Individuals who have served the institution’s cause with quiet consistency and unwavering commitment over many years play a defining role in the life of the Ferenc Rakoczi II Transcarpathian Hungarian University. As this year’s Transcarpathian laureate of the Rakoczi Prize, we celebrate just such an individual in the person of Professor Emeritus Attila Kohut, retired Vice-Rector of the university.
Attila Kohut’s career, spanning several decades, is closely intertwined with the defining periods of the institution’s development. As the Head of the Kolcsey Professional Boarding School, he created a secure, human-centric, and value-based community space for generations, where, alongside their studies, the experience of taking responsibility and of belonging together shaped the students’ perspectives and life paths.
As Vice-Rector for Economic Affairs, he served as one of the most vital pillars of the institution’s operations. Under his direction and supervision, the university’s large-scale developments, investments, and construction projects were realized. These not only strengthened the infrastructure but also laid the long-term foundations for the institution’s stability and future. Alongside these achievements, he consistently ensured the university’s smooth day-to-day operations, often remaining in the background while performing indispensable work throughout.
At the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian war, Attila Kohut took an active role in rallying the university community; he assisted the institution’s efforts in caring for refugees arriving in Transcarpathia from Eastern Ukraine, and he coordinated the dedicated work of volunteers. His steadfastness during this critical period was a testament not only to his organizational skills but also to his profound sense of human responsibility.
The life’s work and career of Professor Emeritus Attila Kohut serve as a true example of how institutional loyalty, professional expertise, and human solidarity can collectively create lasting value. The community of the Ferenc Rakoczi II Transcarpathian Hungarian University looks with profound gratitude and respect upon everything he has done for the institution and for the Transcarpathian Hungarian community. In recognition of his decades of committed and exemplary service, in 2026 we are delighted to present Attila Kohut with the highest honor of the University of Rakoczi, the Rakoczi Prize.
We offer our heartfelt congratulations on this award.
