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ALUMNI MEETING BROUGHT TOGETHER GENERATIONS OF VARNA FREE UNIVERSITY FORMER STUDENTS
25 May 2026
Over 450 former students of Varna Free University "Chernorizets Hrabar" gathered in the university for the alumni meeting "35 years - generations of knowledge and trust", which became the culmination of the celebrations on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of the first private university in Bulgaria. Representatives of the first graduates, lecturers, current students, partners and friends of the academic community were among the guests.
The event was held under the sign of continuity between generations, respect for history and confidence in the future of the university. The main highlights of the programme traced the path of Varna Free University - from the bold idea of its creation in 1991 to its establishment as an internationally recognised academic institution.
In her emotional speech, the Chairwoman of the Board of Trustees, Prof. Anna Nedyalkova, D.Sc. recalled the difficult but inspiring path of the university's establishment and the role of the students from the first classes who stood behind the cause of free and modern education in Bulgaria. She emphasised that even at the first admissions, the university received enormous trust from young people, and the first students became active defenders of the right to existence and development of the newly established university.
Prof. Nedyalkova noted that over the years, the university's academic community has been building a model oriented towards students and their employability, and today among the graduates there are established professors, public figures, entrepreneurs and experts in various fields.
The Rector, Prof. Petar Hristov, PhD greeted the guests and emphasised the importance of international partnerships and the development of the university as a modern educational institution, oriented towards applied sciences, innovations and new technologies.
A special guest of the celebration was His Excellency Arun Sahu - Ambassador of the Republic of India to Bulgaria, who also extended greetings to the academic community. On the occasion of the holiday, congratulatory addresses were received from representatives of state and local authorities, academic institutions and public organizations
One of the most exciting moments in the programme was the meeting between the generations of university graduates. The first graduate of Varna Free University – Ivan Raichkov, holder of diploma No. 1, was invited to the stage. The President of the University, Assoc. Prof. Krasimir Nedyalkov, PhD presented him with an honorary plaque as a symbol of gratitude to the first students who laid the foundations of the academic community.
During the ceremony, the 48,000th graduate of the university – Verislava Angelova, who graduated with a degree in Law, was also honoured. The symbolic meeting between the first and 48,000th graduate became a strong sign of continuity, sustainable development and public trust in the university over the years.
In his welcome address, Assoc. Prof. Krasimir Nedyalkov, PhD emphasised the future development of the university as a university of applied sciences, in which education is related to practice, technology and real professional challenges.
The festive evening continued with a musical and artistic programme with the participation of the Academic Dance Theatre, the university formation Varna Free Band, as well as with the special guests Teodosiy Spasov, Dragni Draganev and Temelko Milev. The stage was joined by lecturers, employees and students of the university, and the finale of the celebration ended with fireworks display and a common message of unity, knowledge and future.
More photos from the evening: