English Language School "Geo Milev" (Ruse)

English Language School "Geo Milev" offers a historical tradition of excellence in preparing young students in foreign language studies since the beginning of the 20th century. The building was constructed in 1908 by the Italian architect professor Mariano Pernigoni for the purposes of the French Catholic School with a boarding house „Notre dame de sion“.[6] The aims of the school, managed by the religious order of Notre Dame de Sion, with divisions in 24 countries around the world, were solid education, proper behavior and forming a character in the spirit of the Christian virtues. Teachers at the French Catholic School were Catholic nuns. The education of the girls was carried out in French and organized into small classes with up to 10 students, but varied in ethnic and multicultural composition – besides wealthy Bulgarians, there were also Jews, Turks, Armenians, Czechs, Austrians, and Belgian students. With the Bulgarian coup d'état of 1944, the country entered the Soviet sphere of influence and the school was closed down until 1963, when it resumed its activities as the nowadays known English Language School „Geo Milev“. At present, the high school admits students in 4 classes with intensive studies of English and a second foreign language - French, German or Russian.

The graduates of ELS „Geo Milev“ enjoy an impressive academic and professional realization. A great number of alumni have continued their education in one of the most prestigious universities in Europe and the USA, most notably the University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, Harvard University, University of London, Carnegie Mellon University, Columbia University and many others.[7][8][9]

Notable alumni of the high school are:

• Vladimir Koylazov – creator of the commercial rendering software V-Ray. Winner of the Scientific and engineering award from the 89th Academy Awards;[10]
• Martin Ivanov, Minister of Culture of the Republic of Bulgaria in the Government of Georgi Bliznashki. Currently an advisor of former president Rosen Plevneliev; [11]
• Momchil Kyurkchiev – founder of Leanplum;[12][13]
• Ivan Georgiev Petrov – Bulgarian-American physicist, specializing in thin films, surface science, and methods of characterization of materials. Past president of the American Vacuum Society;[14]
• Rositza Yalamova – Associate professor at University of Lethbridge;[15]
• Nikolai Dimitrov – Tech Principal Business Development, Amazon Appstore Games at Amazon.[16]

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  The French boarding school „Notre Dame de Sion“
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  A photo of the now demolished enclosure of the school
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  The music hall before 1944
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  English Language School "Geo Milev" at present
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  The building is located in Ruse's city park