Wonderful performers at BEST Foundation’s Spring East Online Speech and Debate Tournament 

From March 12-14, 2021 the BEST Foundation hosted its 41st English speech and debate tournament. Nearly 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 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. 

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 and for hosting our team to run the production room for the virtual event and for the care they provided to our volunteers. 

Our National Tournament where semifinalists and finalists from all the regionals will compete for Bulgaria’s top speech and debate award is taking place April 23-25. If you wish to 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 

SPRING EAST TOURNAMENT AWARDS

Below are the names of participating teams and winners from the East 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

Aprilov National High School, Gabrovo

Baba Tonka High School of Mathematics, Ruse

Dr. Ivan Bogorov Foreign Language School, Dimitrovgrad

Dr. Peter Beron High School of Mathematics, Varna

Ekzarh Yosif Foreign Language High School, Razgrad

Ekzarh Yosif I Foreign Language High School, Lovech

First Language School, Varna

Geo Milev English Language High School, Burgas

Geo Milev English Language School, Ruse

Geo Milev Foreign Language High School, Dobrich

Goethe German Language High School, Burgas

Hristo Botev Foreign Language High School, Kardzhali

Nancho Popovich High School of Maths and Science, Shumen

Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov Foreign Language High School, Haskovo

Romain Rolland Foreign Language High School, Stara Zagora

Second English Language School, Sofia

St. Cyrilus Philosopher European Languages School, Ruse

Yoan Ekzarh Fifth Language High School, Varna

Zaharii Stoyanov English Language School, Sliven

  

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

Semifinalists

  • Nikolay Dimitrov - Geo Milev Foreign Language High School, Dobrich

  • Ivelin Subev - Ekzarh Yosif Foreign Language High School, Razgrad

  • Bogolyuba Georgieva - Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov Foreign Language High School, Haskovo

  • Fatime Mustafova - Ekzarh Yosif Foreign Language High School, Razgrad

  • Gabriella Daneva - Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov Foreign Language High School, Haskovo

  • Andreya Angelova - Ekzarh Yosif Foreign Language High School, Razgrad

Finalists

  1. Gery Lilova - Second English Language School, Sofia

  2. Fiona Totten - Zaharii Stoyanov English Language School, Sliven

  3. Kristina Yanakieva - Ekzarh Yosif Foreign Language High School, Razgrad

  4. Nataliya Gancheva - Dr. Ivan Bogorov Foreign Language School, Dimitrovgrad

  5. Elitsa Vassileva - Dr. Peter Beron High School of Mathematics, Varna

  6. Vyara Bagryanova - Nancho Popovich High School of Maths and Science, Shumen

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

Finalists

  1. Desislava Chervenkova - Romain Rolland Foreign Language High School, Stara Zagora

  2. Vyara Bagryanova - Nancho Popovich High School of Maths and Science, Shumen

  3. Raya Dimitrova - Dr. Ivan Bogorov Foreign Language School, Dimitrovgrad

  4. Aleksandra Petkova - Geo Milev Foreign Language High School, Dobrich

  5. Nikolai Petrov - Dr. Ivan Bogorov Foreign Language School, Dimitrovgrad

  6. Bojidara Mihaleva - Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov Foreign Language High School, Haskovo

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

Semifinalists

  • Desislava Andasorova - Romain Rolland Foreign Language High School, Stara Zagora

