BEST Foundation and AUBG once again bring students together from across the Balkan Peninsula to compete in an international speech competition
Merely 19 days after our Spring East tournament, BEST Foundation held its annual Balkan Voices International Original Oratory and Speech Competition from the 14th till the 16th of March, 2025, at the American University in Bulgaria (AUBG) in Blagoevgrad. 70 students from the Balkan Peninsula competed in two events - Original Oratory and Extemporaneous Speech. BEST Foundation and AUBG welcomed 34 international students from 11 schools across Albania, Kosovo and North Macedonia, alongside 36 Bulgarian students from 17 schools.
All attendees were warmly welcomed by Kostadin Shopov, Director of Admissions at AUBG, and our special guest Angela Rodel, Executive Director of the Bulgarian-American Fulbright Commission. Additionally, a heartwarming letter of support from Mr. Eric Brassil, Cultural Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, was read to the audience.
As Balkan Voices is a collaborative initiative between BEST Foundation and AUBG, all attendees had the pleasure of attending a series of campus tours, interactive activities and academic lectures over the course of the long weekend. One such event was the engaging and thought-provoking “Lost and Found in Translation” workshop, led by our special guest Angella Rodel. The workshop thoroughly explored not only the different challenges that modern translators face, but also the nuances of translation. Following this insightful workshop was our Broadcasting Challenge, which further enriched the experience of all participants.
After a long weekend, filled with a wide variety of interesting speeches, Ms. Margee Ensign, President of AUBG, delivered a special inspiring address to all the attendees, bringing the event to a close.
The next in-person tournament will be our National Tournament. It will be held at the University of National and World Economy (UNWE) from the 11th till the 13th of April in Sofia.
Participating Teams/Schools
Prishtina High School - Prishtina, Kosovo
QSI International School of Kosovo - Prishtina, Kosovo
Xhevdet Doda - Prishtina, Kosovo
International Learning Group - Prishtina, Kosovo
Finnish School of Kosovo - Prishtina, Kosovo
SOU Metodi Mitevski - Brico - Delchevo, North Macedonia
Yahya Kemal College - Struga, North Macedonia
QSI International school - Skopje, North Macedonia
Secondary school Gjorche Petrov - Kriva Palanka, North Macedonia
New York High School - Tirana, Albania
Petro Nini Luarasi High school - Tirana, Albania
“Nikola Vaptsarov'' Language High School - Shumen, Bulgaria
Dr. Petar Beron Maths School - Varna, Bulgaria
First Language School - Varna, Bulgaria
Independent School of Thought - Varna, Bulgaria
ELS Zaharii Stoyanov - Sliven, Bulgaria
Akad. S. Korolyov Mathematics and Science High School - Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria
Foreign Language High-School "Academic Lyudmil Stoyanov" - Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria
Foreign Language High-School Paisii Hilendarski - Dupnitsa, Bulgaria
FLHS Hristo Botev - Kardzhali, Bulgaria
FLHS "Peter Bogdan" - Montana, Bulgaria
Foreign Language High-School ,,Aleko Konstantinov'' - Pravets, Bulgaria
English Language High-School"Geo Milev" - Ruse, Bulgaria
Vocational High School of Electrical Engineering - Ruse, Bulgaria
Foreign Language High-School"Peyo Yavorov" - Silistra, Bulgaria
51st school "Elisaveta Bagryana" - Sofia, Bulgaria
Foreign Language High-School "Prof-doctor Asen Zlatarov" - Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria
American college Arcus - Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria
AWARDS
ORIGINAL ORATORY – NOVICE (9TH-10TH GRADE)
Semifinalists
Viktoria Dokuzova - Blagoevgrad, Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS
Tsvetelina Tsvetkova - Blagoevgrad, Akad. S. Korolyov Maths and Science High School
Yoana Encheva - Silistra, Peyo Yavorov
Stela Mineva - Varna, First Language School
Teodor Andreev - Varna, Dr. Petar Beron Maths School
Borislava Buchinska - Blagoevgrad, Akad. S. Korolyov Maths and Science High School
Finalists
Yoana Georgieva Stefanova - Sofia, 51st Elisaveta Bagryana School
Patrisiya Dimitrova - Ruse, Geo Milev ELS
Mihael Minov - Veliko Tarnovo, American College - Arcus
Ivon Velikova - Silistra, Peyo Yavorov
Liron Krasniqi - Prishtina, Prishtina High School
Kaloyan Todorov - Varna, Dr. Petar Beron Maths School
ORIGINAL ORATORY – VARSITY (10TH-12TH GRADE)
Semifinalists
Vesa Skenduli - Tirana, New York High School
Stefani Strezova - Sofia, 51st Elisaveta Bagryana School
Leona Beqiri - Prishtina, International Learning Group
Katerina Nikolova - Dupnitsa, Language School St. Paisii Hilendarski
Luka Stoimenovski - Delchevo, SOU Metodi Mitevski - Brico
Lea Berbatovci - Prishtina, Prishtina High School
Mertol Mehmed - Shumen, Nikola Vapzarov FLHS
Finalists
Katerina Dimitrova - Shumen, Nikola Vapzarov FLHS
Maria Todorova - Varna, Dr. Petar Beron Maths School
Nikol Mihaylska - Pravets, Aleko Konstantinov FLHS
Nella Fletcher - Varna, Independent School of Thought
Monika Moneva - Sliven, Zaharii Stoyanov ELS
Neliya Petrova - Varna, Dr. Petar Beron Maths School
Extemporaneous speech – Novice (9TH-10TH GRADE)
Finalists
Ivon Velikova - Silistra, Peyo Yavorov
Izabela Koleva - Varna, First Language School
Maria Tasheva - Skopje, QSI International School of Skopje
Iva Davidovska - Kriva Palanka, SOU Gjorche Petrov
Ivana Sekuloska - Struga, Yahya Kemal College
Stefan Balushev - Varna, Dr. Petar Beron Maths School
Extemporaneous speech – varsity (11TH-12TH GRADE)
Finalists
Maria Todorova - Varna, Dr. Petar Beron Maths School
Stiliyan Tsolov - Montana, Peter Bogdan FLHS
Luka Stoimenovski - Delchevo, SOU Metodi Mitevski - Brico
Patris Lole - Tirana, Petro Nini Luarasi high school
Sandriano-Christofar Radonchik - Silistra, Peyo Yavorov
Katerina Dimitrova - Shumen, Nikola Vapzarov FLHS
Overall performance award – Novice (9TH-10TH GRADE)
Ivon Velikova - Silistra, Peyo Yavorov
Izabela Koleva - Varna, First Language School
Maria Tasheva - QSI International School of Skopje
Overall performance award – Varsity (11TH-12TH GRADE)
Maria Todorova - Varna, Dr. Petar Beron Maths School
Katerina Dimitrova - Shumen, Nikola Vapzarov FLHS
Stiliyan Tsolov - Montana, Peter Bogdan FLHS