Strong ties in Duos and Debate at BEST Foundation’s Spring West Online Speech and Debate Tournament

From February 19-21, 2021 the BEST Foundation hosted its 40th English speech and debate tournaments. Nearly 150 high school students participated in the competition, representing nineteen 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 was happy to see one new school join this season and this is 97th School Bratya Miladinovi from Sofia. 

BEST is enormously proud to offer a platform for these young people on their journey through English education and creative expression. We are also very proud and grateful to our diverse group of volunteer judges who include not only school teachers, university professors, consultants and more professionals but also university students who specialize in disciplines such as communications, economics, law, creative arts and more. Running the events virtually has its advantage of expanding our judge collective to include expatriate Bulgarians and volunteers from different countries who feel a connection to Bulgaria. Stanimir Dimitrov, Resident Life Ambassador at Kingston University said: “It was a pleasure judging such talented young people, proving that art, poetry and the love for language are still alive, more than ever. I personally learned a lot from the students, and I got to see their performances and be touched by so many of them.”

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 team at the Bulgarian-American Fulbright Commission led by Angela Rodel for their endless support. We would also like to thank The American University in Bulgaria for hosting our team to run the production room for the virtual event and for the care they provided to our volunteers.  

Our upcoming events are Spring East Regional Tournament on March 12-14, Balkan Voices International Oratory Tournament March 26-28 and National Tournament April 9-12. If you wish to bring a team or volunteer as a judge you can write us at info@bestfoundation.bg 

About The BEST Foundation 

BEST stands for Bulgarian English Speech and Debate Tournaments. Established in 2013, BEST provides the English-language learners of Bulgaria an opportunity to come together and pursue personal growth through English language speech and debate. BEST aims to empower students to think critically, express themselves creatively, and create a dynamic community that truly cares about the success and the future of Bulgaria. BEST is proud to provide a platform for English-language speech and debate for students across the country.

MEDIA CONTACTS: Petar Donchev: assistant.director@bestfoundation.bg 

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SPRING WEST TOURNAMENT AWARDS

Below are the names of participating teams and winners from the West Spring 2021 Regional tournament; you can view results on Speechwire, as well. Bear in mind that the Team Sweepstakes score does not reflect debate, since we tab debate on different software.

Participating Schools/Teams

Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

Akad. S. Korolyov Maths and Science High School, Blagoevgrad

PMG Yane Sandanski, Gotse Delchev

Dr. Petar Beron Language School, Kyustendil

Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

Petar Bogdan FLHS, Montana

Aleko Konstantinov FLHS, Pravets

12th High School Tsar Ivan Asen II, Sofia

Second English Language School, Sofia

119th Secondary School Acad. Mihail Arnaudov, Sofia

97th School Bratya Miladinovi, Sofia 

Tsar Simeon Veliki Secondary School, Vidin

FLHS Yordan Radichkov, Vidin

Ioan Ekzarh FELS, Vratsa

"Otets Paisiy" Secondary school, Samokov

Saint Paisiy Hilendarski, Zlatitsa

Team Plovdiv (Professional High school of Electronics and Electricity, ELS Plovdiv, Sts. Cyril and Methodius High School with Humanitarian Profile, FLHS “Ivan Vazov” Smolyan, and High School of Mathematics "Acad. Kiril Popov”.)

  

POETRY INTERPRETATION – NOVICE (8th-9th grade)

Semifinalists

  • Iva Petrova- Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech.

  • Radina Peovska- 97th School Bratya Miladinovi, Sofia. 

  • Ivana Vitanova- PMG Yane Sandanski, Gotse Delchev.

  • Tsvetanka Vasileva- Akad. S. Korolyov Maths and Science High School, Blagoevgrad.

  • Zarina Andonova- Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad. 

  • Simona Pencheva- Aleko Konstantinov FLHS, Pravets. 