  • Bozhidara Tsoneva - Ekzarh Yosif Foreign Language High School, Razgrad

  • Iliyan Stoychev - Aprilov National High School, Gabrovo

  • Kristiyana Kiranska - Ekzarh Yosif Foreign Language High School, Razgrad

  • Ekaterina Osipova - First Language School, Varna

  • Nataliya Gancheva - Dr. Ivan Bogorov Foreign Language School, Dimitrovgrad

Finalists 

  1. Korina Koleva - Romain Rolland Foreign Language High School, Stara Zagora

  2. Dariya Dimitrova - Ekzarh Yosif I Foreign Language High School, Lovech

  3. Victoria Georgieva - Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov Foreign Language High School, Haskovo

  4. Fiona Totten - Zaharii Stoyanov English Language School, Sliven

  5. Elitsa Vassileva - Dr. Peter Beron High School of Mathematics, Varna

  6. Mila Petkova - Zaharii Stoyanov English Language School, Sliven 

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

Finalists

  1. Simona Krasteva and Korina Koleva - Romain Rolland Foreign Language High School, Stara Zagora

  2. Nicole-Valeri Dimitrova and Nataliya Gancheva - Dr. Ivan Bogorov Foreign Language School, Dimitrovgrad

  3. Desislava Andasorova and Alexandra Stoilova - Romain Rolland Foreign Language High School, Stara Zagora

  4. Dima Georgieva and Dimitar Minkov - Geo Milev Foreign Language High School, Dobrich

  5. Presiyana Dimova and Tatyana Vlaykova - Geo Milev Foreign Language High School, Dobrich

  6. Hristina Gencheva and Vasilena Valcheva - Romain Rolland Foreign Language High School, Stara Zagora

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

Semifinalists

  • Danaya Krasimirova - Ekzarh Yosif Foreign Language High School, Razgrad

  • Viktor Ivanov - Hristo Botev Foreign Language High School, Kardzhali

  • Aylin Gyugzhen - Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov Foreign Language High School, Haskovo

  • Dzheyda Nedjib - Nancho Popovich High School of Maths and Science, Shumen

  • Viktor Marinov - Ekzarh Yosif Foreign Language High School, Razgrad

  • Iliyan Stoychev - Aprilov National High School, Gabrovo

Finalists 

  1. Victoria Georgieva - Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov Foreign Language High School, Haskovo

  2. Stiliyan Petrov - Dr. Peter Beron High School of Mathematics, Varna

  3. Lila Ivanova - Geo Milev English Language School, Ruse

  4. Dariya Dimitrova - Ekzarh Yosif I Foreign Language High School, Lovech

  5. Ekaterina Osipova - First Language School, Varna

  6. Elitsa Vassileva - Dr. Peter Beron High School of Mathematics, Varna


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

Finalists

  1. Maria Georgieva, Lila Ivanova and Yuliana Yotova - Geo Milev English Language School, Ruse

  2. Darina Nalbantova, Veronika Petkova and Georgi Geogriev - Romain Rolland Foreign Language High School, Stara Zagora

Sportsmanship Award


Vasil Kolaksazov, Velizar Aleksandrov and Kaloyan Ayryanov -  Geo Milev English Language High School, Burgas

Top Speaker Award


Maria Georgieva - Geo Milev English Language School, Ruse

National Qualifiers

  • All five novice debate teams qualify!

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

Finalists

  1. Anna-Mariya Bogdanova, Georgi Todorov and Yoan Ivanov - Romain Rolland Foreign Language High School, Stara Zagora

  2. Yoana Petrova, Aleksandrina Hadzhigeorgieva and Yavor Tomov - Geo Milev English Language School, Ruse

Sportsmanship Award


Anna-Mariya Bogdanova, Georgi Todorov and Yoan Ivanov - Romain Rolland Foreign Language High School, Stara Zagora

Top Speaker Award


Denislav Drachev - Geo Milev English Language High School, Burgas

National Qualifiers:

  • Anna-Mariya Bogdanova, Georgi Todorov and Yoan Ivanov - Romain Rolland Foreign Language High School, Stara Zagora

  • Boris Pahomov, Martin Kutsarov and Aleksandar Dimitrov - Baba Tonka High School of Mathematics, Ruse

  • Yoana Petrova, Aleksandrina Hadzhigeorgieva and Yavor Tomov

  • Yoana Ivanova, Antoniya Gadzheva and Hurie Ferad - Geo Milev English Language School, Ruse

  • Jenny Dikova, Georgi Fotev and Joana Mihova - Goethe German Language High School, Burgas

  • Yasen Zhekov, Malena Malcheva and Denislav Drachev - Geo Milev English Language High School, Burgas


TEAM AWARDS

Small Team Award

Zaharii Stoyanov English Language School, Sliven

Large Team Award

Romain Rolland Foreign Language High School, Stara Zagora

BEST Foundation