With festive fireworks and high spirits the lights of the Christmas tree of Varna Free University shone.  Students, staff, faculty, and guests drew their fortune slips for the new year.




"Christmas is a message to us, people, which reminds us that we must create good, do good to feel satisfied and peaceful. We all want the world to be different, longing for magic and miracles, even if we are no longer children.", said Assoc. Prof. Krasimir Nedyalkov, PhD during the celebration. He added that during the past year, the university has managed to overcome the challenges and to move up in 2020 with a head up, optimistic and hopeful. During the past year, Varna Free University "Chernorizets Hrabar" has received one of the highest institutional assessments in the country from the National Assessment and Accreditation Agency - 9.21, which places it first among private universities. Against the background of the worsening demographic crisis, Varna Free University saw an increase in the number of first-year students admitted, with students and faculty becoming winners of numerous national and international competitions. "I hope that in the new year, our university will continue to move forward, become a more beautiful, cozier, more attractive place to study, work, develop and grow as our goal is to establish it as a university with a future, as a place of well-being and prosperity! ", the President wished.
 
Prof. Petar Hristov, PhD - Rector of Varna Free University "Chernorizets Hrabar" also delivered a special address.
 
For the third consecutive year on the student holiday on 8 December, the President and the Rector of Varna Free University awarded the distinguished students:
 
 
The Civil Law Team - silver medalists from the Ninth Inter-University Civil and Commercial Law Case Studies Competition held in Burgas in April. The future lawyers competed and beat some of the best student civil law teams in the country, reaching the finals of the prestigious competition - two teams of Sofia University, two teams of Veliko Turnovo University and the team of Angel Kanchev University of Ruse. The students prepare under the guidance of the judges of the District Court of Varna – Diana Miteva and Neiko Dimitrov. Names of the participants: Leman Hakiv; Ralitsa Ivanova; Lyuba Zheleva; Sara Edmond
 
The Criminal Law Team reached the semi-finals of the Second National Criminal Case Studies in Sofia. The coaches of the team are Judge Ivanichka Slavkova - Vice-President of the District Court of Varna, Svetla Daskalova, Svetoslava Koleva-Angelova and Marin Atanasov - judges in the district court.
Names of the participants:
Stefan Daskalov; Viktoria Todorova; Yordan Marinov; Lina Yordanova.
 
The Mediation Team - The team of Varna Free University "Chernorizets Hrabar" is ranked in the TOP 3 of the Third National Mediation Competition for Students held in Plovdiv in November. The students - Georgi Balabanov and Simona Valcheva, coached by Assoc. Prof. Ivanka Bankova, PhD - lecturer of Conflict Studies, took a leading position in the Lawyer / Client team category. 66 students from 9 of the largest universities in Bulgaria participated in the competition.
Names of the participants:
Martin Angelov; Georgi Balabanov; Simona Valcheva.
 
