On September 4^th, in the lyceum of "Forward - 1903" in the city of Pavel Banya, took place an exciting celebration of the 80th anniversary of Mrs. YordankaTropolova– a well-known sociologist, journalist and public figure. There she received the highest distinction of the Union of the Bulgarian Journalists - "Golden Pen".

The event was attended by the Mayor - Mr. Stanimir Radevski; the chairman of the community centre board - Mrs. Donka Ivanova; the president of the Union of Bulgarian Journalists - Ms. Snezana Todorova; the executive director of the newspaper "Dolina", Kazanlak, Ms. Janica Stantcheva; representatives of the municipal administration, colleagues, friends and relatives of Ms.Tropolova, citizens and guests of Pavel Banya. The event was part of the program for the Feast of Pavel Banya - September 8, the Nativity of Mary.

On the celebration Donka Ivanova presented facts from the life of the journalist. She has worked for 15 years in the Committee of the Bulgarian women as head of department and as officially elected Secretary and First Vice-President. She was the chairwoman of the "Women and Media" committee of the International Sociological Association, public basis secretary of the Bulgarian Sociological Association (1983 - 1988) and judicial assessor at the Supreme Court of Bulgaria (06/18/1986). From 1986 to 1988 she was an expert in the Social Council at the Council of Ministers. In 1988 she was appointed editor of the magazine for fashion and aesthetic culture "Lada", where she remained until her retirement in 1990. From 1990 to 2005, she worked as an editor in the "We women" newspaper; she cooperated with the prestigious magazines "Bulgaria" and "Bulgarian Diplomatic Review". For her contribution to the development of culture she has been awarded the medal of "Cyril and Methodius" Leven One (1976). She has numerous journalistic publications and co-authored participation in collective philosophical and sociological writings on the problems of women, children and family. One of these works was awarded with the highest award for science of BAS on behalf of the Academician Todor Pavlov (1988). In 1981 on the occasion of the 1300th anniversary of Bulgaria, together with the TV journalist TomaTomov, she shoots the documentary "Bulgarian", translated into the major languages ​​of the UN, for which she was awarded a special award from the Committee for Culture. She is an author of sociological studies "The Bulgarian - Horizons of Progress", "Having Many Children - Happiness and Pain," a collection of short stories "Night Trains" and poetry "Under the Sign of Aries", "Phoenix" and others. 11 years ago she moved to live in the town Pavel Banya with her husband. Here Ms. Tropolova is actively involved in the cultural life of the region, she cooperates with the newspaper "Valley", Kazanlak. In December 2010 she was awarded by the European Trade Union of Education and the Trade Union of Bulgarian Teachers with honorary diploma "Journalist of the Year - 2010".

1. Tropolova thanked for the kind words and presented her gift to the community center in Pavel Banya– the collection of about 200 articles "Pavel Banya through the Eyes of a Journalist" dedicated to the people and the events of the city and the municipality. The special edition is due to the work of the editor of the site www.Pavelbanya.eu Nedialko Nesterov. He said that for 10 years Mrs. Tropolova has written more articles about Pavel Banya than all other writers since the creation of the city to present days.

The evening continued with a recital of her poems from her new poetry book "White Lilacs" and a story from the collection "All is Love" - ​​the first electronic edition in the municipality of Pavel Banya. The Mayor, Mr Stanimir Radevski congratulated Mrs. Tropolova with the anniversary and handed her a diploma and the honorary sign of Pavel Banya Municipality.

The audience shared their impressions and memories with the author. And she, excited by their emotional words, admitted: "I realized that I am a happy person, because very early on I realized that my calling is the pen. Maybe life assessed that love of journalism and made me a great gift - the last twenty-seven years to work solely as a journalist. "

Undoubtedly the climax of the evening was the "Golden Pen" award. Ms. Snezhana Todorova turned to the journalist, saying: "The residents of Pavel Banya are happy people because for 10 years Yordanka Tropolova has been constantly with them. She has given and still gives so much to the Bulgarian journalism that she deservedly received the highest distinction of the Union of Bulgarian Journalists. Through her work, through her professionalism and mostly through her citizen position, she is an example for not only one generation of journalists. ".

The pop performer Hristo Paskalev - Pascal said that she is a pearl that we should protect and cherish and greeted her with his songs "Fatherland", "What You Need", and the Russian "Your Lordship".

Shortly before his performance, the chairman of the Bulgarian Socialist Party in the town of Kazanlak, Nikolai Terziev, said something so strong and so true that it summed up the evening: "I am delighted that this Golden Pen is for a golden heart".

Photos: Ekaterina Pavlova and Rumen Skrinski

Above: Mrs.Yordanka Tropolava the Mayor of Pavelbanya - Mr.Stanimir Radevski

1. The President of the community centre board - Mrs. DonkaIvanova received the gift for the library – the collection "Pavel Banya Through the Eyes of a Journalist."
2. Mrs. Totka Dineva – a teacher, and Mrs. Totka Bicheva– the curator of the "Dzhananovata house" museum, read poems and stories written by Ms. Tropolova over the years.
3. The Mayor of Pavel Banya - Mr. Stanimir Radevski, handing her the honorary sign of the municipality.
4. The President of the Union of the Bulgarian journalists - Ms Snezhana Todorova, handing her the "Golden Pen".
5. The President of the BSP in the town of Kazanlak - Nikolai Terziev, also congratulated the journalist.
6. The pop performer Hristo Paskalev - Pascal delighted her with songs.
7. All attendees received a poem - a gift from the jubilee who gave autographs and chocolate "Merci."