135 students from the first cycle of studies at the University “Ss. Cyril and Methodius ”Skopje, received scholarships today. Each student will receive $ 2,500 a year in MKD equivalent scholarship to support their studies. The scholarships are provided by the “Atanas Bliznakoff” Foundation, which together with the organization Macedonia2025 and in cooperation with the University “St. Cyril and Methodius” University in Skopje awarded these scholarships in support of the new academic citizens.

Scholarships are awarded to full-time students who are enrolled in the first year of the first cycle of studies at all faculties at the University “St. Cyril and Methodius” University in Skopje, who achieved exceptional results and success in the previous cycle of education, have achievements and motivation for personal and professional development, but also who do not have sufficient funds to continue their own education. The scholarship holders are from different parts of Macedonia, with equal gender and ethnic representation.

Although it was originally planned to award 40 scholarships, the “Atanas Bliznakoff” Foundation of the United States and the family decided this year to increase the number of awarded scholarships, ie to support all applicants who applied for this competition. That is why, at the initiative of Macedonia2025, an event was organized to announce the winners and personally announce that decision.

Dr. Nikola Jankulovski, Rector of the University “St. Cyril and Methodius” Skopje also addressed the event and gave a brief retrospective of the life and work of Atanas Bliznakoff, as well as the initiative and goals of the foundation “Atanas Bliznakoff” and said “This humane gesture, the first in The history of our university has a double meaning, the first contained in the purpose of the fund, the desire of Atanas Blizkanoff to stimulate what is most precious and most necessary for every nation – knowledge, and the second is the creation of a tradition in our educational and cultural life is manifested the love and affection of our compatriots for their country “. He further pointed out that from the period 1977 – 2000. Beneficiaries were over 269 scholarship holders, while from 2000 – 2010. The foundation has supported over 250 students at UKIM. ”

“We believe that these young motivated people, who come from socially vulnerable families, deserve to be given the opportunity to continue their education at a university of their choice, which would support their professional development and success. We are convinced that these young talents will be successful professionals in the future, who will contribute to the further development and progress of Macedonia” said Mr. Miter Kutanovski, co-founder of Macedonia2025, a representative of the family of Atanas Bliznakoff and a representative of the “Atanas Bliznakoff Foundation” from the United States.

On behalf of Macedonia 2025, prof. Dr. Nikica Mojsoska Blazevski expressed great satisfaction with the entrusted opportunity of the organization to expand its portfolio of educational programs and to be involved in the process of promotion and selection of scholarship candidates from the “Atanas Bliznakoff” Foundation. Macedonia2025, through the latest e-tool Platform for e-Scholarships provided high transparency and objectivity of the processes, said Mojsovska Blazevska and added that she is glad that expatriates do not forget their homeland and give support especially for the development of human potential in the country.

The “Atanas Bliznakoff” Foundation was founded in 1977 by one of the largest donors from the diaspora. Scholarships from the Foundation are provided with interest and dividends by the “Atanas Bliznakoff” Foundation in the United States. In 2018, a sister foundation was established in the United States, freeing up $ 5 million that had been blocked in the United States since Bliznakoff’s death in 1998.

It is expected that by the end of the month the process of awarding scholarships to the beneficiaries will be fully finalized, which will be followed by the completion of the documentation and the signing of the Scholarship Award Agreements. In the next period, Macedonia2025 will remain a partner of the Atanas Bliznakoff Foundation at UKIM in the process of actively monitoring the success of scholarship holders and their right to extend the scholarship.