Darija was born in Skopje, Macedonia in 2004. At the age of 10 she moved to Quebec, Canada with her family where she attended elementary and secondary school. During her schooling in Canada, she followed a curriculum in French. She also continued her musical education, in the disciplines of piano and solfeggio, reaching level 8 by the standards of the Conservatoire de Musique de Gatineau. While in Canada, Darija also had the opportunity to pursue figure skating as an extracurricular athletic activity. She regularly competed in regional competitions in Quebec, and was the 2019 gold medalist of the Finales régionales de patinage STAR/Michel-Proulx.

During the pandemic, 2020, she returned to her home country and completed her secondary education graduating with the International Baccalaureate Diploma and with distinction as a NOVA Academic Scholar. Her desire to study abroad was inspired by her diverse international experiences, motivating her to apply to renowned universities worldwide. Despite receiving admission offers from several prestigious institutions, she chose to embrace the challenge of studying at European universities. She commenced her Bachelor’s degree journey at the University of Groningen, globally recognized for its academic excellence. Currently in her second year, pursuing Communication and Information Studies at the Faculty of Arts in Groningen, she is preparing to expand her academic horizons by embarking on a concurrent BSc in International Business starting in 2024-2025.

“I am profoundly grateful and honored to receive the Nova Generation Bitove Scholarship, which not only supports Macedonian students in pursuing their academic aspirations but also symbolizes a vital link to a community dedicated to fostering education and preserving the rich Macedonian cultural heritage. This scholarship inspires me to strive for excellence, not only to enrich my own knowledge but also to contribute positively to Macedonia’s future by applying what I learn to make meaningful contributions to my community and beyond.”

Katherine Ničev Holland is a proud second-generation Macedonian-American from Akron, Ohio. She is currently pursuing her M.D. at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in Los Angeles, CA California, where she is an active member of the Global Health Pathway. In her final year as a medical student, Kate is preparing to apply for an Internal Medicine residency. As a future physician, she hopes to pursue critical care medicine at home and abroad as an active member of Doctors Without Borders.

Kate holds a Bachelor of Science from The Ohio State University where she double-majored in cultural anthropology and biology and minored in history. She graduated summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, and Phi Kappa Phi in 2021 and was honored as a 2021 Rhodes Scholarship finalist for her work engaging in global health projects with The Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C., the Himalayan Institute for Cultural & Heritage Studies in Himachal Pradesh, India, and Project Nicaragua. Kate has continued her pursuit of global health equity during her time in medical school at UCLA, working with the Malawian Ministry of Health and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation on projects related to decreasing rates of treatment interruption among men living with HIV.

Kate is the granddaughter of Dr. Ljubka Ničevska, MD and Dr. Naum Karapashev, MD who immigrated to the United States from Ljubojno. Kate’s grandparents are a constant source of inspiration for her and have greatly influenced her own pursuit of medicine. While Kate’s work has taken her all over the world, she hopes to return to Macedonia, working on strengthening efforts of health systems in the greater Balkan region.

“I am deeply grateful to the Bitove Foundation and Nova Generation for their support of young Macedonians across the diaspora. It is a great honor to be recognized by those within your own community. As a soon-to-be physician, I hope to follow in my grandparents’ footsteps, continuing to share the beauty of Macedonian culture and working to strengthen the future of Macedonians worldwide.”

First generation American, Jovana Nagj is an undergraduate student at Michigan State University majoring in Comparative Cultures and Politics with a minor in Global Studies in the Arts and Humanities. She was born in Detroit, Michigan (along with her two younger siblings) but both of her parents immigrated from Kumanovo, Macedonia where most of her family still resides. Throughout her life, Jovana and her family have been committed to preserving their Macedonian heritage and language. The family speaks Macedonian daily, cooks traditional Balkan dishes, and even educates non-Balkan friends on Macedonia’s history and life. She is fiercely passionate of her Macedonian and Balkan identities and wears them proudly wherever she goes.

Growing up first-generation in America is tough and Jovana’s family has always felt like they were on the periphery. However, with her current studies, Jovana hopes to one day use her knowledge to help her fellow Balkan communities in the States and back home. Dedicated to both promoting cultural tolerance and diversity, she aspires to create spaces around the world where immigrants and their families feel at home and feel safe to continue their cultures. The Bitove Scholarship enables her to continue learning about the world and its people with more ease. She is extremely grateful for being selected for this prestigious award and the opportunities that will follow.

“I will always be proud to be first-generation and to have come from a Macedonian immigrant household. I am eternally grateful for receiving the Nova Generation Bitove Scholarship as it serves as proof of success from all that my family has sacrificed for me and my siblings. I hope to use this recognition and opportunities to better other Macedonian and Balkan souls in the future.”

Filip Pesevski was born in Skopje, Macedonia, and immigrated to Canada with his mother and father in 2002 at 2 years old. As of 2024, Filip’s academic journey has led him to Melbourne, Australia, where he is in his second-to-last year of medical school at Monash University. Prior to moving around the world as an aspiring doctor, he graduated from the University of Waterloo with a Bachelor of Science in Honours Biomedical Science with a minor in Bioinformatics.

Throughout his undergraduate studies, he developed a keen interest in bioinformatics, which he explored through various projects and coursework. This culminated in a senior honours project in the bioinformatics field on COVID-19 during the pandemic. Filip’s passions outside of his studies include physical fitness, stemming from the 10 years he spent as a competitive swimmer with the Mississauga Aquatic Club, then as a varsity swimmer for his alma mater.

In addition to his academic and athletic pursuits, he is passionate about his roots as a Macedonian and was involved in the Macedonian church and community through folklore dance when he was younger. He is honoured to receive the Nova Generation Scholarship and recognizes the importance of promoting and preserving Macedonian culture. Moving forward, he hopes to make significant contributions to the medical field through both clinical practice and research.

“It is an honour to receive the John L. N. Bitove, C.M. Macedonian Heritage Scholarship. This scholarship will help me towards my goals in becoming a physician. I am very thankful that this organization is working towards preserving the Macedonian spirit and culture for new generations of Macedonians.”

Mihaela Stojchevska is going into her sophomore year at York University majoring in Criminology. Born in Skopje, Makedonia, she came to Canada at the age of 10. She is very involved with her Macedonian culture by folk dancing, participating in church events and teaching the young about the history, culture and the language of Macedonia.

While in school, Miheala balances her studies and classes by working as an after school teacher for younger kids teaching them about art, theater, science, dance and more. Her love of poetry has grown: one of her poems about Mother Teresa has been published in both English and Macedonian. With her love of poetry and her piano skills, she creates music that hopefully one day she can release to the world. She has her lifeguard certificate so she can make sure people are safe. In her free time, she enjoys playing sports like tennis and badminton and she participates in many marathons like the “Great Cycle Challenge Canada” riding and donating to the Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. One of her dreams is to travel the world but anywhere she goes she will keep the Macedonian traditions alive because keeping maintaining traditions will remind you where you came from and traditions they keep families closer.

“Receiving this scholarship is a really meaningful honor and proof of my dedication, and passion for learning by reminding me who I am and where I am from. It’s a recognition of the countless hours I’ve invested in my education, and a reminder that hard work truly pays off. This scholarship is not just a financial award it’s a symbol of the belief others have in my potential and my future. I am deeply grateful for this opportunity and committed to using it to achieve my academic and professional goals. This is just the beginning, and I am excited to continue this journey with renewed motivation and a drive to make a positive impact in the world.”