Scholar Films
Harun's most recent film, In the Name of the Son, is based on his experiences growing up in wartime Bosnia
Scholars in the Arts
Randy’s provocative works of metal, wood, and paint have earned considerable recognition.
Kiro Yovkov
“My world-class education dream is not an end in itself, but a means to an opportunity that I will one day be in a position to help others achieve their dreams, too.”
- Program: 2009 Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship Recipient
- Hometown: Bulgaria
- Community College: Florida Keys Community College
- Four-year College or University: Washington University in St. Louis
Biography
PROFILE: Kiro Yovkov is a modern day Don Quixote who believes that nothing is impossible. Look back just a few short years to his humble roots in a small rural town in Bulgaria. It was Kiro’s mother who helped him to realize that excelling in his studies would pave the road to better opportunities in life. “Knowing that my parents sacrificed and deprived themselves of basic necessities, I had a duty to force myself and always perform to the utmost of my abilities.” He graduated as one of the top students in his high school class and was a step closer to coming to America and receiving the “world-class education” he had dreamed of. “With a hefty loan and no words in my English vocabulary, I departed for the United States,” Kiro said. His new life began by enduring grueling shifts at lowly jobs, but he studied English every night after his 15-hour work days ended. Soon his efforts paid off and he began to matriculate at Florida Keys Community College (FKCC). Just a few months later, he was again excelling in his studies, garnering academic honors and awards, including the scholarship from the Foundation.
INSPIRATION: The driving force in Kiro’s life is his parents, who remain in Bulgaria. On this side of the Atlantic, Professor E.J. Miller Laino was the teacher who influenced him the most. “She helped me transform from a person who only had a basic command of the English language into a successful college student who managed a 4.0 GPA and won three scholarships where writing was a main criterion.”
ASPIRATION: Once college is behind him, Kiro is hopeful for a career in finance or economics. He also sees himself as a future philanthropist.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE: Despite maintaining a full-time job and a 4.0 GPA at FKCC, Kiro also volunteered to tutor fellow students in algebra and calculus.
ACCOLADES: Kiro earned membership in Phi Theta Kappa and was named to the President’s List of Scholars at his college. From FKCC he earned the Hemingway Literary Scholarship, the Evelyn Kawater Memorial Scholarship, and the First Generation in College Scholarship.
INTERESTING FACT: An accomplished volleyball player, Kiro had aspirations to play for the Bulgarian National Team and eventually compete professionally, but he was turned down because he was too short (he’s 6’0”).
Other Scholars Like Kiro
Danna Culhane
Undergraduate Transfer Scholar
University of Washington
Rahel Kebede
Undergraduate Transfer Scholar
Mount Holyoke College
Daniel Leon
Undergraduate Transfer Scholar
American University
Maria Palar
Undergraduate Transfer Scholar
Sarah Lawrence College