Elka Rouskova from Seattle, USA, has been named the recipient of the 2025 “Bulgarian Woman of the Year – St. Zlata of Meglen” award. Her longstanding community and cultural work has made a significant contribution to the development of the Bulgarian community in Seattle and to preserving ties with Bulgaria and Bulgarian cultural identity among fellow Bulgarians in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Diego, and Las Vegas.

For the 15th consecutive year, the Executive Agency for Bulgarians Abroad has presented the award. For the first time, the ceremony brought together the inaugural award recipient, Kostadinka Kuneva, and eight other laureates at the Maxima Hall of the University of National and World Economy in Sofia.

For the fourth consecutive year, the Bulgarian Diplomatic Institute was honoured to be represented by its Director, Tanya Mihaylova, on the jury selecting the 2025 award recipient. The jury was chaired by Professor Plamen Pavlov and included Raina Mandzhukova, Executive Director of the Executive Agency for Bulgarians Abroad; Prof. Ana Kocheva of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences; Kiril Valchev, Director General of the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA); Milen Mitev, Director General of Bulgarian National Radio (BNR); and Milena Dimitrova, Secretary to the President for Culture, Education and Bulgarians Abroad.

Congratulations to all 29 nominees from 11 countries for their dedicated and inspiring work in support of Bulgarian communities abroad!