The American College of Sofia Celebrates the Graduation of the Class of 2026
June 3, 2026 --- On May 22, 2026, the American College of Sofia celebrated the graduation of the Class of 2026 during a ceremony that brought together students, families, faculty, staff, alumni, trustees, and friends of the College.
The 180 graduates joined a global community of close to 4,000 ACS alumni, marking the culmination of five years defined by academic achievement, personal growth, leadership, and service.
In her address to the graduates, ACS President Emily Sargent Beasley encouraged students to embrace uncertainty with confidence and purpose.
“Step from where you are standing,” she said. “Not from where you wish you were standing or from where someone else is standing. Step from where you are standing.”
Reflecting on the graduates' journey, President Beasley reminded them that meaningful lives are built through the courage to move forward even when the path ahead is not fully visible.
Alumni speaker Neli Koleva ’98 welcomed the Class of 2026 into the ACS alumni community and shared a series of reflections on what it means to carry the ACS spirit beyond campus.
“Pack curiosity, not certainty,” she advised. “The point is not to arrive complete. The point is to keep becoming.”
She also encouraged graduates to remain engaged, take initiative, and continue building communities wherever life takes them.
Representing the Board of Trustees, Board Chair Theodora Konetsovska ’97 congratulated the graduates and welcomed them into the ranks of ACS alumni.
“We are proud to see that today you are joining the ranks of ACS alumni, and we look forward to hearing about your successes as you go into the world and change it for the better,” she said.
Keynote speaker Professor Georgi Fotev offered a thoughtful reflection on the challenges and opportunities facing young people in a rapidly changing world. Encouraging graduates to meet uncertainty with courage, he shared a message that resonated throughout the ceremony:
“There are moments in life when a person must believe in the impossible.”
As the Class of 2026 embarks on the next stage of its journey, graduates leave ACS carrying forward a tradition that began in 1860 and a shared commitment to curiosity, integrity, responsibility, and service.
Congratulations, Class of 2026.
