BEST Regional Tournament at Nikola Vaptsarov FLHS, Shumen – December 10-11, 2016

On 10-11 December, the Bulgarian English Speech and Debate Tournaments (BEST) Foundation hosted an English-language tournament in Shumen. This was BEST’s second tournament of the 2016-2017 school year, and the largest regional ever held. At an event hosted by Nikola Vaptsarov FLHS, over 300 students from eastern and central Bulgaria competed in the second regional tournament of the academic year. Students competed in five events: Original Oratory, Duo Interpretation, Prose Interpretation, Poetry Interpretation, and World Schools Debate.

Twenty-four teams from eighteen cities in Bulgaria attended the tournament, including two first-time teams from Burgas and Varna. Alongside the students, coaches, and chaperones, 58 judges from Bulgaria, America, and Germany evaluated the students’ performances. An additional 12 students from Nikola Vaptsarov FLHS were student volunteers.

This tournament was the second of two tournaments held in Fall 2016. The first one took place in Vratsa on 19-20 November. In the Spring, BEST will host 4 additional tournaments: a Western Regional in Pazardzhik, an Eastern Regional in Burgas, a National in Varna, and a US Qualifier in Blagoevgrad.

Below are the names of participating teams, with teams participating for the first time underlined, and the list of awards; you can view results on Speechwire, as well.

American College of Sofia – Sofia
Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov Foreign Language High School – Blagoevgrad
Geo Milev English Language High School – Burgas
Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodiy Secondary School – Burgas
Aprilov National High School – Gabrovo
Geo Milev Foreign Language High School – Dobrich
Dr. Ivan Bogorov Foreign Language High School – Dimitrovgrad
Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov Foreign Language High School – Haskovo
Hristo Botev Foreign Language High School – Kardzhali
Ekzarh Yosif I Foreign Language High School – Lovech
Petar Bogdan Foreign Language High School – Montana
Bertolt Brecht Foreign Language High School – Pazardzhik
Foreign Language High School – Pleven
Baba Tonka Maths and Science High School – Ruse
Sv. Konstantin-Kiril Filosof European Language School – Ruse
Geo Milev English Language High School – Ruse
Nikola Vaptsarov Foreign Language High School – Shumen
Nancho Popovich Maths and Science High School – Shumen
Atanas Burov Economics High School – Silistra
Peyo Yavorov Foreign Language High School – Silistra
Zahariy Stoyanov Western Language High School – Sliven
Romain Rolland Foreign Language High School – Stara Zagora
Yoan Ekzarh Foreign Language High School – Varna
Dr. Petar Beron Maths High School – Varna

AWARDS

NOVICE POETRY INTERPRETATION

Semifinalists

  • Victoria Nikolova – Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov FLHS, Haskovo

  • Darina Dimitrova – Nikola Vaptsarov FLHS, Shumen

  • Nikol Trevnenska – Aprilov National High School, Gabrovo

  • Gabriela Cherneva – Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

  • Maya Milanova – Atanas Burov Economics HS, Silistra

  • Nikol Neikova – Aprilov National High School, Gabrovo

Finalists

  1. Momchil Dimitrov – Geo Milev FLHS, Dobrich

  2. Hristina Tsonkova – Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  3. Blagovesta Neycheva – Geo Milev FLHS, Dobrich

  4. Velislav Velikov – Zahariy Stoyanov WLHS, Sliven

  5. Mihaela Shtregarska – Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

  6. Christina Tamahkyarova – Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov FLHS, Haskovo

VARSITY POETRY INTERPRETATION

Quarterfinalists

  • Denitsa Petrova – Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

  • Elena Sotirova – Geo Milev ELHS, Burgas

  • Steliyana Yordanova – Geo Milev ELHS, Ruse

  • Siyana Dracheva – Geo Milev ELHS, Burgas

  • Hristina Todorova – Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

  • Gergana Milkova – Geo Milev FLHS, Dobrich

  • Mario Mateev – Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  • Radost Petrova – Geo Milev FLHS, Dobrich

