Bulgarian Stoyan Vatralski (1860-1935) is the author of the Harvard University hymn. Under the sounds of this hymn, performed by a choir of 400 students, to this day the alumni of the university receive their diplomas.

In 1884, Vatralski left for the United States. In 1888 he became a student at Harvard University. Shortly before finishing his studies, he won a university-based contest for hymn composition.

After returning to Bulgaria in 1900, Stoyan Vatralski was actively involved in the social and political life of the country. He is one of the founders and a keen figure of the American lobby in this country and a supporter of the society of English-speaking Bulgarians.

The story of Stoyan Vatralski had been rediscovered and revealed to Bulgaria by Professor Kostadin Grozev, who passed away on November 3, 2017.