Scholarship Recipients

Natalija Tasevska, originally from Stoimirovo and currently studying in Berovo, is a dedicated student in her fourth year at the “Aco Ruskovski” high school. She is deeply committed to continuously expanding her knowledge and honing her skills. Natalija thrives in competitive environments, actively participating in a range of contests, particularly in Macedonian language and biology, at municipal, regional, state, and international levels, where she has earned numerous awards, diplomas, and certificates.

Beyond her academic pursuits, Natalija has a deep passion for prose, poetry, and literature, having won multiple prizes in related competitions. Her creativity shines through in her projects, where she combines organization with an innovative approach. She is particularly interested in informatics, mathematics, and technology, often immersing herself in website development, programming, and video production. This year, she earned third place in a video-making competition organized by the Embassy of the Netherlands.

Art and painting are Natalija’s hobbies, and some of her works have been exhibited in museums and at her school. She has also achieved first place in various art competitions. As she embarks on her final year of high school, Natalija is eager to continue gaining knowledge, engaging in meaningful activities, and achieving further success.

Daria Kostovska, a 15-year-old student from Tetovo, is currently enrolled in her first year at S.O.U. Gymnasium “Kiril Pejchinovikj – Tetovec.” Her academic interests primarily focus on mathematics, informatics, and geography. Daria has participated in numerous municipal, regional, and state competitions, achieving notable success. For instance, she secured second place at this year’s national competition in the Macedonian language.

In addition to her academic achievements, Daria has also participated in geography competitions and various events organized both within and outside her school. She was involved in meetings regarding children’s rights, organized by the Ombudsman of North Macedonia. Demonstrating her leadership qualities and academic excellence, Daria was selected as the valedictorian of her generation.

Daria envisions a future career as a successful engineer or programmer, given her strong interest in informatics and programming. She is skilled in various computer technologies, including Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), C++, and HTML, which further supports her aspirations in technology.

Ivo Tojotov is a fourth-year student at the “Orce Nikolov” Gymnasium in Skopje. His passion for chemistry began eight years ago, during his primary education, when he consistently participated in chemistry competitions and achieved excellent results. Beyond excelling in this subject, Ivo generously shares his knowledge by tutoring friends and students who struggle with chemistry, offering private lessons to help them master the material more easily.

Apart from his love for chemistry, Ivo is also an accomplished saxophone player. Throughout his high school years, he has actively participated in numerous musicals, concerts, and other music-related events. He believes that science and music are interconnected; just as chemistry allows experimentation and the creation of new things, music provides a similar space for creativity and discovery. Ivo often reflects on how chemistry, much like music, requires finding a “melody” that fosters a love for the subject and inspires new ideas.

In addition to his achievements in chemistry, Ivo’s interests span mathematics, biology, and the German language, which he also competed in during high school. His commitment to academic excellence is evident in his numerous awards at municipal, regional, and state competitions, most recently securing first place at the national chemistry competition.

Danka Jeftimova, a third-year student at the Mathematical–Computer Science High School in Skopje, hails from Kochani and has consistently maintained perfect grades throughout her education. Her passion for programming and mathematics has led her to participate in numerous competitions, including earning second place at the national mathematics competition and third place at the national informatics competition. She was also invited to the Macedonian Mathematical Olympiad, reflecting her dedication and skills in these fields.

In addition to her academic pursuits, Danka continually enhances her knowledge through extracurricular learning, including completing Harvard’s CS50P course in Python. Living in a dormitory, she values the community she has found and enjoys spending time with friends. Aspiring to become a software engineer, Danka aims to inspire more girls to enter STEM fields and make a positive impact on society through technology.

Jovan Najdanovski, a 17-year-old student from Bitola, is currently in his third year at the SOU “Gjorgi Naumov” technical school, specializing as an Electrical Technician for Computer Technology and Automation. His passion for mathematics and programming started at an early age, thanks to the guidance of his teachers, for whom he remains deeply grateful. Jovan’s dedication to his studies has earned him consistent top marks, making him one of the best students in his generation.

Since primary school, Jovan has participated in numerous mathematics competitions, a testament to his hard work and love for the subject. His success continued in high school, where he achieved third place in both municipal and regional competitions, earning a spot in the national competition held at PMF Skopje. In addition to these achievements, Jovan has received various certificates and commendations related to his field of study.

