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TEODORA FROM BUJANOVAC IS THE ONLY STUDENT FROM SERBIA WITH AN AMERICAN SCHOLARSHIP

22. May 2019.

Bujanovac – Among fifty secondary school students from almost all European countries, who were selected to spend a month in the United States under the prestigious Benjamin Franklin Transatlantic Fellowship program, there is only one student from Serbia, who is a resident of Bujanovac. Her name is Teodora Stojilkovic (17) and she attends the “Saint Sava“ secondary school in Bujanovac.   

She will be part of the student exchange program, which is aimed at establishing better relations between young Europeans and Americans, strengthening ties and developing shared values.

“I would say that the main goal of the program is to encourage tolerance for diversity.  At the “Purdue” University in West Lafayette, in Indiana, we will learn about international relations, democracy and citizens' rights, the engagement of young people and conflict resolution.  I am proud to be part of all this, "said the third year student of a medical course at this school.

Teodora won the scholarship, which is her greatest success so far, as well as the recognition of the Saint Sava School and the municipality of Bujanovac, while competing against a large number of secondary school students from all over Serbia. The requirements of the competition were rigorous - excellent knowledge of the English language, excellent school marks, awards and recognitions won at various competitions, recommendations given by the teachets, school and out- of- school activism, were just some of them.

“When I saw the competition on the website of the US Embassy in January, ​​I thought that it was opened just for me. Of course, the scholarship was to be earned. In addition to meeting all the reqirements of the competition, an essay in English was to be written, while an interview with the US Cultural Attache from the Embassy and his associates, which was held in Nis this February, was crucial, "Teodora said.

During the interview, she said, she was just what she was. She talked about her engagement in non-governmental organizations, her activities aimed at improving the relations between Serbs and Albanians and  respect for human and women's rights.

The seventeen-year-old resident of Bujanovac realized at the interview itself that she had impressed those that ran the interview.  

“At one point during the interview, I received an applause from the Attache, and then I thought that everything would be fine and that they would choose me, "she says.

The call came after a month.

“They called me on March 22, when they told me that I was awarded the scholarship. I was so happy. The opportunity to visit America in the company of peers from all over Europe, and  to experience nice things that I know are waiting for me there, is provided once in a lifetime. I expect this journey will open me more to the people, whatever nationality, race or religion they belong to, "Teodora points out.

A future student of the Faculty of Political Science, as she has already planned, particularly emphasized that she was "immensely grateful" for the support she had been receiving all the time from her homeroom teacher Bora Stojanovic and school director Biserka Jovic.

Theodora will set off on the journey on June 29, During her stay in America, she will visit Washington, Philadelphia and Chicago, and will also spend ten days in an American family.

 Source: Bujanovac News and Coordination Body