NU hosted NU Steps Challenge 2026, a ten-day walking challenge that brought together 112 participants from 35 university units. Together, they logged an impressive 11,752,260 steps.
The NU Impact Foundation team took first place in the overall team standings, recording a total of 589,905 steps — approximately 5% of all steps taken during the challenge.
The Foundation’s representatives also delivered outstanding individual performances. Sansyzbay Zholdasbayev, Deputy Chairman of the Board of NU Impact Foundation, topped the individual rankings with 354,511 steps, finishing nearly 60,000 steps ahead of the runner-up. That is an average of approximately 35,000 steps per day — more than three times the average daily step count across all participants.
Gulmira Makhambetova, General Manager of the Foundation, recorded 235,394 steps, placing 7th among 112 participants with verified results.
Behind these numbers is more than a momentary burst of motivation — they reflect years of dedication to an active lifestyle. Sansyzbay Zholdasbayev has made walking a regular part of his life for the past 20 years, while Gulmira Makhambetova stays active through sports and running.
But the true value of the challenge goes beyond records and rankings. It brought the NU community together around a shared goal: staying active, prioritizing health, and supporting one another. Team spirit, perseverance, and the drive to achieve more are qualities that matter both in the workplace and beyond.
Congratulations to our colleagues on their well-deserved victory!