An active participant in extracurricular projects and team activities, Jovan is also involved in initiatives that contribute to his personal development. As a part of the MK2025 Scholars program, Jovan is recognized for his academic excellence and leadership potential. Like many scholars, he strives to use his skills in programming and technology to make a positive impact on society and inspire future generations of talented youth.

Matej Naunov, a 14-year-old from Kočani, is currently a third-year student at SOU “Gošo Vikentiev,” specializing in Computer Technology and Automation. His passion for natural sciences blossomed during his primary education, where he excelled in mathematics, achieving strong results at both regional and national competitions.

Matej’s interest in robotics began in 2018, and since then, he has participated in five national competitions and one regional competition in Greece. His achievements include qualifying for three world championships in Brazil, Morocco, and Massachusetts (USA), where he proudly represented his country. His teamwork skills shine through his involvement in group projects at school, and he enjoys engaging in various extracurricular activities that contribute to his personal development.

In addition to his academic pursuits, Matej enjoys playing tennis in his free time. As a participant in the MK2025 Scholars program, Matej exemplifies the values of leadership and dedication that the program nurtures, and he aims to inspire others in the fields of STEM and robotics​.

Ivana Atanasoska, a third-year student at the Gymnasium in Prilep, specializing in Natural Mathematics, has accomplished what many only aspire to in their academic careers. Her relentless curiosity and dedication have placed her at the top of her class, winning first-place national prizes in biology, geography, physics, and languages.

Ivana’s fascination with biology began at a young age, leading her to master complex topics like genetics and consistently win national biology competitions. Geography became another passion, earning her several national titles and a bronze medal at the International Earth Science Olympiad, where she demonstrated exceptional knowledge of physical geography, cartography, and environmental challenges. Physics also came naturally to her, and she excelled in national competitions through her understanding of both theoretical and experimental physics. In addition, Ivana has proven her linguistic abilities, winning first-place prizes in Macedonian and English at national language competitions.

Ivana has nurtured a love for Macedonian folk dancing alongside her academic achievements for over 12 years. She has performed at local, regional, and international festivals, captivating audiences across the Balkans and beyond with her grace and dedication to preserving cultural traditions.

Simona Atanaskova, 4^th grade high school student at the “Kole Nedelkovski” vocational high school in Veles. Her interests are informatics, mathematics and drawing. Where she achieves remarkable results and goes to competitions related to them. She participates in all kinds of school activities and state competitions which involve a lot of effort. Outside of school, she is interested in projects that are happening to improve the city. She is convinced that one day she will be a good software engineer and contribute more to society. She is also among the best students in her school, where she strives to achieve this. Also, her character represents a commitment to what she loves and positively influences the people around her. She mentions the regional and state competitions where she represents her school as her main achievement. She has a deep interest in coding and mathematics. She believes that education is important and is a part that no one can take away from you.

Nikolina Bebekoska, a 16-year-old third-year student at “Orce Nikolov” Gymnasium in Skopje, has a strong passion for studying languages, particularly Macedonian and English. Her dedication to language learning has earned her numerous awards at school, municipal, regional, and national levels. Notably, she secured first place at several national competitions in Macedonian and English. She has completed levels A1 through B2 in the “Challenge” program and is preparing to take the FCE exam and begin studying at the C1 level.

In addition to her linguistic achievements, Nikolina has also demonstrated a keen interest in mathematics, participating in school competitions throughout her education. Her drive for continuous improvement and commitment to excellence reflects the qualities of the MK2025 Scholars, where young talents like her aim to lead and inspire future generations.

Ivona Petrova is a dedicated fourth-year student at “Dimitar Vlahov” High School in Strumica, where she is specializing in Pharmacy. From a young age, she has been passionate about the medical sciences, which led her to choose Pharmacy as her field of study. Over the past four years, Ivona has maintained excellent academic performance and actively participated in various school-organized competitions, workshops, and stands.

One of her notable achievements includes participating in the national competition for young researchers of North Macedonia in botany and zoology, gaining valuable experience and knowledge. She also participated in the national competition on Traditional Technology, where she developed a tincture for preventing alopecia, earning recognition and praise. Ivona has been involved in school practices, producing and selling handmade pharmaceutical products.

