Increased Duo Participation in BEST’s Second Regional Tournament of the Season

On November 26-28, 2021, the BEST Foundation hosted its second English speech and debate tournament for this academic year. Over 150 high school students participated in the competition, representing schools from across Bulgaria. The tournament was held online in the interest of community health, but students still gave live performances in five events: Original Oratory, Duo Interpretation, Prose Interpretation, Poetry Interpretation, and World Schools Debate. The students, their coaches, and volunteer judges demonstrated extraordinary perseverance and flexibility under adverse circumstances, in addition to exemplary creativity, hard work, and talent.

BEST Foundation is especially grateful to the US Embassy in Sofia for their financial support, without which, these tournaments would not have been possible. BEST would also like to thank the Bulgarian-American Fulbright Commission managed by Angela Rodel for their sponsorship of our recent Debate Summer Camp. 

There was increased participation in the Duo Interpretation category with a number of novice competitors taking their first steps into the scene. At our opening ceremony, we also had our alumna Albina Tomova, who graduated from the American University in Bulgaria and started her own company, speak about the importance BEST had in her professional advancement: “Being a part of BEST’s competitions helped me gain confidence and improved my presentation skills immensely. Those, in turn, have become extremely useful for the success of my business venture.”

On January 29th you will be able to see some of our most brilliant debate participants in our debate showcase, which will be live-streamed on Facebook.

FALL EAST TOURNAMENT AWARDS

Below are the names of participating teams and winners from the Fall East 2021 Regional tournament; you can view results on Speechwire, as well. Debate results can be viewed on Tabby Cat. 

Participating Teams/Schools

Dimitrovgrad, Dr. Ivan Bogorov FLHS
Ruse, St Cyrilus Philosopher 
Stara Zagora, Romain Rolland FLHS 
Dobrich, Geo Milev LS 
Shumen, Nancho Popovich MSHS 
Ruse, Geo Milev ELHS 
Razgrad, Ekzarh Yosif FLHS 
Varna, Dr. Petar Beron Maths School 
Sliven, Zahariy Stoyanov WHS 
Varna, First Language School 
Gabrovo, Aprilov National HS 
Burgas, Vocational School for Computer Programming and Innovation 
Burgas, AEG Geo Milev 
Dobrich, St. Kliment Ohridsky Secondary School
Varna, 5th Language School - Yoan Ekzarh

AWARDS

DUO INTERPRETATION - NOVICE (8th-9th grade)

Finalists

  1. Ivayla Kirilova and Stefani Stoyanova - Romain Rolland FLHS, Stara Zagora

  2. Magdalena Ilcheva and Kristiyana Hristozova - Romain Rolland FLHS, Stara Zagora

  3. Viktoria Bosolova and Raya Guncheva - Romain Rolland FLHS, Stara Zagora

  4. Mila Miteva and Simona Rizova - Geo Milev FLHS, Dobrich

  5. Nicole Todorova and Denislava Petkova - Geo Milev FLHS, Dobrich

  6. Eli Racheva and Alexandra Petkova - Geo Milev FLHS, Dobrich

DUO INTERPRETATION - VARSITY (10th- 12th grade)

Finalists

  1. Dimitar Minkov and Dima Georgieva - Geo Milev FLHS, Dobrich

  2. Gabriella Daneva and Momchil Marchev - Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov FLHS, Haskovo

  3. Elena Totten and Fiona-Marie Totten - Zaharii Stoyanov ELS, Sliven

  4. Viliyana Ivanova and Vyara Gramatikov - Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov FLHS, Haskovo

  5. Nikol Ditsova and Radosveta Koleva - Aprilov National, Gabrovo

  6. Isa Nehad Bazerbashi and Simeon Kirilov - Zaharii Stoyanov ELS, Sliven

ORIGINAL ORATORY - Merged (8th-12th grade)

