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Varna Free University Awards Degrees to 420 Bachelor’s and Master’s Graduates of the Class of 2026
06 November 2026
Varna Free University “Chernorizets Hrabar” awarded higher education diplomas to 420 Bachelor’s and Master’s graduates of the Class of 2026 at a formal ceremony held in the Aula Maxima. The university’s senior management, representatives of state and local institutions, universities and businesses, lecturers, parents and relatives joined the celebrations, marking the graduation of the university’s 31st class of graduates. This year, Varna Free University “Chernorizets Hrabar” is celebrating the 35th anniversary of its foundation.
The President of Varna Free University, Assoc. Prof. Dr Krasimir Nedyalkov, welcomed the Class of 2026 with an address inspired by music and the shared journey of students and their lecturers. He compared the years of study to the creation of a symphony, in which hard work, perseverance, teamwork and the ability to improvise shape future professionals.
“The best managers, lawyers, architects, psychologists, engineers and IT specialists are not those who simply reproduce other people’s texts, but those who know how to create original music of their own in their respective fields,” said Assoc. Prof. Nedyalkov. He thanked the lecturers and families for their support and encouraged the graduates to keep their own rhythm, think critically and have the courage to create.
The Rector Prof. Dr Petar Hristov congratulated the graduates and presented the diplomas and awards to the outstanding graduates of the Faculty of Social, Economic and Computer Sciences, the Faculty of Law and the Faculty of Architecture. The award recipients included Niagara Georgieva, Maria Hristova, Katya Peneva, Ana Mayor, Ilina Ilieva, Teodora Teodosheva, Valentin Georgiev, Svetoslava Hristova, Dayana Zhekova and Dimana Yotovska.
On behalf of the Class of 2026, a speech was delivered by Arch. Dimana Yotovska, one of the award-winning graduates of the Architecture programme. Her graduation project, Alae Maris (“Wings of the Sea”), a multifunctional stadium in the Malka Chaika area of Varna, was presented in October at the INTERARCH 2026 international exhibition of student graduation projects.
“Today, we receive our diplomas. But the most valuable things from these years will not be written on them. They will live on in the people we have met, the memories we have made and the part of ourselves that will remain here forever,” Dimana Yotovska said. She thanked her lecturers for the knowledge and humanity they had shared, and her family for their unconditional support. The young architect linked the message “Learn and explore!” to the graduates’ courage to keep seeking answers, building the future and giving meaning to the world around them.
During the ceremony, a congratulatory address from the President of the Republic of Bulgaria, Iliana Iotova, was read out. In her message to the academic community and the graduates, she emphasised that every diploma symbolises years of effort and perseverance, obstacles overcome and a commitment to personal development. “Be proud of the path you have travelled and retain the confidence with which you pursue your goals!” the Head of State wished them.
Among the official guests were Elina Dimitrova, Deputy Regional Governor; Nadezhda Bobcheva, Deputy Mayor of Varna Municipality; Vladislav Bakalov, Chairperson of the Municipal Council’s Standing Committee on Science and Education; Judge Marin Marinov, President of the Varna Court of Appeal; and Judge Elena Yanakieva, President of the Administrative Court of Varna.
The celebrations were also attended by Prof. Dr Nikola Kolev, Vice-Rector of the Medical University of Varna; Captain First Rank Prof. Dr Ivaylo Bakalov of the Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy; Dr Ashish Thomas of Concordia University in Edmonton, Canada; and guests from the Sherkhan Murtaza International Taraz Innovation University in Kazakhstan.
Music provided the inspiration for the ceremony, which opened with performances by the Academic Dance Theatre and the university’s musical ensemble, Varna Free Band. The band brings together students, lecturers and members of staff. Its vocalists are Ilina Ilieva, Maria Koleva, Viktoria Valkova and Antoaneta Tsoneva, all from the Psychology programme. The instrumental ensemble features the University President, Assoc. Prof. Dr Krasimir Nedyalkov; Student Council Chairperson Toni Bidzhonov; Chief Assist. Prof. Dr Petar Pavlov; Samuel Dale; and Borislava Hristova. For Ilina Ilieva, the occasion was a double celebration: she received her Psychology degree diploma and a certificate of recognition for excellent academic achievement personally from the University President.
Congratulatory addresses and greetings on the occasion of the formal graduation ceremony for the Class of 2026 were also received from:
- Mario Smarkov, Regional Governor of the administrative district of Varna;
- Blagomir Kotsev, Mayor of Varna Municipality;
- Flotilla Admiral Prof. Dr Kalin Kalinov, Commandant of the Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy;
- Prof. Dr Dimitar Raykov, Rector of the Prof. Dr Paraskev Stoyanov Medical University of Varna;
- Prof. Dr Dragomir Plamenov, Rector of the Technical University of Varna;
- Judge Elena Yanakieva, President of the Administrative Court of Varna;
- Senior Commissioner Dr Zhivko Zhelev, Director of the Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Interior in Varna;
- Elena Koseva and Ivelina Shaban, Executive Directors of Sts Constantine and Helena Holding JSC.