Her commitment to both academics and extracurricular extends to sports, as she has been an active athlete for over seven years, which she attributes to her perseverance and dedication. Additionally, as a member of the Red Cross, Ivona engages in volunteer activities, contributing to societal improvement. Her future goals include studying at the Faculty of Pharmacy at St. Cyril and Methodius University, where she aspires to graduate as a pharmacist and advance the pharmaceutical sciences​.

Juliana Janev, hailing from Strumica, is a 15-year-old student currently in her second year at the prestigious “Sergei Mihailov” in-state musical high school in Shtip. Since an early age, Juliana has cultivated a deep passion for the piano, and she actively promotes classical music within her peer group and the wider public. From the very beginning of her musical education, Juliana has stood out for her unwavering dedication to unraveling the intricacies of piano performance.
Juliana has showcased her talent at numerous concerts, festivals, and competitions across Macedonia and throughout Europe. With two successful piano recitals already under her belt, she has emerged as a remarkable performer. Her exceptional skills have earned her an impressive collection of accolades, including 35 special first and first prizes from both international and national competitions for young pianists.
Youthful and driven, Juliana possesses an insatiable thirst for knowledge and a relentless pursuit of excellence. Her sights are set on becoming a world-renowned pianist, aspiring to grace the grand stages of the global music scene.

Melani Ivanova, an 18-year-old individual, was born in Shtip. She currently attends the “Slavcho Stojmenski” High School in Shtip, where she is in her fourth year of study. Her greatest passion and a constant source of fulfillment lie in writing and creating poetry and prose.Melani actively engages in various municipal, regional, state, and international contests, competitions, and workshops. By participating in these events, she nurtures her talent and enhances her personal growth by acquiring new skills and cultivating creative ideas. Through her literary works, she successfully captures her innovative spirit and skill, resonating with the hearts of those who have the privilege of hearing or reading her verses.Melani Ivanova has achieved notable successes throughout her journey, some of which include:– first prize at the municipal literary competition titled “Voice Textile” during the Textiliada 6.– first prize at the International Literary Festival for Poetry, Culture, and Art, which was organized by Milica Paulus and the World Poetry Association.– sole winner of a regional literary competition announced by the Society for Science, Literature, Culture, and Art “Ivan Vasilevski.” And many more.

Tamara Stojanovska, a third-year student at the Vocational High School “St. Cyril and Methodius” in Ohrid, specializes in the health profession. She is currently interning at the PHI Specialized Hospital for Cardiovascular Diseases as part of their team.Tamara has actively participated in state and international physics competitions, earning recognition and winning awards. Her involvement in these innovative competitions led to her official designation as a Karate Master with a black belt in 2020. She has achieved multiple medals, including a gold medal at both the state and international levels. Starting in 2022, Tamara became a member of the Karate Federation of Macedonia.Additionally, Tamara secured first place for a literary work she made in honor of the 100th anniversary of the poet Aco Shopov. She has also been a participant in multiple categories of the MASSUM program, with a notable accomplishment being her contribution to the movie “Perfect Life.” This film’s success has allowed her work to be featured in media outlets such as Voice of America and others.Her primary challenge and focus lie in the search for a cancer drug, which she actively pursues.

Emanuel Avramoski lives in the village of Samokov, but he studies in the middle municipal school “Saint Naum Ohridski” in Makedonski Brod. He completed primary education with excellent success in the same municipality.
During his education, he has participated in various competitions in various subjects, where he won many awards and recognitions, although natural sciences predominate in that context.
He also participated in several separate projects, among which Green Europe stands out. As part of the activities included in that project, he visited a collaborating school in Turkey, where he was involved in activities, presentations, and lectures for the improvement of ecological and environmental issues.
Quite important, is the fact that his obsession and hobby are: participation in projects that bring something new, better, and revolutionary; as well as reading books.
Three attributes that mark him out are vision, enthusiasm, and loyalty.

Iva Kostovska, who resides in Tetovo, is an 18-year-old student attending “Josip Broz Tito” High School in Skopje. She is currently in her fourth year of study. Her academic interests revolve around biology, chemistry, and informatics.
Iva actively participates in various competitions at the municipal, regional, and state levels, consistently achieving commendable results. For instance, she secured third place in this year’s state competition in the field of biology. She has also taken part in training sessions organized by the Red Cross, focusing on first aid. Additionally, she engages in discussions and projects outside of school, primarily centered around informatics, ecology, and chemistry.
In terms of her aspirations, Iva envisions herself as a bioinformatics engineer in the future.

