The Art of Persuasion Continues at BEST Foundation's Second Tournament of the Season
Just three weeks after our Fall West tournament, on November 30th and December 1st, 2024, BEST Foundation held its second tournament for the 2024-2025 academic year in the Vocational School for Computer Programming and Innovations. 284 competitors took part in five events: World Schools Style debate, poetry and prose interpretation, duo interpretation, and original oratory. We had the pleasure to welcome 61 volunteers that acted as judges, alongside participants from 23 schools in 15 cities, all from the Eastern part of Bulgaria, plus 2 independent debate teams.
The tournament was opened by the student leaders from Stara Zagora, who presented a performance that lifted the spirits and motivated all attendees. This incredible act was followed by several inspiring speakers. Firstly, we welcomed Mr. Mihail Nenov, Deputy Mayor of Burgas Municipality, responsible for the Education, Health, Social Affairs and Youth Policies. As a former teacher himself he pointed out the effort of the students and urged them to always be motivated and inspired. Afterwards, the Vice Principal of the host school Mr. Simeonov read a congratulatory letter from the Head of the Regional Department of Education Mrs. Petya Petrova.
After a weekend filled with emotion and excitement, at the closing ceremony, we had Angela Rodel, the Executive Director of the Bulgarian-American Fulbright Commission (who also participated as a judge) together with Iliana Dimitrova - program officer at Fulbright. The students were also congratulated for their passion, dedication and efforts by the principal of the host school - the Vocational School for Programming and Innovations in Burgas Mrs DimitrinaTodorova. She enthusiastically opened her school for the participants in the tournament.
Alongside the numerous achievements by students who competed in various speech categories throughout the weekend, there was a significant increase in debate participation. In comparison to last year’s 41 debate teams (19 in the novice category and 22 in the varsity one), this year BEST Foundation welcomed 47 debate teams, 17 in novice and 30 in varsity.
This tournament concluded the in-person fall events organised by BEST Foundation. You can look forward to our first spring tournament for participants from Western Bulgaria in Sofia in early February.
Participating Schools/Teams
Burgas, Vocational School for Computer Programming and Innovation
Burgas, AEG Geo Milev
Dimitrovgrad, Dr. Ivan Bogorov FLHS
Dobrich, Geo Milev LS
Gabrovo, Aprilov National HS
Haskovo, Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov FLHS
Kardzhali, Hristo Botev
Pavlikeni, SU "Bacho Kiro"
Razgrad, Ekzarh Yosif FLHS
Razgrad, Lucky Star
Ruse, Baba Tonka
Ruse, Geo Milev ELHS
Ruse, St Cyrilus Philosopher
Shumen, Nancho Popovich MSHS
Shumen, Nikola Vaptsarov FLHS
Silistra, Peyo Yavorov FLHS
Sliven, Zahariy Stoyanov WHS
Stara Zagora, Romain Rolland FLHS
Unaffiliated team, Debate divas
Varna, Dr. Petar Beron Maths School
Varna, First Language School
Varna, ITPG "Blagovest Sendov"
Varna, "4EG "Frederick Jolio-Curie"
Varna, "Yoan Ekzarh" Fifth Foreign Language School
Veliko Tarnovo, American College - Arcus
AWARDS
DUO INTERPRETATION
Top 3 Novice Duos
Boyana Balevska and Yoana Dimitrova - Silistra, Peyo Yavorovl
Stela Marinova and Maria Nikolova - Silistra, Peyo Yavorov
Eva Valcheva and Stanislav Stankov - Shumen, Nikola Vapzarov FL
Semifinalists
Ema Petrova and Ana-Kristina Zdravkova - Dobrich, Geo Milev FLHS
Raya Andreeva and Mariya Atanasova - Razgrad, Ekzarh Yossif FLHS
Siyana Marinova and Velina Ruseva - Sliven, Zaharii Stoyanov ELS
Stela Marinova and Maria Nikolova - Silistra, Peyo Yavorov
Skye Thomlinson and Jenny Shishkova - Haskovo, Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov FLHS
