The Ralitsa Prize was constituted in 2023 on the initiative of Dr Maria Staykova—a long-time sponsor of NEF ‘13 Centuries of Bulgaria’. The award is in the name of her mother, Ralitsa Beleva-Staykova (1921–2005), who worked for many years in the field of biochemistry.
A donation account, ‘Ralitsa Prize’, was established with the Fund to confer annual awards to three students from the Medicine, Dental Medicine, or Pharmacy specialisms of the Medical University of Plovdiv, who achieved excellent results in Biochemistry.
The award is presented in conjunction with the Medical University of Plovdiv at the Solemn Academic Council, in December.
2025
NEF ‘13 Centuries of Bulgaria’ awards the 2025 Ralitsa Prize
On 20 November 2025, the ‘13 Centuries of Bulgaria’ National Endowment Fund awarded the Ralitsa Prize to three students from the Medicine, Dental Medicine, or Pharmacy specialisms of the Medical University of Plovdiv, who have achieved excellent results in Biochemistry.
A committee from the Department of Medical Biochemistry, headed by Assoc. Prof. Anelia Bivolarska, M.D., announced the three laureates of the 2025 Ralitsa Prize: students Merve Mustafa Hasan (Medicine), Katerina Tomova Georgieva (Medicine), and Esin Shenol Sabri (Pharmacy).
The donor, Dr Maria Staykova, proposed that the amount granted in 2025 from the donation account with the Fund should be EUR 300 for each winner.
The awards were presented at a special ceremony that took place in the Auditorium Complex of the Medical University – Plovdiv.
2024
The Medical University of Plovdiv chooses the awardees of the 2024 Ralitsa Prize
On 19 December 2024, the ‘13 Centuries of Bulgaria’ National Endowment Fund awarded the Ralitsa Prize to three students from the Medicine, Dental Medicine, or Pharmacy specialisms of the Medical University of Plovdiv, who have achieved excellent results in Biochemistry.
A committee from the Department of Medical Biochemistry, headed by Assoc. Prof. Anelia Bivolarska, M.D., announced the three laureates of the 2024 Ralitsa Prize: second-year students Dimitar Nikolov Chavdarov (Medicine), Atanas Borisov Atanasov (Dental Medicine), and Yordan Ivanov Stoykov (Pharmacy). This year, a single incentive prize in Medicine was awarded to Angel Steliyanov Mihaylov.
The donor, Dr Maria Staykova, proposed that the amount granted in 2024 from the donation account with the Fund should be EUR 250 for each winner, with EUR 150 as an incentive prize.
The awards were presented at a ceremony in the Aula Magna of the University’s Faculty of Dental Medicine, on the day of the Solemn Academic Council, when diplomas for academic positions and students who have defended their dissertations are handed out, distinguished professors and departments are awarded, as well as outstanding students for their sporting achievements.
2023
Ralitsa Prize winners announced
On 19 December 2023, the ‘13 Centuries of Bulgaria’ National Endowment Fund will award the Ralitsa Prize to three students from the Medicine, Dental Medicine, or Pharmacy specialisms of the Medical University of Plovdiv, who have achieved excellent results in Biochemistry.
A committee from the Department of Medical Biochemistry, headed by Assoc. Prof. Dr Anelia Bivolarska, announced the three laureates of the 2023 Ralitsa Prize: second-year students Kamen Georgev Petkov (Medicine specialism), Daniela Nikolaeva Zlatanska (Dental Medicine), and Atanas Petrov Lambrev (Pharmacy). They will receive their awards in an official ceremony at the university.
The prize was established in 2023 at the suggestion of Dr Maria Staykova, in the name of her mother, Ralitsa Beleva-Staykova (1921–2005), who worked for many years in the field of biochemistry.
The donor has proposed that the amount granted in 2023 should be EUR 200 for each winner.