Some evenings at AUBG feel like a culmination of everything the university stands for: community, excellence, and celebration. The 32nd Annual Honors Convocation exemplified precisely that.
As faculty and leadership stood on the stage, joined by each student who has left their mark, we all took a moment to appreciate their effort. At one of AUBG’s most cherished academic traditions, excellence was awarded, shared, and celebrated as a collective achievement.
A community that celebrates excellence
In his opening remarks, Dr. J.D. Mininger, AUBG Provost and Interim President, highlighted the evening as one of the most meaningful traditions of the academic year. It is an opportunity to recognize both student achievement and the dedication of faculty who guide them along the way.
“Through individual successes, this is a celebration of the flourishing of the entire AUBG community,” said J.D. Mininger.
Students who earned the distinction of Presidential Scholar and Dean’s List honorees stood to be recognized. The Presidential Scholar honor is bestowed upon those with a Cumulative Grade Point Average between 3.8 and 4.0 after completing at least two semesters at AUBG, while those who attained a semester Grade Point Average between 3.8 and 4.0 received the Dean’s List distinction.
This year, AUBG honored 89 scholarship recipients whose achievements represent the highest standards of academic excellence.
Maria B. Hristova with Dr. J.D. Mininger
Presidential Medalist
One of the biggest highlights of the ceremony was awarding the highest honor: the AUBG Presidential Medal.
Awarded to the student who most fully embodies the ideals of the liberal arts education, including academic excellence, intellectual curiosity, and social responsibility, the 2026 medal was presented to Maria B. Hristova.
Maria’s journey at AUBG started at the AUBG MultiTalent Quest, where she earned a full scholarship through the generous support of Dilyan Pavlov, an AUBG alumnus and co-founder of Dynamo Software. Her journey reflects a rare combination of rigor and purpose. Pursuing a double major in Business Administration and Journalism and Mass Communication, Maria has maintained an academic record just 0.01 shy of perfection. On campus, Maria has been a dedicated mentor and leader in her roles as Student Advisor and Subject Tutor.
Meanwhile, she continues to bring her kindness and compassion to the world around her. Maria has contributed to educational initiatives through her work with “Teach For Bulgaria” and “Teach For All”, led media literacy workshops, and expanded her global perspective during her exchange in Japan as well as through multiple creative projects.
In acceptance of the award, Maria said: “Thank you, everyone, for the help and the companionship on this wondrous journey. There were so many people who walked on stage tonight, myriads of triumphs behind their backs, the promise of a million more ahead. To have been able to stand beside them with this distinguishment is not only an unimaginable honour; it’s also an incredible responsibility. I hope I live up to both.”
According to the letter of recommendation to the AUBG President of the Presidential Medalist Selection Committee, “Maria possesses an exceptional clarity of thought and presence of mind. She brings a presence that is both quiet and powerful – a humble, gentle voice, and eyes that burn with excitement and intellectual curiosity.”
Looking ahead, Maria is driven by a vision of education as a cornerstone of an open and just society. She plans to pursue an Erasmus Mundus International Master’s program in Children’s Literature, Media, and Cultural Entrepreneurship, with the goal of working at the intersection of educational policy and children’s literacy. In fact, she has already concocted several transformative recommendations for national educational policies.
AUBG Faculty
Provost Dr. J.D. Mininger, Dean Robert White, SG Vice President Lachezar Hristov and Dean Sabina A. Wien
Excellence across disciplines
AUBG offers a diverse range of academic paths where our students excel. This year’s graduating students were recognized for both their academic performance and for the depth of their thinking, the originality of their work, and their ability to connect knowledge with real-world challenges. The following students were awarded for their outstanding achievements in our majors and minors:
- Information Systems – Arina Agayeva, Deyan Georgiev, Havard Tonning
- Annual Programming Contest – Vesela Nikolova and Bozhidar Pavlov
- Computer Science – Anna Kukova, Boris Slavchev, Viktor Logodazhki
- Mathematics – Nikita Volzhin
- Alexander Ganchev Memorial Student Award – Abdullah Hassan
- Journalism and Mass Communication – Janina Ormanova, Maria B. Hristova
- Economics – Gabriela Stanimirova, Mihail Aleksandrov
- Business Administration – Maria B. Hristova
- BUS – Accounting (Concentration) – Ivana Katsarska
- BUS – Finance (Concentration) – Gabriela Stanimirova
- BUS – Marketing (Concentration) – Ekaterina Valeva
- BUS – Integrated Marketing Communications (Minor) – Kalina Kirova
- BUS – Sustainability Studies (Minor) – Amelia Delevski
- Modern Language and Cultures – French – Yana Ivanova
- Modern Language and Cultures – German – Violeta Georgieva
- Modern Language and Cultures – Bulgarian – Christian Dupps, Mia Marshall
- Modern Languages and Cultures (overall / Spanish & Bulgarian) – Malainie O’Brien
- Literature – Gabriela Stefanova
- Film and Theatre Studies – Georgi Nedyalkov and Iva Todorova
- Al Cyrus Award for Theater – Aleksandra Krasnova
- Creative Writing – Aleksandrina Hadzhigeorgieva
- Filitsa Sofianou-Mullen Creative Writing Competition – Kaloyan Tinchev, Emma Tabachka, William Haslam, Silvia Srebreva, Mhd Mossallam Alsabbagh
- Music (Piano) – Olga Chernova
- Music (Harp and Piano) – Lily Childress
- Psychology – Christian Tenchev, Yoana Gkatsu
- Philosophy – Kalina Dimova
- History and Civilization – Bianca Garcia
- European Studies – Toma Krumov, Kalina Dimova
- Political Science and International Relations – Kalina Dimova
- Stefanija Aleksova Best Paper Prize – Radko Mishev
Svilen Stanchev
Irina Stoyanova
Executive MBA
Each year, AUBG recognizes several outstanding students in our Executive MBA program. This year, The EMBA faculty awarded Irina Stoyanova and Svilen Stanchev for their strong academic performance and the depth of their contributions to the classroom environment.
