College education for 10 talented students in BiH

BOSANA FOUNDATION

Scholarship and Professional Development Program

Quarterly Report

September – December 2025

Executive Summary:

As we approach the end of 2025, we want to pause and say thank you to our supporters who stepped up over the past year to ensure our programs continue. Your trust and generosity have kept us moving forward, and we are incredibly proud of what we have built together.

This report highlights the last four months of activity, filled with meaningful updates and progress we achieved with you by our side. We are excited about what is ahead and the impact we will create together in the coming year.

Students and Program Update:

The Bosana scholars began the academic year with enthusiasm and purpose, setting ambitious goals focused on academic excellence, professional growth, and meaningful community service through volunteering.

As we bring the year to a close, we are proud to share a number of significant updates—most notably, the milestone achievement of our first scholarship recipient, who successfully completed doctoral research and earned a PhD, marking an important moment in the history of the Bosana Foundation Scholarship and Professional Development program.

Highlights of the quarter:

Here’s a look at the achievements of our students, highlighting their dedication and effort:  

• 27 September 2025 - Race for the Cure – Bosana scholars and alumni ran, walked, and supported Race for the Cure together as the Bosana Foundation team – they raised €153.35. These donations will support cancer organizations and hospitals.
• Each year, Bosana Foundation awards one student whose academic excellence, dedication and community engagement stand out among all - our Best Student of the Year. This year, that honor goes to Vildana, a final-year medical student whose dedication, excellence and compassion truly embody Bosana values. Vildana represented Bosnia and Herzegovina through international medical exchanges, in Turkey and Morocco, gaining valuable experience in cardiovascular surgery and ophthalmology and building friendships across cultures. For years, she's been volunteering in Bosana's After School Program and giving her time to children in need, a reflection of her empathy and commitment to make the world a kinder place.
• Pavle, Bosana student, with a Master of Speech Therapy from the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Mostar. Pavle was an exceedingly successful individual who was not only a good student but won an award for the promotion of his faculty.
• Sandra completed a degree in law after a lot of hard work and determination. While pursuing her studies, she attended several seminars about human rights and engaging in social debates, and her research on equality and inclusion received a lot of acclaim. Currently, she is searching for an internship position.
• Almedina has completed her bachelor studies and is currently working toward a master’s degree in traffic safety, mobility in urban areas, and sustainable transportation. She is actively involved in the implementation of road safety and sustainable transportation projects, as well as a Bosana volunteer, organizing monthly reports of the volunteers.
• Nadja successfully graduated from the master’s degree program with an outstanding GPA of 9.53. All through these pursuits of higher education, she remains engaged in the ever-expanding IT sector and is passionate about art as well as the voluntary work that she does in the library of the community in which she resides.
• Two of our scholars, Vildana and Ema, have been chosen to be a part of the local board of BoHeMSA (Bosnian and Herzegovinian Medical Students’ Association) LC Zenica for the term 2025/26. A team of young, dedicated, and ambitious medical students ready to contribute to a healthier and more conscious community through education, volunteering, and collaboration.
• At Bosana Foundation, we encourage our students to broaden their horizons and take part in meaningful extracurricular activities as investments in their personal growth. Marijana is an excellent example because actively she learns and engages, using every opportunity to grow and participate. Such experiences give students a perspective that simply cannot be provided within a classroom, and with the support of our donors, moments like these become possible.
• This December, at the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Tuzla, our very own scholar, Ahmedina, Senior Teaching Assistant, successfully defended her PhD dissertation. This noteworthy event has also marked an academic milestone as it relates to the fact that Ahmedina has become the very first academic within our program to earn her doctorate degree. We are very proud of her dedication, perseverance, and academic excellence.
• We are also proud to celebrate Nejra, who successfully finished her Master of Management at the Faculty of Economics in Sarajevo.

Partnership Projects:

Plus Ultra is a regional, free programming school for high school students from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Croatia, and Montenegro. Participants acquire knowledge of the C++ programming language, basic concepts of programming, as well as the skills necessary to excel at universitys, by means of interactive lectures, exercises, and tests. The curriculum is based on the first year of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering study program.

We would like to praise our scholarship students, who come from these and similar programs, who eagerly responded to our call to volunteer their time as tutors: Zeljka, Anesa, and Elmir (Faculty of Electrical Engineering – Automation and Electronics / Software Engineering), and Elvir and Amina (Faculty of Information Technologies – Software Engineering).

