In 2002, the Commission established a five-year series of scholarships and annual lectures at the American University in Bulgaria (AUBG).

Two $1,000 scholarships are awarded each year based on essays on the topic: "What Do You Consider the Flagship of the American Heritage in the Countries of Eastern and Central Europe?" Preference is given to graduates of the American College in Sofia, a college preparatory school in Bulgaria’s capital.

The $500 award for an annual lecture is a part of the AUBG’s American Studies program. The lectures are given by a distinguished speaker and are on the subject of America’s contributions to building democracy in Bulgaria.

The program is named for Bulgaria’s former ambassador to the United States, Philip Dimitrov. The funds were donated by an American foundation due to the efforts of Commission Member, The Honorable Ned W. Bandler.

In March 2003 William Meredith, a 1989 Pulitzer Prize winning American poet, was selected to be a distinguished speaker. He waived his lecturer honorarium in favor of purchasing a collection of selected books of American Literature and videos that will be a permanent addition to the University's American Studies Program.