The faculty behind the journey
The evening also recognized the people who make these achievements possible – the professors.
Professor Emerita Rossitsa Gradeva
Professor Emerita Rossitsa Gradeva
Faculty Emeritus Award
A particularly meaningful moment was the conferral of the title Professor Emerita upon Prof. Rossitsa Gradeva, recognizing a career defined by scholarly excellence and dedicated service to the AUBG community. Over more than two decades, she has been a cornerstone of the university, contributing not only through her academic work in the Department of History and Civilization, but through her lasting impact on generations of students.
“This distinction recognizes not only the length of your service, but also the exceptional quality, dedication, and professionalism that have characterized your distinguished career at our institution,” said J.D. Mininger.
As Professor Emerita, she remains an integral part of AUBG’s academic community, extending her educational influence far beyond the classroom.
![AUBG Professor Diana Stantcheva](https://www.aubg.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/AUBG-Professor-Diana-Stantcheva.png")
Professor Diana Stantcheva with Dr. J.D. Mininger
Faculty Research Award
The Faculty Research Award recognized a scholar who has been a longstanding member of the AUBG community. Prof. Diana Stantcheva joined the university in 2005 as Assistant Professor, and steadily progressed to the rank of Full Professor; she also got habilitated under the Bulgarian legislation.
Prof. Stantcheva’s research spans areas such as lexicography, phraseology, and foreign language learning, with a body of work that includes monographs, peer-reviewed publications, a German-Bulgarian dictionary, and collaborative international projects. Her scholarship not only advances knowledge within her discipline, but also reinforces AUBG’s commitment to research as an integral part of academic life.
Professor Mirko Tarulli with Dr. J.D. Mininger
The Cosmina Tanasoiu Excellence in Teaching Award
The Cosmina Tanasoiu Excellence in Teaching Award, one of AUBG’s most meaningful recognitions, honors master teachers at AUBG and preserves the enduring legacy of the late Professor Cosmina Tanasoiu.
This year’s award was presented to Prof. Mirko Tarulli, whose approach to teaching is grounded in clarity, precision, and a deep commitment to student learning. Through his ability to make complex ideas accessible while encouraging independent thinking, he creates a classroom environment that is both rigorous and supportive. Beyond the classroom, his contributions to curriculum development and student advising reflect a broader dedication to academic excellence that continues the legacy of Prof. Cosmina Tanasoiu.
Professor Senem Konedareva and Professor Diego Lucci with Dean Sabina A. Wien
Outstanding Faculty Advisor
The Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award recognizes the vital role professors play beyond the classroom, honoring those who guide, support, and inspire students throughout their academic journeys. This year’s awardees, Prof. Senem Konedareva and Prof. Diego Lucci, were celebrated for their dedication to mentorship, their accessibility, and their unwavering commitment to student growth.
Whether advising students at the beginning of their AUBG experience or mentoring them through research, leadership roles, and personal challenges, their work reflects the essence of a liberal arts education that is built on knowledge and meaningful human connection.
Awarding co-curricular leadership and community engagement
Alongside recognizing the graduating class and faculty, Honors Convocation also celebrates excellence at AUBG beyond academics and standing.
The following students from different disciplines and standings were recognized for their co-curricular achievements:
- Outstanding Student Athlete Leader – Ilian Ivanov
- University Council Essay Competition – Asia Haslam
- Outstanding Student Advisor – Alexandrina Mehandzhiyska, Maria B. Hristova
- Outstanding Subject Tutor – Alexandrina Mehandzhiyska, Leul Kassa Teshome
- Outstanding Writing Tutor – Malainie O’Brien
- Outstanding MentiFYer – Antonia Mazurska
- Outstanding Resident Assistant – Amelia Delevski, Yulia Zdravkova
- Outstanding Student Leader – Ani Kovacheva, David Mitov, Janina Ormanova, Neda Oresharova, Samuil Mladenov
- Outstanding Contribution to Community and Civic Engagement – Arina Agayeva
- Outstanding Contribution to Shared Governance – Radko Mishev
Carrying excellence forward
As the ceremony closed with the academic anthem, everyone felt the warmth and satisfaction in their hearts. Together with the students, we’ve all walked a beautiful journey, and this culminating moment reminds us both of the current accomplishments and of what is possible next. Congratulations to the graduating Class of 2026!
