The morning after Bulgaria celebrated a historic first victory at the Eurovision Song Contest, the AUBG community gathered for another moment of pride, joy, and togetherness. Luckily, the rain held off, and the ABF lawn filled with graduates, families, faculty, staff, trustees, alumni, and friends who came together to celebrate the 32nd Commencement Ceremony.
“The day after Bulgaria won Eurovision, I cannot help but say, ‘Lots of Bangaranga to everyone!’ Because ‘Bangaranga’ is about believing in yourself, believing in the good, and doing your part to make the world a better place,” said Dean of Students Sabina A. Wien.
Just as Dara put Bulgaria on the map with this achievement, we believe that the graduating Class of 2026 will continue to do the same in their respective fields, communities, and in their own ways. Many of them have already exemplified heartfelt community engagement, courage, and a commitment to making a difference. Now, it’s time to carry that spirit into the world.
Onwards and upwards, Class of 2026.
Ceremony opening
Provost and Interim President Dr. J.D. Mininger opened the ceremony with heartfelt remarks, resonating deeply in the hearts of graduates, students, faculty, staff, and families.
“Commencements always carry a certain paradox,” said Dr. Mininger. “They are ceremonies about endings that are really about beginnings. About departure, but also about continuity. About celebrating who you have been here at AUBG, while also recognizing that none of you leaves this place unchanged.”
He noted that students today are graduating into an extraordinarily complicated world, yet institutions like AUBG are consistently equipping them with “their seriousness of mind, their adaptability, and their willingness to engage difficult questions rather than retreat from them”. He encouraged students to carry on not only the knowledge acquired at the university, but also “the habits of curiosity, openness, courage, and intellectual honesty that our premier education seeks to cultivate”.
Dr. Mininger also extended his recognition to the “extraordinary faculty who are so dedicated to our students”, to the Board of Trustees for their dedication, time, commitment, and for their service to AUBG, as well as to the staff that “plays a vital role in the daily life and success of AUBG”.
Jenik Radon, Esq., Chair of the AUBG Board of Trustees, also addressed the graduating students and their families on behalf of the Board of Trustees:
“The AUBG alumni community has impressed me since I first joined the Board,” said Radon, Esq. “I was surprised, but happily surprised, by how strong and how accomplished they are. You have to join those ranks. You will join those ranks. How do you do that? By living the motto of AUBG. Our goal is to produce democratic citizens. Live that.”
Dr. J.D. Mininger
Jenik Radon, Esq.
The ceremony continued with a greeting from Metodi Baykushev, Mayor of Blagoevgrad, who spoke of the bond between AUBG and the city. Over the years, AUBG students have become an integral part not only of campus life, but also of the wider Blagoevgrad community.
“AUBG has made everyone in this city more open, more international, and more ambitious,” said Mayor Baykushev. “And every year on a day like this, we are reminded why that matters. And to the graduates once more, wherever your path takes you, carry Blagoevgrad with you.”
Following his remarks, President Mininger invited H. Martin McDowell, the Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Bulgaria, who offered greetings on behalf of the government of the United States.
“Never stop growing,” McDowell said. “Be open to opportunities and experiences, even the hard ones, because these are the ones that also shape you. Be true and honest to yourself. Because giving from that spirit is going to give meaning to the journey to come. Class of 2026, the future doesn’t just happen to you. You must take an active hand in shaping it.”
Honorary students
The Class of 2026 graduated with many distinctions among its members. A total of 30% of the graduating class received academic honors – cum laude, magna cum laude, and summa cum laude – reflecting grade point averages of 3.5, 3.75, and 3.9, respectively. Given the rigor of AUBG’s academic curriculum, these honors represent a truly hard-earned achievement.
Valedictorian and Presidential Medalist: Maria Borislavova Hristova (’26)
The Valedictorian is the graduate with the highest GPA in their class. The Valedictorian of Class of 2026 is Maria Borislavova Hristova (’26), who graduated with a 3.994 CGPA (Cumulative Grade Point Average) on a 4-point scale. This year, Maria Hristova is also the recipient of our highest honor, the AUBG Presidential Medal.
Throughout her academic journey, Maria has demonstrated exceptional intellectual rigor, pursuing a demanding double major in Business Administration and Journalism & Mass Communication while maintaining an academic record just 0.01 shy of the highest possible GPA. Maria began her journey at AUBG as a MultiTalent Quest scholarship recipient and expanded it through a global exchange in Japan. At AUBG, Maria has worked on educational initiatives with Teach For Bulgaria, led media literacy workshops for high school students, and used storytelling to address social issues. On campus, she has supported her peers as a Student Advisor and Subject Tutor. As she prepares for graduate study, Maria remains focused on improving access to education and strengthening critical thinking among young people.
Maria B. Hristova ('26)
Maria B. Hristova ('26)
Salutatorian: Gabriela Stanimirova (’26)
The Salutatorian is the graduate with the second-highest GPA in their class. The Salutatorian of the Class of 2026 is Gabriela Stanimirova, who graduated with a 3.982 CGPA (Cumulative Grade Point Average) on a 4-point scale. A double major in Economics and Business Administration with a concentration in Finance, she was recognized for Outstanding Achievement in both fields and has appeared regularly on the President’s and Dean’s Honor Lists. At AUBG, Gabriela supported her peers as a Subject Tutor in Calculus, Statistics, and Microeconomics, while also gaining professional experience with a Bulgarian drone startup. She further expanded her academic journey during an exchange semester in South Korea.
Gabriela Stanimirova ('26)
Gabriela Stanimirova ('26)
Outstanding Executive MBA graduates
Two students from the graduating Executive MBA class were honored this year for their outstanding performance and achievements. Svilen Stanchev (EMBA ’26) brings 25 years of experience across various sales roles and currently serves as Director of Sales at IBS Bulgaria, a Bulgarian IT company at an exciting inflection point, poised for international expansion.
Irina Stoyanova (EMBA ’26) is an executive with a background in English law, real estate investment and development, and corporate management. Over more than eight years with Bridge Capital, she has worked across financing, governance, and project delivery. Stoyanova is honored as an Outstanding Executive MBA Student for achieving the highest GPA, reflecting her discipline, precision, and consistent pursuit of excellence.
Svilen Stanchev (EMBA '26)
Irina Stoyanova (EMBA '26)
Student speaker: Aleksandra Krasnova (’26)
This year’s student speaker was an extraordinary student who has been an integral part of AUBG’s academic and creative community. Aleksandra is graduating with a major in Journalism and Mass Communication and is known for her academic integrity and her thoughtful, compelling voice in the classroom and on the theater and musical stage.
“Now, looking back at the freshman me, I think, ‘Wow. You’ve grown.’ It seems like I’ve lived not one, but multiple lives here. In literature terms (I’m a Lit minor, after all), I’ve gone through and witnessed character developments, rising actions, climaxes, falls, redemption arcs. It’s almost impossible to put into words how many turns and permutations I’ve gone through. But, you know, I don’t regret any of it. I’m glad I chose AUBG,” said Krasnova in her speech.
Read more about Aleskandra Krasnova and her full speech.
Aleksandra Krasnova ('26)
Aleksandra Krasnova ('26)
Keynote speaker: Elvin Guri (’96)
This year, the graduating class had the honor of being addressed by a long-standing member of the community who has contributed to AUBG in numerous ways – Elvin Guri (’96). As AUBG’s most generous alumnus, Guri has personally donated $650,000 and secured another $850,000 – a transformative total of $1.5 million. Guri is a co-founder of the AUBG Alumni Association and has taught in our EMBA program. For 18 years, the maximum term possible, he served on the Board of Trustees, chairing both the Audit and the Finance & Property Committees, guiding AUBG through critical decisions with integrity and vision. AUBG has recognized Elvin with the HRH Princess Maria Luisa Distinguished Alumni Award, the Dimi and Yvonne Panitza Visionary Award, and the Distinguished Service Award.
“As you pursue your life of happiness, I hope that you shall find such in serving others – your loved ones, your communities, or your countries,” said Elvin Guri in his speech.
Read more about Elvin Guri and his full speech.
Elvin Guri ('96)
Elvin Guri ('96)
HRH Princess Maria Luisa Award Recipient: Ivo Tzenov (’03)
AUBG also honored an outstanding member of the AUBG community who has left a lasting impact on the university. Ivo Tzenov (’03) was recognized as the recipient of the HRH Princess Maria Luisa Distinguished AUBG Alumni Award for Civic Leadership and Change.
He is renowned among the community as a co-founder of SiteGround, a web hosting company and a global success story that started right here on this campus. “But if you ask the people who know Ivo best, they won’t talk about IT or business growth first,” said Dr. Mininger as he presented Tsenov with the award. “They’ll talk about his heart.” Tsenov is an example of a leader whose work reflects a strong sense of responsibility to both business and society. His exceptional generosity helped AUBG secure last year’s million-dollar match challenge from the America for Bulgaria Foundation.
In his speech, Ivo Tzenov reflected on the technological advancements and the many opportunities awaiting graduates.
“We will be living much longer, and you will be living much longer,” said Tzenov. “So you have plenty of opportunities to do something interesting with your life. Do something that will make your friends, your parents, and your future children proud.”
Ivo Tzenov ('03)
Ivo Tzenov ('03)
Read more about Ivo Tzenov and his full speech.
As caps flew into the air and families gathered for photos on the ABF Lawn, the 32nd Commencement Ceremony came to a close. The Class of 2026 has already left its mark on the university and will continue to make us proud as they contribute to the world. We’re happy that they’re now a part of our growing alumni community. BANGARANGA!
