SOME call it heaven and some call it hell - but whichever stance they take they usually agree that the American College of Sofia is unique.

Senior Sabin Filev said: "It is both good and bad. It is bad because of the high demands atypical of other Bulgarian schools, but it is also good because of the unique opportunities that it provides.

"Some call it `hell' and some call it `heaven' (not as many though). The answer is somewhere in between. According to me, the American College [ACS] is an important phase of my personal development. I am pleased that I attend this school despite all the negative sides. It demands a lot, but in turn I receive a lot," he said.

The American College of Sofia is the oldest American educational institution outside the U.S. It was founded in 1860 when the Bulgarian territories were still within the borders of the Ottoman Empire. The first two American schools, separate for boys and girls, were founded by American missionaries in Plovdiv and Stara Zagora almost at the same time as the founding of the famous Robert College in Istanbul, the capital of the Empire. Both schools appeared as a result of the large stream of American Protestant missionaries who flocked to the empire. Catholicism was strong in the countries of Western and Central Europe so they came to the lands of the Ottoman Empire. In 1930 the two schools were consolidated and moved to Sofia where they became the college. It was forced to close in 1944, when the communists came to power. It was only reopened in 1992.

This year is a jubilee for ACS - the 140th anniversary of its founding.

President Louis Perske said: "The celebration will be spread over two weeks. The dates have been set for April 23 through May 6. There will be a science fair on April 26, the annual Arts Fest on April 28 and a college history day probably during that same week.

The aim is to popularise names, facts and events from the prolific history of ACS. Events will culminate in History Day on April 23, and the Alumni Party Day on April 29."

The celebration will close with re-opening of the ACS symbol - the Fountain. At the Alumni Party Day all alumni - both the younger ones who graduated after 1992 and the older ones, who graduated before 1942, will be invited to attend.

Said Mr Perske: "We also hope to have a sports day in early May and we plan to invite parents to participate in it this year."

The celebrations will close with a gala concert in Bulgaria Hall on May 3.

"We have secured the services of the singer Yalduz Ibrahimova, the Sofia Soloists, the Radio Children's Choir and Margarita Duparinova. Mrs Ibrahimova is working on putting together a special performance with the Sofia Soloists just for us. We are hoping to secure a live television broadcast of the event," said Mr Perske.

On March 16, an exhibition about the college is due to open at the National Library. There will also be various historical exhibitions, at the American College of Sofia, at American Cultural Centre, and at the Euro-Bulgarian Cultural Centre.

College public relations assistant Christina Vassileva said: "The National Library exhibit ion will present photos, archive documentation, a rich book collection and many other objects, which are connected with the college's history. There will be books translated by college alumni Uli Genov and Neli Dospevska."

Said Mr Perske: "Our college provides an American style educational system. The programme is a combination of the American and Bulgarian system. We put an American philosophical approach to encourage the students' individuality. So our students get a lot of personal attention."

Former teacher John Rider said: "The quality of the students and their work is of the highest calibre, making the job of the teacher far more rewarding than could normally be expected. The emphasis on hard work is supported by a comprehensive system of pastoral care for the students, ensuring that the additional stress imposed by a foreign curriculum and teaching methods is managed well."

Momchil Rogelov, an ACS freshman said: "The environment is what is so important about ACS. You have to be developing all the time. My mother says, `You are not the same student I knew from last year.' This year I sit and work. It is not easy to explain what is so special about the college. But I am sure that after a few years I will recall these times with pleasure and gratitude."