MUSIC, CREATIVITY AND LIGHT FILLED VARNA FREE UNIVERSITY

04 December 2024

On the eve of the Student Day and Christmas, Varna Free University "Chernorizets Hrabar" brought together its academic family for the celebration "Knowledge in Lights". The event united students, faculty, administration and guests in an atmosphere of warmth, creativity and festive spirit.

A special highlight of the celebration was Varna Free Band from the Music Club of the Student Council. The musical performances brought the hall to its feet and caused stormy applause. The group is led by the creator of the Music Club Tervel Chorbadzhiyski , a student of Psychology (piano), the band also includes the exceptional talents Maria Koleva and Ilina Ilieva (vocals) , also Psychology students, supported by the head of the Human Resources department Borislava Hristova. The band includes the president of Varna Free University Assoc. Prof. Krasimir Nedyalkov, PhD (guitar), together with Toni Bidzhonov, majoring in National Security Protection (guitar) and chief assistant Petar Pavlov, PhD (bass guitar). A special guest was Ilko Iliev on drums.

The Rector of VFU "Chernorizets Hrabar" Prof. Petar Hristov, PhD congratulated the students on the upcoming holidays and honoured the students who actively participated in academic life and raised the prestige of the university:

Emre Beizat – 2^nd- year student, majoring in International Business - part of the Bulgarian national team, which represented our country excellently in Brussels in the #ConSIMium simulation organised by the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union and an active volunteer
Alexandra Atanasova – Master's programme in Administration Infrastructure - winner of the Outstanding Diplomacy award in the role of a lawyer in the Sixth National Mediation Competition for Students.
Magdalena Stateva – 3^rd-year psychology student - for the active volunteer work in summarising surveys in the Student Internships - Phase 2 programme
Tervel Chorbadzhiyski – 3^rd-year psychology student - for the active volunteer work in summarising surveys in the Student Internships - Phase 2 programme, for the creation of the Music Club at the Student Council and its active volunteer work
Vanesa Sabkova – 4^th-year graphic design student - for the illustrations for the book "Broken Statues", which is distributed by the world's largest online bookstore Amazon, for her work on a font designed for the Italian Consulate, participation in numerous exhibitions and for her active and volunteer work
Ioanna Hristova – 4^th-year graphic design student - first place in the international translation competition "Transformations", organised by the Faculty of Philology at VTU "St Cyril and St Methodius", author of the drawing on the cover of the children's book "Star Stories. First Meetings with the Stars for Children and Parents", head of the Eclectic club at the Student Council and the most active volunteer at Varna Free University.
Emanuela Hristova – Master's programme in Performing Arts, Management and Production - for her excellent performance at the prestigious fashion event Fashion Forum - Varna, etc.
Irina Hristova – 4^th-year interior design student - among the finalists of the Nova City Group competition
Totyo Bonev – 4^th- year construction of buildings and structures student - mentor of teams at the Varna Spaghetti Engineering competitions and active volunteer
Rumislav Zhechev – 4^th- year construction of buildings and structures student - mentor of teams at Varna Spaghetti Engineering competitions and active volunteer
Dimana Yotovska – 5^th-year architecture student - for developing projects for improving common spaces at the university
Monika Manova – 5^th-year architecture student - for developing projects for improving common spaces at the university
Shelin Hadzhiyumer – 5^th-year architecture student - for developing projects for improving common spaces at the university
Ilyaz Ilyaz – 2^nd-year architecture student - for active work at the Young Architect's Club and volunteer
Ivan Mitov – 4^th-year student of Choreography - for his active work at the HoroMania Club and volunteer
Vyara Georgieva – 4^th-year choreography student– for her active work at the HoroMania Club and volunteer
Mila Todorova – 4^th-year choreography student - for her active work at the HoroMania Club and volunteer
Slavena Georgieva – 5^th-year law student - captain of the team of Varna Free University "Chernorizets Hrabar", that took first place in the First National Student Competition in Administrative Law Science
Maria Bozhinova – 5^th-year law student, member of the Administrative Law Science team and volunteer
Kremena Kostadinova – 5^th-year law student, member of the Varna Free University "Chernorizets Hrabar" team that took first place in the First National Student Competition in Administrative Law Science and volunteer
Gyulfidan Eminova – 5^th-year law student, member of the Varna Free University "Chernorizets Hrabar" team that took first place in the First National Student Competition in Administrative Law Science and volunteer
Vanesa Dragneva – 4^th-year law student - for the restoration and active activity of the "Prof. Tamara Hinova" club
Dimitar Nedelchev – 4^th-year law student - part of the Bulgarian national team, which represented our country excellently in Brussels in the #ConSIMium simulation organised by the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union
Velizar Chander – Chairman of the Student council, for his active work at the Student Council and participation in the university's volunteer initiatives.

After the award ceremony, the audience was also captivated by the performance of the law student Alexandrina Petrova, who is also studying at the Music Academy in Sofia. The concert finished with the performance of the special guests Mina Lazarova and Dimitar Vasilev.

Before the ceremony, attention was focused on the Charity Bazaar "Sweet Mission for a Good Cause", which brought together students, faculty and staff united by the mission of charity. The homemade sweets, among which the cupcakes of Emre Osmanov and his girlfriend and the "grandmother's cake" of Mihaela Dimitrova stood out, as well as the delicious candies, biscuits, and banitsa prepared by the university administration, raised nearly 1,000 leva. The campaign continues until the end of the year with a donation box placed in the university bar. All funds raised will be donated to the Home for Medical and Social Care for Children in Vinitsa and the Family-Type Accommodation Centre in the village of Izgrev. The campaign was initiated by the law student Mihaela Dimitrova.

The clubs also enriched the festive day with various initiatives. The workshop for casting concrete Christmas trees, led by the architecture student Ilyaz Ilyaz, inspired many to create unique decorations. At the same time, the Eclectic Club impressed with the production of handmade Christmas cards with calligraphic texts and recycled materials - a symbol of creativity and care for nature. The workshop Magic under pressure, lead by Teodor Tanchev, a student of Business Administration and Management, brought a lot of excitement, surprises and laughter.

Some of the most active participants in the event were the international students of the university, who mastered the first steps of Bulgarian folk dances in the HoroMania workshop. What they learned helped them to join the flash mob of students from the Choreography major.

At the invitation of the President of the University - Assoc. Prof. Krasimir Nedyalkov, the celebration ended with a fireworks display and the Christmas tree lighting in front of the university - a moment that united everyone in a spirit of hope, joy and community. The music of the traditional round dance and the warmth of a glass of mulled wine added a finishing touch to the festive day.

Varna Free University sends its message of unity and light to everyone, wishing them joyful and warm holidays!

See more selected moments from this wonderful day at: