The finalists in the “20 under 20” competition were announced at a Gala Dinner at the Inter Expo Centre in Sofia. On the initiative of PhD Eng. Ivan Vutov, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Geotrading AD, this year the company is the General Sponsor of a number of events organised by the Youth Council of the U.S. Embassy.
This year’s competition is the first of its kind and more than 500 nominated young people under the age of twenty from all around the country participated in it. Mrs. Rumyana Ivanova, Executive Director of Geotrading AD, part of the GEOTECHMIN Group, was part of the prestigious jury, which had the difficult task of choosing the 20 finalists from a total of 60 young people, preselected into the following categories:
- Entrepreneurship – young people with ideas turned into businesses, projects or social causes
- Arts – musicians, writers, visual artists, directors and all people who inspire via creativity
- Social Impact and Activism – leaders defending important causes: environment, rights, education, etc.
- Science and Technology – innovators, programmers, researchers and young scientists with bold ideas
- Sports – athletes proving that perseverance and discipline bring success
The event was opened by the President of the America for Bulgaria Foundation, Ms. Nancy Schiller, together with Mrs. Rumyana Ivanova, Executive Director of Geotrading AD, Mr. Ivaylo Stanchev, Editor-in-Chief of Capital and Mr. Yuliy Yuliev, President of the Youth Council of the U.S. Embassy in Bulgaria (USYC).
In her speech, Mrs. Ivanova addressed the participants in the competition, stating “It is an honour for me, on behalf of Geotrading, part of the GEOTECHMIN Group, and PhD Eng. Ivan Vutov, to congratulate you on this wonderful initiative. I want to applaud all participants for the energy that they have invested, and for their ideas, talent and social commitment and empathy. Continue being ever so energetic, pursue your goals and be proud of what you have achieved.”
The finalists awarded with plaques, among whom future leaders, artists and innovators who have chosen to pursue a career in Bulgaria, received also a special gift on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Geotrading AD’s establishment. Good luck to all participants, may they change the surrounding world for the better!
