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Our Founders

Our mission is to help high school musicians and student-athletes turn their talent and dedication into college opportunities through strategic guidance in auditions, recruitment, and the admissions process—enabling them to thrive academically, artistically, and athletically.


Our vision is a future where high school musicians and student - athletes are empowered to pursue higher education without compromising their artistic or athletic passions, gaining access to institutions where talent and academics are equally valued.  



Maria Tzankova

  • Certificate in College Counseling from UC San Diego
  • IECA Associate member (Independent Educational Consultants Association)
  • WACAC member (Western Association for College Admission Counseling)
  • Certificate in School Management and Leadership from Harvard Business School and Harvard Graduate School of Education
  • Child Development Site Supervisor Permit from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing
  • Masters Degree in Economics from the Technical University of Berlin, Germany
  • With 14 years of experience as a piano and music theory teacher Maria brings extensive expertise in the educational field.
  • Specialty: Performing arts

 

Pancho Tzankov

  • Monta Vista High School Boys Soccer Varsity Coach, Cupertino, CA
  • C-License in Soccer coaching from FIFA and US Soccer Federation
  • PhD Degree in Physical Chemistry and Laser Spectroscopy from Technical University of Munich, Germany
  • Masters Degree in Laser Physics from Sofia University, Bulgaria
  • Specialty: Athletics, STEM

 

Our Team


Michail Tzankov

  • B.S. Finance & Economics, Elmhurst University
  • Certified College Funding Specialist
  • Former NCAA Division III Student-Athlete

As a former NCAA Division III student-athlete, Michail brings firsthand experience navigating the recruiting process, communicating with college coaches, developing recruiting profiles and highlight videos, evaluating college opportunities, and successfully transitioning from high school to college.  

 

 

Why We Founded A&P Educational Services

The idea for A&P Educational Services grew from our own experiences as parents. Through the educational journeys of our two sons, we gained firsthand insight into the challenges many families face while balancing rigorous academics with significant commitments outside the classroom.

Our older son pursued NCAA Division III soccer and successfully navigated the college admissions process as a student-athlete. Our younger son has navigated the demands of rigorous academics while pursuing years of training and international competition in Taiji, as well as advanced music studies and performance. Along the way, our family encountered many of the same questions students and parents ask today: How do you find enough time to develop a talent while maintaining strong academic performance? Which opportunities are worth pursuing? How do you prioritize competing demands? And how do years of dedication become a meaningful part of a college application?

There were certainly times when balancing these commitments seemed difficult. Yet our experiences repeatedly demonstrated that some of the most important lessons students learn often occur outside the classroom. Through athletics, music, competition, leadership roles, officiating, teaching, and other meaningful experiences, students are challenged to make decisions, solve problems, manage adversity, work with others, and develop confidence in ways that cannot always be replicated through academic coursework alone.

For our family, those experiences proved worthwhile. They not only contributed to achievement, but also helped shape character, judgment, leadership, resilience, and personal growth. We came to believe that the goal is not simply to build a stronger college application, but more importantly, to develop the student. College admissions outcomes are often a reflection of that growth.

These experiences, combined with our professional backgrounds in education, athletics, and student development, shaped our understanding of the college admissions process and ultimately led to the creation of A&P Educational Services. Today, they continue to inform the guidance we provide to students and families as they navigate high school, college admissions, and future opportunities.