Maria-Luiza Peneva and Adelina Tsvetkova - Shumen, Nancho Popovich High School of Maths and Science
Finalists
Denislava Petkova and Nikol Todorova - Dobrich, Geo Milev FLHS
Melissa Mehmed and Darina Bosilkova - Silistra, Peyo Yavorov
Georgi Georgiev and Gabriela Gocheva - Silistra, Peyo Yavorov
Elena Nikolova and Sandriano-Christofar Radonchik - Silistra, Peyo Yavorov
Magdalena Ilcheva and Kristiyana Hristozova - Stara Zagora, Romain Rolland FLHS
Boyana Balevska and Yoana Dimitrova - Silistra, Peyo Yavorov
ORIGINAL ORATORY
Top 3 Novice Original Oratories
Tsvetelina Doncheva - Shumen, Nancho Popovich High School of Maths and Science
Stela Mladenova - Varna, Dr. Petar Beron Maths School
Georgi Kabasakalov - Stara Zagora, Romain Rolland FLHS
Semifinalists
Ivayla Yovcheva - Veliko Tarnovo, American College - Arcus
Patrisiya Dimitrova - Ruse, Geo Milev ELS
Teodor Andreev - Varna, Dr. Petar Beron Maths School
Nella Fletcher - Varna, ITPG 'Blagovest Sendov' Varna
Jordan Deqnov Georgiev - Silistra, Peyo Yavorov
Karina Kostadinova - Varna, 4EG Frederick Jolio-Curie
Finalists
Desiliyan Stoychev - Dobrich, Geo Milev FLHS
Dimana Nencheva - Varna, First Language School
Sofia Tineva - Varna, Dr. Petar Beron Maths School
Ivon Velikova - Silistra, Peyo Yavorov
Neliya Petrova - Varna, Dr. Petar Beron Maths School
Tsvetelina Doncheva - Shumen, Nancho Popovich High School of Maths and Science
POETRY INTERPRETATION
Top 3 Novice Poetry Interpretations
Izabel Nikolova - Silistra, Peyo Yavorov
Vanina Valentinova - Razgrad, Ekzarh Yossif FLHS
Simona Dobreva - Razgrad, Ekzarh Yossif FLHS
Semifinalists
Mertol Mehmed - Shumen, Nikola Vapzarov FLHS
Hilendara Hilendarska - Veliko Tarnovo, American College - Arcus
Izabel Nikolova - Silistra, Peyo Yavorov
Adelina Tsvetkova - Shumen, Nancho Popovich High School of Maths and Science
Yoana Encheva - Silistra, Peyo Yavorov
Magdalena Ilcheva - Stara Zagora, Romain Rolland FLHS
Finalists
Nikolay Dimitrov - Dobrich, Geo Milev FLHS
Rada Todorova - Shumen, Nikola Vapzarov FLHS
Alexandra Petkova - Dobrich, Geo Milev FLHS
Momchil Zlatev - Shumen, Nancho Popovich High School of Maths and Science
Radina Staneva - Razgrad, Ekzarh Yossif FLHS
Beloslava Rafailova - Sliven, Zaharii Stoyanov ELS
PROSE INTERPRETATION
Top 3 Novice Prose Interpretations
Stela Marinova- Silistra, Peyo Yavorov
Maria Nikolova - Silistra, Peyo Yavorov
Emirkan Mustafa - Razgrad, Ekzarh Yossif FLHS
Semifinalists
Velina Ruseva - Sliven, Zaharii Stoyanov ELS
Maria Nikolova - Silistra, Peyo Yavorov
Siyana Marinova - Sliven, Zaharii Stoyanov ELS
Maria-Magdalena Toteva - Sliven, Zaharii Stoyanov ELS
Elena Totten - Sliven, Zaharii Stoyanov ELS
Boyana Balevska - Silistra, Peyo Yavorov
Finalists
Alexandra Petkova - Dobrich, Geo Milev FLHS
Raya Andreeva - Razgrad, Ekzarh Yossif FLHS
Alexander Ivanov - Silistra, Peyo Yavorov
Gabriela Gocheva - Silistra, Peyo Yavorov
Mertol Mehmed - Shumen, Nikola Vapzarov FLHS
Yana Daskalova - Razgrad, Ekzarh Yossif FLHS
WORLD SCHOOLS DEBATE – NOVICE (8th - 9th grade)
Finalists
Mihael Ninov Minov, Martin Detelinov Dimitrov and Iglika Vladimirova Hadzhikrasteva - Veliko Tarnovo, American College - Arcus
Ezgi Mustafa, Esel Ibrahim, Echmel Veli and Deha Mehmedali - Kardzhali, Hristo Botev FLS
Top Speaker Award
Beloslava Petrova - Shumen, Nancho Popovich
Yasen Ivanov - Varna, Dr. Petar Beron Math School
Deha Mehmedali - Kardzhali, Hristo Botev FLS
WORLD SCHOOLS DEBATE – VARSITY (10th - 12th grade)
Finalists
Maria Todorova, Hristina Atanasova and Monika Panova - Varna, Dr. Petar Beron Maths School
Nella Fletcher, Jasmina Beridze and Tsvetelina Boynova - Debate divas
Top Speaker Award
Maria Todorova - Varna, Dr. Petar Beron Maths School
Hristina Atanasova - Varna, Dr. Petar Beron Maths School
Nella Fletcher - Debate Divas
TEAM AWARDS
Large Team Division
Varna, Dr. Petar Beron Maths School
Small Team Division
Veliko Tarnovo, American College - Arcus