talent Points.

Work of the 15 Talent Points

In the 2025/2026 academic year, 1,534 children applied to the 15 Talent Points.

• Sessions: Most sessions were held on October 18, November 8, and November 22, 2025.
• Staff: 262 teachers taught the sessions, with the participation of 67 accompanying teachers and 73 schools.
• Volume: 1,278 lesson hours were conducted.

Classical Music and Folk Art Programs

XI. "Szól a Fülemüle!" – Transcarpathian Folk Music and Folk Dance Talent Contest - Organized for the 11th time for youth aged 7–17. Due to high interest, it was held over two days: Folk Music on April 26, 2025, and Folk Dance on May 3, 2025. 612 young people appeared on stage with 131 productions.

VII. "Magic of Music" Training and Concert - A classical music talent development program held between January 27 and June 4, 2025 (120 hours). Initially involving 25 young pianists, it expanded to include 15 more due to high interest. The closing concert was held on June 4. 

Transcarpathian Talents on the "Virtuosos" Stage - Pre-selections for the 10th season of the international classical music show Virtuosos were held on January 18–20, 2025. Three participants advanced to the semi-finals: Bence Csákvári (Upland), and Máté Paládi and Dániel Miklós Szülek (Transcarpathia). 

Other Appearances:

• II. Kecskemét Youth Festival (May 2025): The "Reménység" Folk Dance Ensemble represented Transcarpathia and achieved a Gold rating.
• X. Transcarpathian Day in Brussels (Nov 2025): A concert titled "Voices of Hope – Magic of Music from Transcarpathia to Brussels" was performed by Andrea Várnagy and 9 young musicians.

Cultural Programs

XIV. Transcarpathian Talent Day - Held on June 7, 2025, this event served as the ceremonial closing of the academic year. Various scholarships and awards were presented, including KMPSZ subject competition awards (233 people), Ady Endre Scholarship (24 people), and Ilona Zrínyi research scholarships (64 people).

Presentation of "Köbüki" Diplomas On March 22, 2025, diplomas were awarded to 93 Transcarpathian educators who won the Köbüki talent support teacher scholarship. The majority (82 people) are professionals working in GENIUS talent programs. The event was attended by Minister Balázs Hankó.

Scientific Events and Conferences

37. National Scientific Student Conference (OTDK) participation Held in Hungary between March 24 and April 30, 2025. Thanks to the local Transcarpathian Scientific Student Conference (KTDK), 37 Transcarpathian students participated with 43 entries across varying sections.

VIII. Scientific Debate Afternoon – Held on May 15, 2025, featuring lectures by five renowned experts (including Prof. Dr. Károly Kocsis and Prof. Dr. Tamás Weiszburg) focusing on anniversaries like the 200th anniversary of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.

Transcarpathian Scientific Student Conference (KTDK) Organized on May 16, 2025, for the "Science Day in Ukraine." 49 young people submitted 50 entries. The professional committee recommended 24 entries for presentation at the 2027 National OTDK.

XXII. Conference of Young Transcarpathian Hungarian Researchers (FKK) – Held on November 7, 2025, coinciding with the Celebration of Hungarian Science. 15 presenters delivered lectures in 3 sections (Economics/Pedagogy, Language/Literature, History/Social Sciences).

Scholarship Programs

Endre Ady Scholarship Program For socially disadvantaged, outstandingly talented students in grades 6–11. In the 2025/2026 academic year, 83 applications were received, and 24 students were recommended for the scholarship.

Collegium Talentum Scholarship Program For the 2025/2026 academic year, 6 applicants from Transcarpathia registered and passed the entrance exam on August 25.

Kálmán Soós Scholarship Program

Announced for the 14th time. All 73 submitted entries from 68 applicants received scholarships.

• Transcarpathian Wanderer University: 4 winners.
• Hungarian Lecture Notes/Dictionaries: 12 notes from 11 applicants supported.
• Transcarpathian Related Research: 57 applications supported.

Ilona Zrinyi Transcarpathian Hungarian Specialized Course 33 students applied, and 32 passed the entrance exam on January 17, 2025. All 32 were recommended for the scholarship.

Diploma Naturalization Scholarship – Supports the official recognition (nostrification) of degrees obtained in Hungary within Ukraine. In the 2024/2025 cycle, 7 people (8 applications) were supported.

Council and Office Work

Transcarpathian Talent Support Council: Met in September and October 2025 to organize the academic year and adjudicate the Endre Ady scholarships.

Transcarpathian Higher Education Talent Support Council (KFTT): Met in January to decide on Zrínyi scholarships and in October regarding Kálmán Soós scholarships and the Wanderer University program.

Agora Information Center: managed the "Hometown Study Support" (50 Bachelor, 49 Master, 12 PhD recipients) and the "Young Faculty" scholarships (13 recipients) for the 2024/2025 academic year.

Introductions and Accreditation

The Foundation presented its work at several venues:

• Beregdaróc: Collegium Talentum meeting (Jan 2025).
• Lakitelek: Szent Imre College (March 2025).
• Budapest: Heritage House Professional Days (April 2025) and MTA 200 Transcarpathian Days (May 2025).
• Brussels: X. Transcarpathian Day (Nov 2025), where Director Natália Váradi spoke on a mental health roundtable.

Accreditation In October 2025, the Foundation submitted its application to renew its "Excellent Accredited Talent Point" status (previously won in 2013, 2017, and 2021).

 

We hereby thank the Hungarian Government, the State Secretariat for National Policy, the Gábor Bethlen Fund Management Ltd., the Ministry of Culture and Innovation, the National Talent Program, the Tempus Public Foundation, the Hungarian Handball Federation, and the Ferenc Rakoczi II Transcarpathian Hungarian University for their financial support, and the council members, coordinators, educators, and colleagues for their persistent and sacrificial work.

Dr. habil. Natália Váradi

Director of the "GENIUS" Charity Foundation