On 3 October 2007 an official ceremony took place in the Smolny for the award of the honorary badges “For the Humanization of St.-Petersburg School”. During the ceremony the St.-Petersburg Governor Valentina Matvienko presented awards to the best education workers and also heads of organizations and enterprises that support the city educational institutions. This year Vladimir Akulich, the CEO of the OJSC North-West Telecom, was among the recipients of the award.

The honorary award previously known as "For the achievements in humanization of St.-Petersburg school" was established on 3 October 1991. Every year the badge is awarded to 100 residents of St.-Petersburg: winners and laureates of the pedagogical excellence competitions, authors or new methodologies, business and NGO representatives.

In addition to the badge, V. Akulich will receive monetary award which he decided to donate to the State Educational Institution “Lyceum at the St. Petersburg Bonch-Bruevich State University of Telecommunications”, which prepares technical experts and new professionals for the leading telecommunications companies, including the OJSC North-West Telecom.

North-West Telecom actively contributes to the development of education. During the implementation of the priority national project “Education” in 2006-2007, OJSC North-West Telecom provided internet access to 2842 educational institutions in the North-Western Federal district of the Russian Federation. The company also regular provides support to a number of sponsored boarding schools and orphanages of the North-Western Federal District as a part of its charity activities.