Finalists

  1. Janina Petrova - Dr. Petar Beron Maths School, Varna 

  2. Katherina Nankova - Dr. Petar Beron Maths School, Varna 

  3. Liliya Ivanova - Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov FLHS, Haskovo

  4. Danaya Krasimirova - Ekzarh Yossif FLHS, Razgrad

  5. Maria Todorova - Dr. Petar Beron Maths School, Varna

  6. Kristiyana Teneva - Fifth Language School Yoan Ekzarh, Varna

POETRY INTERPRETATION – Merged (8th-12th grade)

Semifinalists

  • Bogolyuba Georgieva - Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov FLHS, Haskovo

  • Vyara Bagryanova - Nancho Popovich High School of Maths and Sciences, Shumen

  • Jizel Kyoseva - Ekzarh Yossif FLHS, Razgrad

  • Merlin Hamdi - Ekzarh Yossif FLHS, Razgrad

  • Kristiana Kircheva - Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov FLHS, Haskovo

  • Kalina Nikolova - Sliven, Zahariy Stoyanov WHS

  • Danaya Krasimirova - Ekzarh Yossif FLHS, Razgrad

  • Andreya Angelova - Ekzarh Yossif FLHS, Razgrad

Finalists

  1. Teodora Stoycheva - Nancho Popovich High School of Maths and Sciences, Shumen

  2. Ralitsa Doynova - April National, Gabrovo

  3. Ekaterina Dimcheva - Zaharii Stoyanova ELS, Sliven

  4. Eliz Dzhevdzhet - Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov FLHS, Haskovo

  5. Lachezara Todorova - Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov FLHS, Haskovo

  6. Gabriel Georgev - Peyo Yavorov, Silistra

PROSE INTERPRETATION - VARSITY (8th-12th grade)

Semifinalists

  • Velizara Dimova- Romain Rolland FLHS, Stara Zagora

  • Katherina Nankova- Dr. Petar Beron Maths School, Varna

  • Viliyana Ivanova- Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov FLHS, Haskovo

  • Vyara Gramatikova- Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov FLHS, Haskovo

  • Preslava Nedelcheva- Ekzarh Yossif FLHS, Razgrad

  • Liliya Ivanova- Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov FLHS, Haskovo

  • Anna-Mariya Georgieva- Zaharii Stoyanov ELS, Sliven

  • Darsi Dineva- Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov FLHS, Haskovo

Finalists

  1. Gergana Filipova - Peyo Yavorov, Silistra

  2. Nikolay Dimitrov - Geo Milev FLHS, Dobrich

  3. Desislava Kyoseva - Dr. Petar Beron Maths School, Varna 

  4. Vyara Bagryanova - Nancho Popovich High School of Maths and Sciences, Shumen

  5. Havin Murad - Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov FLHS, Haskovo

  6. Yanita Balusheva - Dr. Petar Beron Maths School, Varna

WORLD SCHOOLS DEBATE – NOVICE (8th-9th grade)

Finalists

  1. Georgi Petrov, Viktoria Kiryakova and Aleksandra Atanasova- Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov FLHS, Haskovo

  2. Krasimira Mateeva, Victoria Gospodinova and Yoana Dimitrova- Geo Milev FLHS, Dobrich

Top Speaker Award 

  • Yoana Dimitrova - Geo Milev FLHS, Dobrich 

WORLD SCHOOLS DEBATE – VARSITY (10th-12th grade)

Finalists

  1. Denislav Drachev, Malena Malcheva and Yasen Zhekov - Geo Milev GPAE, Burgas

  2. Desislava Kyoseva, Katherina Nankova and Janina Petrova - Dr. Petar Beron Maths School, Varna

Top Speaker Award

  • Desislava Kyoseva- Dr. Petar Beron Maths School, Varna

LARGE TEAM AWARD

Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov FLHS, Haskovo

SMALL TEAM AWARD

Aprilov National High School, Gabrovo

BEST Foundation