Increased participation in BEST’s online English Speech and Debate Tournament

From the 11th to the 13th of February, the BEST Foundation hosted its 45th tournament, and its third tournament of the 2021-2022 school year. Nearly 200 high school students attended the English-language speech and debate competition representing schools from all over Bulgaria. The tournament was held online in interest of public health, but students still competed live 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 especially grateful to the US Embassy in Sofia for their financial support, without which, this tournament would not have been possible. BEST would also like to thank the Bulgarian-American Fulbright Commission managed by Angela Rodel for their endless support and for their sponsorship of our Debate Summer Camp and this year’s extensive coach training, which has to led to continuous improvement in students’ preparedness for the competition as well as noticeable improvement in the quality of the debate category. 

In a heartwarming gesture our students expressed their gratitude through the use of jamboards to the 50 volunteer judges that joined us. One of them, Miko Dimov from Blagoevgrad said: “It has been 10 years since I judged or debated and it was such a pleasure to participate and feel the debating buzz again- congrats to all competitors and keep at it”. 

Our next tournament for students from the Eastern part of the country will be held from the 25th to the 27th of February. You can also anticipate our debate showcase, which will be held in person, as well as live-streamed on the 5th of March.

Below are the names of participating teams; you can view results on Speechwire, as well. Debate results can be viewed on Tabbycat (Novice / Varsity).

Akad. S. Korolyov Maths and Science High School, Blagoevgrad
Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad
PELSS, Chelopech
PMG Yane Sandanski, Gotse Delchev 
Dr. Petar Beron Language School, Kyustendil 
Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech
Petar Bogdan FLHS, Montana 
Simeon Radev FLHS, Pernik
Aleko Konstantinov FLHS, Pravets 
Ivan Vasov Language School, Smolyan 
119th School, Sofia
12th School, Sofia 
33rd School Saint Sofua, Sofia
51 Elisaveta Bagryana School, Sofia
97th School Bratya Miladinovi, Sofia
Second English Language High School, Sofia
Team Plovdiv, Plovdiv 
Yordan Radichkov FLS, Vidin
Ioan Ekzarh FELS, Vratsa 

AWARDS

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

Finalists

  1. Simona Pencheva - Aleko Konstantinov FLHS, Pravets 

  2. Viktoria Tsenova - Aleko Konstantinov FLHS, Pravets 

  3. Zarina Popova - Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  4. Tsvetoslava Garvanska - Aleko Konstantinov FLHS, Pravets 

  5. Alexander Mitov - Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  6. Stefani Strezova - 51 Elisaveta Bagryana School, Sofia 

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

Semifinalists

  • Madlen Georgieva - Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad 

  • Amelia Nikova -  Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  • Mihaela Mihaylova - Yordan Radichkov FLS, Vidin

  • Desislava Taseva - Akad. S. Korolyov Maths and Science H, Blagoevgrad

  • Petya Pahova - Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  • Zarina Andonova - Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

Finalists

  1. Kristiyan Stoyanov - Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  2. Lilian Djoneva - Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  3. Viktoria Daskalova - Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  4. Mikaela Stoyneva - Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  5. Emona Tsoneva - Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

  6. Antonia Valkova - Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

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

Finalists

  1. Maya Bateva - Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  2. Zarina Popova - Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  3. Sevdalina Stoyanova - Aleko Konstantinov FLHS, Pravets 

  4. Alexander Mitov - Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  5. Tsvetoslava Garvanska - Aleko Konstantinov FLHS, Pravets 

  6. Simona Pencheva - Aleko Konstantinov FLHS, Pravets 

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

Semifinalists

  • Tiffany Minkova - Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  • Mario Dimitrov - Aleko Konstantinov FLHS, Pravets  

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

  • Amelia Nikova - Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  • Elena Tsekovska - Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

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

Finalists

  1. Viktoria Daskalova - Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  2. Lilian Djoneva - Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  3. Gergana Boycheva - Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  4. Antonia Valkova - Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  5. Katerina Krastilova - PMG Yane Sandanski, Gotse Delchev 

  6. Desislava Taseva - Akad. S. Korolyov Maths and Science HS, Blagoevgrad 

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

Semifinalists

  • George Karchev - Second English Language School, Sofia 

  • Alexandra Dimova - Akad. S. Korolyov Maths and Science H, Blagoevgrad 

  • Mihaela Marinova - Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

  • Diana Spasova Kirilova - Simeon Radev FLHS, Pernik

  • Damyana Zaharieva - 119th School, Sofia 

  • Tereza Todorova - Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

Finalists

  1. Stephan Kozelov - PMG Yane Sandanski, Gotse Delchev

  2. Slavcho Balabanov - Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  3. Katerina Krastilova - PMG Yane Sandanski. Gotse Delchev 

  4. Vernon Petkov - Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

  5. Ekaterina Valeva - Team Plovdiv, Plovdiv 

  6. Borislav Matsin - Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

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

Finalists

  1. Anna Krusteva and Kristian Romanov - 97th school Bratya Miladinovi, Sofia 

  2. Albena Pavlova and Aleksandra Emamzade - Second English Language School, Sofia 

  3. Sevdalina Stoyanova and Viktoria Tsenova - Aleko Konstantinov FLHS, Pravets 

  4. Polia Vasileva and Stela Sofronova - Aleko Konstantinov FLHS, Pravets 

  5. Kalina Mirinska and Martina Vasileva - Second English Language School, Sofia

  6. Katalina Yordanova and Radina Peovska - 97th school Bratya Miladinovi, Sofia 

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

Finalists

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

  2. Hristomir Yordanov and Magdalina Koleva - Yordan Radichkov FLS, Vidin 

  3. David Papich and Eva Surtmadjieva - Second English Language School, Sofia 

  4. Ivana Spasova and Viktoria Daskalova - Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad 

  5. Anna Petre and Ivelina Andreeva - Yordan Radichkov FLS, Vidin 

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

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

Finalists

  1. Yoanna Vasileva, Vasilena Shekerova, Mariyana Dimitrova - 119 School, Sofia 

  2. Dimitar Vasilev, Kristina Shadova, Karina Velikova - 119 School, Sofia

Top Speaker Award

Kristina Shadova, 119th School Sofia 

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

Finalists

  1. Katerina Krastilova, Stephan Kozelov, Martin Hristov - PMG Yane Sandanski, Gotse Delchev 

  2. Katerina Vasileva, Siana Kuznetsova and  Biliyana Spasova - Second Language School, Sofia 

Top Speaker Award

Katerina Krastilova and Martin Hristov - PMG Yane Sandanski, Gotse Delchev

TEAM AWARDS

Small School Division 

PMG Yane Sandanski, Gotse Delchev 

Large School Division 

Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad 

BEST Foundation