This summer, AUBG opened its doors to around 60 high-school students from Bulgaria and abroad for a two-week mini university-life experience as part of the AUBG Educational Summer Camp.
“I believe this is especially valuable for 15-17-year-olds,” says Camp Director Kristina Topalska. “It gives them the chance to explore potential fields of study, experience a taste of adult life for two weeks, and feel better prepared for the future, while still having the freedom to have fun, travel, and make new friends,” she says.
“Looking back, this is exactly the type of camp experience that would have helped me at 17, when I was deciding what and where to study.”
Participant Mona Donova perhaps summed up the experience best:
“This summer camp is for explorers, for dreamers, for strangers ready to find family in people they just met. It’s an adventure – it’s home.”
Inside the classroom
Participants completed two core majors, Entrepreneurship and Management, and chose two elective minors from Arts & Creativity, Graphic Design, Marketing & Consumer Behavior, Communication Skills, and Journalism & Creative Writing.
“We modeled the program on how AUBG – and other liberal arts universities – operate,” explains Topalska. “Participants could design their own curriculum, ‘join clubs‘ through afternoon activities, and take part in adapted versions of key campus traditions such as Orientation Week, Culture and Connection Week, and Commencement.”
Although the camp lasted only two weeks, the curriculum was rigorous and each course combined strong academic foundations with hands-on learning and practical projects.
“I particularly enjoyed the Creative Writing and Journalism classes because my biggest passion is writing, and learning about something I adore was truly inspiring,” says participant Andrea Taneva.
For the instructors, the students’ creativity and motivation to learn was also rewarding:
“In about two hours, the participants accomplished something that often takes people in a professional setting three or four months to grasp,” says Angel Iskrev, owner and creative director of proof. agency and an instructor at the camp. “I was genuinely impressed by the way they arrived at creative advertising insights.”
Finding community
Beyond academics and skills-building, the camp’s mission is to create a community where new memories and friendships can form. The idea is that like-minded people will continue creating together even after the camp ends, forming one of their first networks and similar to how AUBG’s alumni stay connected.
“I learned how much the environment, the people you surround yourself with, and the experiences you let yourself explore, make you feel about yourself,” says participant Mona Donova.
“Before AUBG I thought I was not enough to follow so many of my passions. But the friends I met who cheered me on at every step and every fall, the opportunities I had, such as the talent show, minors in Arts & Creativity and Journalism & Creative Writing, and every single day spent meeting and connecting with new people made these the most inspiring two weeks of my life,” she adds.
The camp also introduced participants to AUBG and the rich history and culture of the surrounding region. One participant from the United States, with Bulgarian roots, said this cultural connection was one of the reasons he chose the program.
“My mother is Bulgarian, and even though I live in the United States, I feel connected to Bulgaria through her,” he says.
“From what I’ve seen so far, AUBG offers so many opportunities. I would love to see more people from around the world come to Bulgaria instead of thinking only about countries in Western Europe. Bulgaria is a beautiful country, and AUBG truly does everything it can to make international students feel welcome.”
Throughout the two weeks, participants were also supported by camp counselors and mentors, who guided them through academic activities, helped them settle into campus life, and became their friends.
Graduation day
Just like at a university, the camp concluded with final group presentations, where participants showcased startup ideas they had developed together. One team presented an app designed to reduce food waste, another pitched a summer camp magazine, while a third group created a multimedia recap of the camp experience.
The presentations were followed by a graduation ceremony, during which every participant received a diploma and certificate. Outstanding students from each major and minor were also recognized for their dedication, engagement, and achievements throughout the program.
There were additional surprises as well, including a performance by students from the Arts & Creativity course and the announcement that five exceptional stories written during the Journalism & Creative Writing course will be published on the AUBG website.
For many participants, the camp was a truly transformational experience, resulting in personal growth.
“The camp taught me how to be more confident in expressing myself,” says Andrea Taneva. “I really managed to overcome my social anxiety and realize that people aren’t as scary as I thought.”
She adds:
“The whole experience is something that can’t be put into words. You have to feel it to truly understand it.”
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