Finalists

  1. Teodora Borisova- Peter Bogdan FLHS, Montana.

  2. Siana Kuznetsova- Second English Language School, Sofia. 

  3. Desislava Taseva- Akad. S. Korolyov Maths and Science High School, Blagoevgrad.

  4. Mihaela Mihaylova- Yordan Radichkov FLS, Vidin. 

  5. Teya Tosheva- Yordan Radichkov FLS, Vidin. 

  6. Ivan Draganov- Aleko Konstantinov FLHS, Pravets. 




POETRY INTERPRETATION – VARSITY (10th-12th grade)

Semifinalists

  • Tiffany Minkova- Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad. 

  • Kristiyan Stoyanov- Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad. 

  • Anita Ivanova- Yordan Radichkov FLS, Vidin. 

  • Ivana Spasova- Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad. 

  • David Papich- Second English Language School, Sofia. 

  • Radostina Bikova- Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad. 

  • Zornitsa Vasileva.- Yordan Radichkov FLS, Vidin. 

  • Lilian Djoneva- Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad. 

Finalists

  1. Gergana Boycheva- Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad. 

  2. Dimiter Borumov- Akad. S. Korolyov Maths and Science High School, Blagoevgrad. 

  3. Victoria Daskalova- Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad. 

  4. Dimitrina Belnikolovska- Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad. 

  5. Veneta Salyahetdinova- Akad. S. Korolyov Maths and Science High School, Blagoevgrad. 

  6. Niya Todorova- Saint Paisiy Hilendarski High School, Zlatitsa. 


PROSE INTERPRETATION – NOVICE (8th-9th grade)

Semifinalists

  • Dayana Nikolova- Aleko Konstantinov FLHS, Pravets. 

  • Dimitar Shtarkov- Saint Paisiy Hilendarski High School, Zlatitsa. 

  • Adelina Nikolova- Dr. Petar Beron Language School, Kyustendil. 

  • Alexandra Petrova- Dr. Petar Beron Language School, Kyustendil.

  •  Maria-Viktoria Yaneva- Aleko Konstantinov FLHS, Pravets.

  • Anka Petrova- Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad. 

Finalists

  1. Zornitsa Dimitrova- Peter Bogdan FLHS, Montana. 

  2. Teya Tosheva- Yordan Radichkov FLS, Vidin.

  3. Mihaela Georgieva-  Peter Bogdan FLHS, Montana. 

  4. Mihaela Mihaylova- Yordan Radichkov FLS, Vidin. 

  5. Desislava Taseva- Akad. S. Korolyov Maths and Science High School, Blagoevgrad.

  6. Zarina Andonova- Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad. 

PROSE INTERPRETATION – VARSITY (10th-12th grade)

Semifinalists

  • Plamen Dimitrov- Saint Paisiy Hilendarski High School, Zlatitsa. 

  • Yolina Hristova- Aleko Konstantinov FLHS, Pravets.

  • Lilian Djoneva- Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad. 

  • Vili Vasileva- Team Plovdiv

  • Victoria Daskalova- Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad. 

  • Velislav Petrov- Dr. Petar Beron Language School, Kyustendil.

Finalists 

  1. Gergana Boycheva- Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad. 

  2. Anita Ivanova-Yordan Radichkov FLS, Vidin.

  3. Radina Beleva- Second English Language School, Sofia. 

  4. Vili-An Doneva- Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad. 

  5. Nicole Meteva- Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech. 

  6. Tiffany Minkova- Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad. 


DUO INTERPRETATION- MERGED (8th-12th grade)


Semifinalists

  •  Ivana Iotova and Magdalina Nikolaeva- Aleko Konstantinov FLHS, Pravets. 

  • Deian Damaskinov and Radina Peovska, 97th School Bratya Miladinovi, Sofia.

  • Alexandra Petrova and Adelina Nikolova- Dr. Petar Beron Language School, Kyustendil. 

  • Daniel Yordanov and Magdalina Dimitrova- Dr. Petar Beron Language School, Kyustendil.