The first round of mentoring is winding down, and our scholarship students are very pleased with the outcomes, motivation, and levels of progress of the young participants from various parts of the region.

BOSANA FOUNDATION

Scholarship and Professional Development Program

Quarterly Report

May - August 2025

Executive Summary:

This report gives an overview of our activities from the last two quarters, filled with interesting updates. Our scholarship recipients have completed another year and handled their exam season with great results.

Key highlights include successful exams, international student exchanges, and our Bosana team-building initiative, which encouraged teamwork and friendship.

For more information about these activities, please check the detailed sections of this report.

Students and Program Update:

Final exams started in June, marking a key time for our students. They focused all their energy on final projects, midterms, and exams. Once the exams were over, students could join summer programs, look for intenships, or just relax with family.

In August, we came together for team-building activities, creating lasting memories as students explored new regions of the country.

Highlights of the quarter:

Here’s a look at the remarkable achievements of our students, highlighting their dedication and effort:

•  Milica – one of our scholarship recipients from the 2018/19 cohort, who has officially earned her Medical Doctor degree from the University of East Sarajevo in July this year. This is what she had to say: “Today, as I finish my academic journey, I feel immense gratitude for those who stood by me—through both joyful moments and challenges. The Bosana Foundation was a rare source of support and friendship, asking nothing in return. Their trust empowered me, restored my faith in myself, and helped transform my dreams into reality. I am forever grateful. —Dr. Milica okanovic.”

• Sara, our medical student, and her fellow students in Foca launched a new student organization - Sanus Medicus. “When we came together with this idea, we wanted to bring something new into our daily lives - to improve the quality of life for everyone around us. We quickly launched various activity groups, each reflecting a passion we’d set aside while studying. It was amazing to see how interested people were in extracurricular activities!”

• Tarik graduated from the University of Sarajevo's Faculty of Medicine in July and is currently seeking job opportunities while preparing for the state exam.
• Amina, a student in the music program at the Sarajevo Music Academy, participated in the ERASMUS exchange in Slovenia.
• Elmir completed his ERASMUS exchange at FERI (Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science), University of Maribor.
• Vildana spent a month in Morocco as part of the BoHEMSA (Bosnian and Herzegovinian Medical Students’ Association) internship program.

 BAPA Bosana Scholarship 2025

 For the fourth consecutive year, the Bosana Foundation is partnering with BAPA to sponsor a $5,000 scholarship. This scholarship helps Bosnian-American students achieve their educational and professional goals.

 Andre is the winner of the 2025 BAPA-Bosana Scholarship. Like our outstanding former scholars, Hajrudin, Benjamin, and Imman, we look forward to seeing what Andre will achieve.

 Originally from Sarajevo, he is a third-year Business Management major at Florida International University in Miami, FL. He came to the U.S. to further his studies and has demonstrated remarkable drive and leadership. He founded the first Entrepreneurship Club at Stockton University and received an EU4Business grant for his innovative industry startup.

 Currently, Andre works as a journalist and media reporter for Media Marketing, where he covers advertising trends and regional communication festivals. He hopes to pursue an MBA after graduation. He shows a strong entrepreneurial spirit and is committed to using business as a way to foster creativity and cultural connections.

Bosana Student Teambuilding 2025

 In the first week of August, Bosana scholarship students came together in Cazin for an unforgettable three-day experience filled with lasting memories. This event was co-organized with our students from the area. Belmin and Almedina made sure everyone felt welcomed.

 Their enthusiasm, local knowledge, and good community relationships made the experience even more special. We started our team-building activities with a traditional dinner at the historic Ostrozac Castle. A local women's association, founded in 2013 for the protection and preservation of cultural heritage, prepared the meal with care. Their dedication and warm hospitality added a personal touch to the evening.

 Belmin, a local resident, enriched our experience with a guided tour of the fortress. He shared stories and provided information about the region.

 The next day, we explored the beauty of Bosanska Krupa. We enjoyed a lively barbecue and took part in team-building activities at the Šujnovac recreation area. We relaxed with refreshing drinks at Zeleni otoci, charming little river islands. There was also plenty of free time for students to walk, swim, play cards, and enjoy spirited beach volleyball, balancing fun with relaxation.

 As the sun set, we gathered around a campfire. We shared stories, created vision boards, and reflected on our experiences. It was truly inspiring to see students from all over Bosnia and Herzegovina come together, exchange stories, and celebrate each other's journeys. These moments of connection show the uniqueness of our Bosana family.