Scholar Success Story: Mihail Zhivkovikj – Dedication, Technology, and Excellence in STEM

Through the Support Fund for Talented High School Students “Talents Today – Leaders Tomorrow,” Macedonia2025 continues to support young individuals who demonstrate exceptional potential, curiosity, and commitment to personal and academic growth.

One of these inspiring scholars is Mihail Zhivkovikj, a senior student from Prilep attending the STEM-focused curriculum at Gymnasium “Mirche Acev”, where he maintains a perfect GPA of 5.00. With a strong passion for informatics, mathematics, and technology, Mihail already stands out as one of the most promising young talents of his generation.

Passion for Programming and Technology

Mihail’s interest in programming began as early as the seventh grade, when he started developing mobile and Micro games. Over time, his curiosity and passion for learning expanded toward web development, cloud technologies, and modern programming tools.

Throughout the past year, Mihail actively worked on practical projects and professional development. As part of an internship at GrabIT, he attended an advanced course in web application development using technologies such as Node.js, TypeScript, React.js, HTML, CSS, Vite, and NGINX. During the program, he successfully implemented authentication and authorization systems using the OpenID Connect protocol and optimized applications for cloud platforms such as AWS, Google Cloud Platform, and Microsoft Azure.

In addition, Mihail independently developed a web application for a local agency in Prilep that provides professional care services for elderly and vulnerable individuals. The application was built using React, Vite, and TypeScript and represents another example of his ability to create practical and functional digital solutions.

Outstanding Achievements in Mathematics and Informatics

Mathematics and informatics are among Mihail’s greatest academic passions, and his competition results are proof of his dedication and talent.

During the 2025/2026 academic year, he achieved:

🏆 First Place at the Municipal Mathematics Competition

🏆 Third Prize at the Regional Mathematics Competition

🏆 Second Prize at the National Mathematics Competition

🏆Silver Medal at the Macedonian Mathematical Olympiad

💻 Second Prize at the Regional Informatics Competition

🎓 Scholarship for studies at FINKI after successful participation in the National Informatics Competition

Alongside competitions, Mihail actively attended lectures as part of the Autumn Mathematical School for Olympiad Mathematics, where he studied advanced topics in algebra, combinatorics, geometry, and number theory.

Leadership, Initiative, and Innovation

In addition to his academic success, Mihail demonstrates strong leadership abilities. For two years, he served as class president, actively participating in school initiatives and activities.

His innovative mindset was especially evident through a Micro project focused on monitoring and addressing pollution in a local river — a project that combined technology, environmental awareness, and the practical application of STEM knowledge.

Mentorship and Professional Development

As part of the “Talents Today -Leaders Tomorrow” program, Mihail also participated in a mentorship program with Marko Paloski. Through this mentorship, he explored topics related to system engineering, Microsoft Azure, cloud technologies, Active Directory, virtual machines, and AI certifications.

The mentorship sessions helped him deepen his technical knowledge while also gaining a clearer understanding of the professional application of technology and engineering.

💬 Mihail on the “Talents Today – Leaders Tomorrow” Program

“My experience with the ‘Talents Today – Leaders Tomorrow’ program has been exceptionally positive. It allowed me to showcase my academic abilities and opened new doors for further development and growth. In addition, the mentorship component helped me gain first-hand insight into the practical work of systems engineers and the real-world environment of a technology company. I am extremely satisfied with the experience and would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Macedonia2025 for its support and investment in young people.”

This experience reinforced Mihail’s motivation to continue pursuing excellence in STEM and demonstrated the value of combining financial support with mentorship and professional guidance. Through the program, he was able not only to further develop his technical skills, but also to gain a clearer understanding of potential career paths and opportunities in the technology sector.

Looking Toward the Future

Mihail remains strongly committed to his education and professional development. His goal is to continue deepening his knowledge in the fields of computer science, software engineering, and modern technologies while working on creating useful and innovative digital solutions.

With his discipline, analytical thinking, curiosity, and motivation for continuous learning, Mihail represents an excellent example of how young talents can grow into future engineers, innovators, and leaders.

Mihail’s story is yet another confirmation that when talent, hard work, and support come together, they create young people ready to shape the future.