High Emotions at BEST Foundation's National Tournament 2022

On April 16th and 17th BEST Foundation held its National Tournament for the 2021-2022 academic year in hybrid format. Participants, judges and volunteers gathered both at the AUBG campus in Blagoevgrad, as well as online. This was the first time since the start of the pandemic that most of the community members met in person! The national tournament is attended by any students who reached semifinals or finals in our regional tournaments, as well as the top six debate teams. We had over 200 young adults from all over Bulgaria participate in five categories: Original Oratory, Duo Interpretation, Prose Interpretation, Poetry Interpretation and World Schools Debate. Feedback and rankings were provided to the students by  60 volunteer judges who come from different educational and professional backgrounds and who dedicated their entire weekend for the event. The students, their coaches, judges and volunteers demonstrated extraordinary perseverance and flexibility under adverse circumstances, in addition to exemplary creativity, hard work, and talent.

Despite the removal of many Covid related restrictions across the nation, we at BEST decided to keep some measures such as implementing the green pass policy, as well as encouraging participants to wear masks indoors. Also each participation room had air purifiers and was disinfected regularly. These measures insured the health and safety of our community and no reported health issues. 

 BEST is especially grateful to our host the American University in Bulgaria, as well as 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 for their endless support and for their sponsorship of our Debate Summer Camp and this year’s extensive coach training, which has led to continuous improvement in students’ preparedness for the competition as well as noticeable improvement in the quality of the debate category. 

 We were extremely happy to finally meet the majority of our community in person, after what was a challenging period for us all. Angela Rodel, Executive Director of Fulbright Bulgaria, who attended the competition as a volunteer judge, said: “I have been judging since 2015 and I think this year is especially powerful because we are in the midst of such adverse circumstances. It’s easy to feel discouraged and disappointed and to feel like nothing matters… But everytime I come, I see your performances, I hear your voices, I see you and think- this is incredible! Thank you for giving me this hit of hope!”

Students’ performances discussed issues and concepts important to them such as: art, love, sisterhood, sexual abuse, political awareness and more. We are proud to provide a platform for free expression where students feel safe and encouraged to talk about issues that matter to them. This year’s small team award was given to team PMG Sandanski Gotse Delchev and large team award to Lyudmil Stoyanov FLH in Blagoevgrad. 

Our Executive Director Lina Jarad also expressed just how amazing hosting this academic year’s final tournament has been: “I am overwhelmed by the positive feedback we have received from many students, judges, chaperones and volunteers. It was such a pleasure meeting our community in person for the first time in a while. Walking around the AUBG campus and seeing it bustling with so many students, sensing their energy and looking at them not only competing but also supporting each other has been an absolutely inspiring experience. ”

Two weeks after the final tournament, student leaders will meet to wrap up the year and present their community projects, which they have been working hard on and that will conclude BEST’s activities for the academic year 2021-2022. We hope our community has an enjoyable and fruitful summer and looks forward to all the events, workshops and tournaments we will be hosting in the near future. 


National Tournament Awards

Below are the names of participating teams; you can view results on Speechwire, as well. Debate results can be viewed on Tabby Cat.

Blagoevgrad, Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS 
Dobrich, Geo Milev FLHS 
Haskovo, Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov FLHS 
Varna, Dr. Petar Beron Maths School 
Gotse Delchev, PMG Yane Sandanski 
Pravets, Aleko Konstantinov FLHS 
Razgrad, Ekzarh Yossif FLHS 
Vidin, Yordan Radichkov FLS 
Lovech, Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS 
Shumen, Nancho Popovich High School of Maths and S 
Silistra, Peyo Yavorov 
Sliven, Zaharii Stoyanov ELS 
Sofia, 97th school Bratya Miladinovi 
Sofia, Second English Language School 
Gabrovo, Aprilov National 
Montana, Peter Bogdan FLHS 
Stara Zagora, Romain Rolland FLHS 
Kyustendil, Dr. Petar Beron Language School 
Yambol, Vasil Karagyozov Language School 
Sofia, 119th School 
Blagoevgrad, Akad. S. Korolyov Maths and Science H 
Burgas, Geo Milev GPAE 
Sofia, 51 Elisaveta Bagryana School 
Varna, Fifth Language School Yoan Ekzarh 
Burgas, Vocational School for Computer Programming 
Dimitrovgrad, Dr. Ivan Bogorov FLS 
Varna, First Language School 
Chelopech, PELSS 
Ruse, Geo Milev ELS 

AWARDS

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

Semifinalists

  • Zarina Popova - Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  • Gabriel Georgev - Peyo Yavorov, Silistra

  • Rafaela Petrova - Nancho Popovich High School of Maths and Science, Shumen

  • Ralitsa Doynova - Aprilov National, Gabrovo

  • Tiffany Minkova - Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad 

  • Vera Todorova - PMG Yane Sandanski, Gotse Delchev

Finalists

  1. Viktoria Daskalova - Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  2. Lilian Djoneva - Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  3. Borislav Matsin - Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  4. Teodora Stoycheva - Nancho Popovich High School of Maths and Science, Shumen

  5. Mikaela Stoyneva - Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  6. Madlen Georgieva - Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

PROSE INTERPRETATION – MERGED (8th-12th grade)

Semifinalists

  • Maya Bateva - Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

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

  • Maria Vitanova - PMG Yane Sandanski, Gotse Delchev 

  • Aylin Ahmedova - PMG Yane Sandanski, Gotse Delchev 

  • Victoria Veselinova - Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

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

Finalists

  1. Gergana Filipova - Peyo Yavorov, Silistra 

  2. Valeri Marinova - Aleko Konstantinov FLHS, Pravets 

  3. Gergana Boycheva - Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  4. Kristiyan Stoyanov - Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  5. Tatyana Vlaikova - Geo Milev FLHS, Dobrich 

  6. Antonia Valkova - Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

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

Semifinalists

  • Virginia Petkova - Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

  • Damyana Zaharieva - 119th School, Sofia

  • Hector Sivkov - Dr. Petar Beron Maths School, Varna

  • Diana Zhekova - Dr. Petar Beron Maths School, Varna

  • Mihaela Marinova - Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

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

  • Polina Semendyaeva - Geo Milev FLHS, Dobrich 


Finalists

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

  2. Slavcho Balabanov - Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

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

  4. Stephan Kozelov - PMG Yane Sandanski, Gotse Delchev

  5. Katerina Krastilova - PMG Yane Sandanski. Gotse Delchev

  6. Papi Valkov - Vasil Karagyozov Language School, Yambol

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

Finalists

  1. Kristian Romanov and Katalina Yordanova- 97th school Bratya Miladinovi, Sofia 

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

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

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

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

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

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

Finalists

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

  2. Danaya Krasimirova and Kristiyana Radoslavova Kiranska - Ekzarh Yossif FLHS, Razgrad

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

  4. Ivana Yotova and Magdalina Nikolaeva - Aleko Konstantinov FLHS, Pravets

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

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

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

Finalists

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

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

Top Speaker Award

Maria Todorova - Dr. Petar Beron Maths School of Varna

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

Finalists

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

  2. Denislav Drachev, Malena Malcheva, Yasen Zhekov, Dalia Bahchevanova, Viktor Stefanov- Geo Milev GPAE, Burgas 

Top Speaker Award

Katerina Krastilova, PMG Yane Sandanski of Gotse Delchev

TEAM AWARDS

Small School Division 

PMG Yane Sandanski, Gotse Delchev 

Large School Division 

Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad 


BEST Foundation