A team of 5^th – year architecture students for projects on Preservation of Architectural Heritage in partnership with the MUNICIPALITY of VARNA. The projects are socially significant and help to carry out the policy of the Municipality of Varna in relation to the preservation of the cultural heritage of our city. The students represented the university worthily with their quality work.
The VFU team in the CFA Competition – the top students – economists of the university participating for the fourth consecutive time in the National University Financial Analysis Competition. They analyzed the situation of Sirma Group, and in February 2020 they will again participate in the Gradus Financial Analysis Competition. The team leader is Asst.Prof. Radoslav Kanovski. The team includes: Boris Lazarov, Maria Doganova and Yoan Dimitrov.
A team of 4^th – year architecture students for the preparation of pre-project and project studies for pedestrian connectivity within the central urban parts of Varna, in partnership with TALYANA association and the MUNICIPALITY of VARNA. The studies and the conceptual proposals for a pedestrian plan of a part of the Odesos district in Varna became the basis for real project proposals of social importance for solving accessibility problems in Varna.
The team of Varna Free University in the competition for analysis and data mining QUERYADA. The 2^nd – year students majoring in Informatics and Computer Science were ranked in the TOP 3 of the database modelling tasks provided by Adastra Bulgaria. The participants are Dimitar Popov, Kristofar Braskov, Angel Cholakov.
The Academic Dance Theatre “Chernorizets Hrabar”  - for a worthy representation of Varna Free University in a number of national and regional events. At the invitation of the Municipality of Varna, the theatre took part in the organization of the holiday concert on the occasion of 3 March and the Day of the National Enlighteners, the International Student Festival and many other creative forums.
Individual awards were presented to:
Kristiyan Ivanov - 5^th – year architecture student, created a relief map of the Seaside Garden. The map includes 3D model images of 28 sites and cultural objects located in and around the Seaside Garden. On a special pedestal there is information about the objects, not only in Bulgarian and English, but also in the braille alphabet, to in aid of people with visual impairments. Kristiyan is a student of the year of the Municipality of Varna.
Viktoria Todorova – 5^th – year law student. Winner of various competitions in the field of law. She participated in a six-month internship at the Presidency of the Republic of Bulgaria. Viktoria is a student of the year of the Municipality of Varna.
Desislava Veselinova – 4^th – year student, majoring in Fashion and Fashion Management. She participated in forums and exhibitions for textiles and fashion. She created a dress that provokes young people with the messages that are woven into it. Desislava's designs are a hit in the fashion circles and create fashion trends.
Sali Svetoslavov –  4^th – year student, professional area of National Security. He initiated the idea of  Free Libraries - Book Houses, which was awarded an international prize in St Petersburg, Russia and won two national competitions. Sali is awarded for his volunteering - he was an active participant in the information campaign in the retirement clubs against telephone scammers and also initiated the Grandmothers Knit for Children campaign, which was supported by the Student Council. He participates in the organization and holding of conferences and the student scientific session.
Yasmin Barakat - 4^th – year student majoring in International Relations and Law. Initiator of charity campaigns representing the university in the public space.
Fahredin Mollamehmed – 3rd – year law student, who actively participates in the academic activities of VFU and in many other student initiatives.
Aleksandar Ivanov – master's degree programme in Psychology – he has actively participated in the academic life of the university over the years, he is the initiator of the Student Scientific Session entitled Youth, Science, Modern Times; a teacher for 2019/2020.
Kiril Hristoskov – master's degree programme in Forensic Expertise. He is actively involved in the sporting life of the university and won awards in martial arts in the Student University Summer Games.
Polina Galinova – 1^st – year student, majoring in Psychology.  She worthily represents Varna Free University in the world and European kickboxing championships.
Student Council Management Board:
Doroteya Nikolaeva – 2^nd – year student, majoring in Architecture. In March 2019, she accepted the term of office of the Student Council. She is actively involved in the academic life of the university, in seminars, conferences representing VFU.
Valentin Markov – 3^rd – year student, majoring in International Relations, Vice-President, actively participates in the academic life of VFU, represents the university in various conferences and seminars.
Mihaela Milcheva – 3rd – year student, majoring in National Security, Secretary of the Student Council, actively participates in the academic activities, supports the administrative activities at VFU.
Faculty and administrative staff were also honoured for high achievements during the year:
Team consisting of Assoc. Prof. Galina Momcheva, PhD Assoc. Prof. Veselina Spasova, PhD and Nikolinka Daskalova – for organizing the preparation and conducting the Cybermagicians project, supported by the Municipality of Varna, in which 120 students have been trained; for organizing and conducting the national Queryada data mining competition; for organizing and conducting the exhibition New Enlighteners, which was staged in the Sea casino in Varna, at the moment hosted by the Medical University, and in the future it will be staged in the National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria.
Assoc. Prof. Milena Kichekova, PhD – for the collective award Varna for the International Creative Skills Project Varna Spaghetti Engineering. The Spaghetti Engineering competition is organized by the Faculty of Architecture at Varna Free University, in partnership with construction secondary schools from home and abroad. Participants annually present their knowledge, skills and creativity. For organizing and conducting a Construction Site entitled The Builder Profession.
CityWalk Project Team, which includes with Prof. Anna Nedyalkova, D.Sc., Corr. Mem. Prof. Arch. Atanas Kovachev, D.Sc., Prof. Arch. Aleksandar Slaev, PhD, Assoc. Prof. Plamen Petrov, PhD, Arch. Hristo Topchiev, PhD, Asst. Prof. Arch. Petar Nikolov, Arch. Boryana Nozharova - for the CityWalk project, which won the Audience Award in the 12^th edition of the Regio Stars competition - for innovative projects funded by the European Cohesion Funds. It competes in the category Building Cities Resilient to Climate Change and can change the environment, have good sustainability, and positive practices can be transmitted to other places.
Prof. Pavel Pavlov, PhD and Assoc. Prof. Galina Mileva, PhD - for the achieved high assessment at the institutional accreditation of Varna Free University.
 
Sali Svetoslavov thanked on behalf of the awarded students.
The children of the Zornitsa Children's Dance Formation, the Academic Dance Theater "Chernorizets Hrabar" created the excellent mood of the celebration. The event was hosted by the wonderful students of Varna Free University Aksu Osmanova and Stefan Daskalov.

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