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

  1. Boyana Balevska and Yoana Dimitrova - Silistra, Peyo Yavorovl

  2. Stela Marinova and Maria Nikolova - Silistra, Peyo Yavorov

  3. 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

  1. Denislava Petkova and Nikol Todorova - Dobrich, Geo Milev FLHS

  2. Melissa Mehmed and Darina Bosilkova - Silistra, Peyo Yavorov

  3. Georgi Georgiev and Gabriela Gocheva - Silistra, Peyo Yavorov

  4. Elena Nikolova and Sandriano-Christofar Radonchik - Silistra, Peyo Yavorov

  5. Magdalena Ilcheva and Kristiyana Hristozova - Stara Zagora, Romain Rolland FLHS

  6. Boyana Balevska and Yoana Dimitrova - Silistra, Peyo Yavorov

ORIGINAL ORATORY

Top 3 Novice Original Oratories

  1. Tsvetelina Doncheva - Shumen, Nancho Popovich High School of Maths and Science

  2. Stela Mladenova - Varna, Dr. Petar Beron Maths School

  3. 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

  1. Desiliyan Stoychev - Dobrich, Geo Milev FLHS

  2. Dimana Nencheva - Varna, First Language School

  3. Sofia Tineva - Varna, Dr. Petar Beron Maths School

  4. Ivon Velikova - Silistra, Peyo Yavorov

  5. Neliya Petrova - Varna, Dr. Petar Beron Maths School

  6. Tsvetelina Doncheva - Shumen, Nancho Popovich High School of Maths and Science

POETRY INTERPRETATION

Top 3 Novice Poetry Interpretations

  1. Izabel Nikolova - Silistra, Peyo Yavorov

  2. Vanina Valentinova - Razgrad, Ekzarh Yossif FLHS 

  3. 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

  1. Nikolay Dimitrov - Dobrich, Geo Milev FLHS

  2. Rada Todorova - Shumen, Nikola Vapzarov FLHS

  3. Alexandra Petkova - Dobrich, Geo Milev FLHS

  4. Momchil Zlatev - Shumen, Nancho Popovich High School of Maths and Science

  5. Radina Staneva - Razgrad, Ekzarh Yossif FLHS

  6. Beloslava Rafailova - Sliven, Zaharii Stoyanov ELS

PROSE INTERPRETATION

Top 3 Novice Prose Interpretations

  1. Stela Marinova- Silistra, Peyo Yavorov

  2. Maria Nikolova - Silistra, Peyo Yavorov

  3. 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

  1. Alexandra Petkova - Dobrich, Geo Milev FLHS

  2. Raya Andreeva - Razgrad, Ekzarh Yossif FLHS

  3. Alexander Ivanov - Silistra, Peyo Yavorov

  4. Gabriela Gocheva - Silistra, Peyo Yavorov

  5. Mertol Mehmed - Shumen, Nikola Vapzarov FLHS

  6. Yana Daskalova - Razgrad, Ekzarh Yossif FLHS

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

Finalists

  1. Mihael Ninov Minov, Martin Detelinov Dimitrov and Iglika Vladimirova Hadzhikrasteva - Veliko Tarnovo, American College - Arcus

  2. Ezgi Mustafa, Esel Ibrahim, Echmel Veli and Deha Mehmedali - Kardzhali, Hristo Botev FLS 

Top Speaker Award

  1. Beloslava Petrova - Shumen, Nancho Popovich 

  2. Yasen Ivanov - Varna, Dr. Petar Beron Math School

  3. Deha Mehmedali - Kardzhali, Hristo Botev FLS 

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

Finalists

  1. Maria Todorova, Hristina Atanasova and Monika Panova - Varna, Dr. Petar Beron Maths School

  2. Nella Fletcher, Jasmina Beridze and Tsvetelina Boynova - Debate divas

Top Speaker Award

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

  2. Hristina Atanasova - Varna, Dr. Petar Beron Maths School

  3. Nella Fletcher - Debate Divas


TEAM AWARDS

Large Team Division

Varna, Dr. Petar Beron Maths School

Small Team Division

Veliko Tarnovo, American College - Arcus




BEST Foundation