By Maria Kostova
Every Fulbright journey begins with lots of goodbyes and lots of excitement. On June 25, the Fulbright Commission in Bulgaria welcomed the outgoing 2026–27 Bulgarian Fulbright grantees for the annual Pre-Departure Orientation and Award Ceremony in Sofia, marking the official start of what promises to be a memorable year. Before setting off for universities and research institutions across the United States, the new grantees spent the day getting ready for the adventure ahead through practical sessions with the Fulbright staff, conversations with alumni, and plenty of questions (and reassuring answers).
This year’s cohort brings together an impressive mix of students, scholars, researchers, artists, and professionals. Recipients of Fulbright Graduate Study Grants, Bulgarian Leaders Grants, Thanks to Scandinavia Grants, Fulbright Visiting Scholar and Visiting Researcher Grants, and the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program will soon be heading to institutions including Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Berkeley, the University of Pennsylvania, Georgia Tech, UCLA, and many others. During the orientation, they introduced themselves, discovered who else would be calling the same part of the U.S. home, compared notes on their destinations, and began forming the friendships and support network that every Fulbright year seems to inspire.
The evening’s Award Ceremony celebrated the achievements that brought this remarkable group together. Executive Director Angela Rodel welcomed the new cohort and encouraged them to embrace both the opportunities and the responsibilities that come with becoming Fulbright grantees. Nicole Fox, Acting Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, presented the awards and spoke about the enduring partnership between Bulgaria and the United States, reminding everyone that educational exchange remains one of the best ways to build lasting connections. The ceremony was also attended by Mr. Kalin Mutavchiev from the Ministry of Education and Science, reaffirming the Ministry’s support for international academic cooperation.
The celebration ended in the best Fulbright tradition: with good conversations, familiar faces, and delicious food and drinks at a farewell reception. Our alumni enjoyed catching up with old friends, swapping stories that somehow become funnier with time, and sharing the practical tips they wished someone had told them before departure. We wish all AY 2026–27 Bulgarian Fulbright grantees an inspiring, rewarding, and transformative year ahead! We can’t wait to follow their journeys and welcome them back with stories of their own to share.