Natalija Tasevska hails from Stoimirovo and is currently enrolled at “Aco Ruskovski” High School in Berovo (2nd year). Her insatiable thirst for knowledge drives her to seek daily improvement. Natalija actively engages in a multitude of competitions and school organizations. She channels her artistic expression through captivating artwork and resonating musical compositions (plays piano and harmonics). During her time in elementary school, she triumphed with her mandolin orchestra, securing the coveted first place. Furthermore, Natalija’s artistic talents were recognized when her drawing was chosen for an esteemed exhibition at the Skopje Museum, where she was honored with a diploma.
Her accomplishments extend beyond the realm of art. Natalija clinched third position in a biology competition and secured second place in a Macedonian language competition for poetry. Additionally, she has actively participated in English, Chemistry, and poetry contests. As the new school year approaches, Natalija is eagerly anticipating her continued involvement in a diverse array of competitions, including those centered around science, mathematics, and informatics.

Jovana Ana Hadzi Hristovska, from Chucher Sandevo (Skopje), is a third-year scholar at “Orce Nikolov” High School in Skopje. Throughout her academic journey, she has actively participated in various projects, focusing specifically on engaging in debates concerning environmental issues.
One defining aspect of her character is her unwavering commitment to making a positive impact on the world. She volunteers at the Red Cross, dedicating her time and effort to serving others and working towards a better future for all. Regarding her notable achievements, she mentions her diplomas from Red Cross competitions and her certificate from the exchange program in Switzerland at the Kids Village Pestalozzi. Additionally, she highlights her diploma from a recent exchange program in Italy with Erasmus.
However, her interests extend beyond volunteering and social activitie. She also possesses a deep passion for coding and robotics, deriving immense joy from utilizing her skills to create innovative robots. These endeavors allow her to express her creativity while embracing the technical challenges that arise along the way.
With an extensive track record of project participation, a genuine desire to serve her community, and a fervor for exploring the realm of robotics, she embodies the spirit of a dedicated and versatile scholar. She firmly believes in the power of education and meaningful contributions, striving to leave a lasting impact on the world around her.

Tijana Manasova, a high school student at “Kocho Racin” in Sveti Nikole, is currently in her third year of studies. She is an enthusiastic participant in various natural sciences competitions, with a particular focus on biology and geography, where she has consistently achieved remarkable results in state-level competitions. Additionally, Tijana possesses exceptional abilities in both natural and social sciences, and she exhibits a remarkable talent for mathematics.
Through her relentless dedication and hard work, Tijana consistently attains her goals and aspirations.

Alexandra Novakoska identifies herself as a student enrolled at the Vocational High School “Brakja Miladinovci” in Skopje, specializing in the “Technician for Phytomedicine” major. She successfully completed her third year of studies, achieving an excellent GPA of 5.0.
In 2022, Alexandra achieved first place in the 50th state competition for school students with agricultural, veterinary, and forestry professions in Macedonia. Her accomplishment was in the discipline of “Recognition of Seeds and Weeds.” Additionally, in the same year, she secured second place in a municipal competition for fire protection, specifically within the Kisela Voda municipality. Alexandra’s involvement in the UPSHIFT project revolved around the topic of soil. She actively participated as a member of the “Terra Madre” team. Their project, focused on the soil cycle, received approval from the UPSHIFT committee, and they were awarded funding to carry out the project.
This scholarship will greatly assist Alexandra in pursuing her plans, providing financial support to complete her secondary education and enroll in a faculty related to “Food Quality and Safety,” “Nutritionism,” or “Phytomedicine.”

Mihail Shapcheski, who hails from Prilep, completed his primary education at the “Kocho Racin” primary school in Prilep, achieving excellent success in all years. He displayed a keen interest in learning from a young age, particularly in mathematics, and actively participated in various competitions, achieving outstanding results. During the 8th grade, he was introduced to physics, which sparked his passion for the subject. Mihail dedicated a significant portion of his time to solving tasks, and his efforts paid off when he had the honor of representing Macedonia at the International Junior Science Olympiad (IJSO) in Colombia, where he secured a bronze medal.
Currently, Mihail is a scholarship beneficial at the high school “Yahja Kemal” in Skopje.
Additionally, he has been practicing karate since the age of 4 and has earned several awards in the discipline.
Despite his love for learning, Mihail believes in striking a balance by valuing the importance of making friends and enjoying leisure activities.