  • Krisi Stoyanova and Tsvetanka Vasileva- Akad. S. Korolyov Maths and Science High School, Blagoevgrad. 

  • Nikola Kostadinov and Marina Georgieva- Aleko Konstantinov FLHS, Pravets. 

Finalists

  1. Kitka Ivanova and Miroslava Kirova- Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech. 

  2. Kristiyan Stoyanov and Lilian Djoneva- Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad. 

  3. Ilina Nedoklanova and Emona Tsoneva- Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech.

  4. Borislav Matsin and Elena Tsekovska-  Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad.

  5. Mariya Slavcheva and Ivelina Andreeva- Yordan Radichkov FLS, Vidin.

  6. Reni Petrova and Zornitsa Dimitrova-  Peter Bogdan FLHS, Montana. 


ORIGINAL ORATORY – MERGED (8th-12th grade)

Semifinalists

  • Ralitza Parvanova- 12th School, Sofia. 

  • Stephan Kozelov- PMG Yane Sandanski, Gotse Delchev.

  • Konstantinos Sardelis- Team Plovdiv

  • Polia Filipova- Tsar Simeon Veliki SS, Vidin.

  • Lachezar Cvetanov- Tsar Simeon Veliki SS, Vidin.

  • Tsvetina Cherganska- PMG Yane Sandanski, Gotse Delchev. 

  • Viktoria Dionisieva- Tsar Simeon Veliki SS, Vidin.

  • Damyana Zaharieva- 119th School, Sofia. 

Finalists 

  1. Ani Kovacheva- Dr. Petar Beron Language School, Kyustendil. 

  2. Slavcho Balabanov- Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad. 

  3. Ekaterina Valeva- Team Plovidv

  4. Yoanna Kanelova-  PMG Yane Sandanski, Gotse Delchev. 

  5. Pamela Kirilova- Peter Bogdan FLHS, Montana. 

  6. Simona Yordanova- Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad. 


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

Finalists

  1. Yoana Antonova, Veronica Dencheva and Virginia Petkova- Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech.

  2. Viktor Serov, Kalina Angelova and Daniel Pekov- 12th school Sofia. 

Sportsmanship Award


Kalina Angelova , Viktor Serov and Daniel Pekov- Sofia, 12th school. 


Top Speaker Award


Viktor Serov- Sofia, 12th school. 


National Qualifiers

  • 12th School - Kalina Angelova, Viktor Serov and Daniel Pekov

  • Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech - Virginia Petkova, Veronica Dencheva and Yoana Antonova

  • 97th School Bratya Miladinovi, Sofia - Anna Krusteva, Daniel Staev and Deian Damaskinov

  • Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad - Dimitar Karaltiev, Konstantin Spassov and Anka Petrova


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

Finalists

  1. Eleonora Dobreva , Ekaterina Valeva and Slavena Medova- Team Plovdiv

  2. Nikolay Nendov , Konstantinos Sardelis and Valentin Ronchev- Team Plovdiv

Sportsmanship Award


Nicole Meteva, Victoria Veselinova and Tereza Todorova- Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech. 


Top Speaker Award


Ekaterina Valeva- Team Plovdiv 


National Qualifiers:

  • Team Plovdiv - Slavena Medova, Ekaterina Valeva and Eleonora Dobreva

  • Team Plovdiv - Konstantinos Sardelis, Nikolay Nendov and Valentin Ronchev

  • PMG Yane Sandanski, Gotse Delchev - Aylin Ahmedova, Tsvetina Cherganska and Petar Atanasov

  • PMG Yane Sandanski, Gotse Delchev - Stephan Kozelov, Yoanna Kanelova and Martin Hristov

  • Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech - Nicole Meteva, Victoria Veselinova and Tereza Todorova

  • 119th School, Sofia - Mira Tosheva, Slavcho Abrashev and Damyana Zaharieva


TEAM AWARDS

Small Team Award

Yordan Radichkov FLS, Vidin 

Large Team Award

Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad 

BEST Foundation