  • Jenny Mechkova – Zahariy Stoyanov WLHS, Sliven

  • Mihaela Timofeeva – Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  • Preslava Ivanova – Yoan Ekzarh FLHS, Varna

  • Emi Karagiozova – Geo Milev ELHS, Burgas

Semifinalists

  • Georgi Katevski – Aprilov National High School, Gabrovo

  • Boris Dechev – Nancho Popovich MSHS, Shumen

  • Viktoria Ivanova – Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

  • Mirela Georgieva – Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

  • Eva Ilieva – Peyo Yavorov FLHS, Silistra

  • Yoan Dimov – Romain Rolland FLHS, Stara Zagora

Finalists

  1. Stefani Chobanova – Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  2. Elitsa Daskalova – Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov FLHS, Haskovo

  3. Ilin Papazyan – Zahariy Stoyanov WLHS, Sliven

  4. Nikoleta Nikovska – Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov FLHS, Haskovo

  5. Kamelia Peykova – Geo Milev FLHS, Dobrich

  6. Margarita Zlatanova – Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

NOVICE PROSE INTERPRETATION

Semifinalists

  • Gabriela Simeonova – Aprilov National High School, Gabrovo

  • Martin Kyuchukov – Romain Rolland FLHS, Stara Zagora

  • Bozhidar Klouchek – Dr. Petar Beron MHS, Varna

  • Tsvetelina Ivanova – Yoan Ekzarh FLHS, Varna

  • Teodora Venelinova – Atanas Burov Economics HS, Silistra

  • Martina Miteva – Aprilov National High School, Gabrovo

Finalists

  1. Nikola Martsenkov – Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  2. Iliyan Hristov – Aprilov National High School, Gabrovo

  3. Georgi Popov – Aprilov National High School, Gabrovo

  4. Dariya Dimitrova – Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

  5. Ana-Maria Petrova – Aprilov National High School, Gabrovo

  6. Veronika Parvanova – Aprilov National High School, Gabrovo

VARSITY PROSE INTERPRETATION

Semifinalists

  • Kristina Vitanova – Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

  • Elena Sotirova – Geo Milev ELHS, Burgas

  • Kamelia Peykova – Geo Milev FLHS, Dobrich

  • Christian Georgiev – Dr. Ivan Bogorov FLHS, Dimitrovgrad

  • Viktoria Ivanova – Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

  • Stefani Chobanova – Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

Finalists

  1. Yoan Popov – Aprilov National High School, Gabrovo

  2. Ani Mkrtchyan – Atanas Burov Economics HS, Silistra

  3. Ivanela Sirakova – Bertolt Brecht FLHS, Pazardzhik

  4. Nevena Tsarevska – Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  5. Iva Keremedchieva – Geo Milev ELHS, Burgas

  6. Nikolai Petrov – Petar Bogdan FLHS, Montana

NOVICE ORIGINAL ORATORY

Semifinalists

  • Yoana Yordanova – Aprilov National High School, Gabrovo

  • Boyko Zhekov – Yoan Ekzarh FLHS, Varna

  • Vasil Yordanov – Zahariy Stoyanov WLHS, Sliven

  • Constantine Krastilev – Peyo Yavorov FLHS, Silistra

  • Tsvetelina Dzhonova – Aprilov National High School, Gabrovo

  • Boril Obreshkov – Geo Milev ELHS, Burgas

  • Kameliya Hristova – Aprilov National High School, Gabrovo

Finalists

  1. Simona Georgieva – Zahariy Stoyanov WLHS, Sliven

  2. Valeria Germanova – Yoan Ekzarh FLHS, Varna

  3. Zhenya Marcheva – Peyo Yavorov FLHS, Silistra

  4. Galina Petrova – Aprilov National High School, Gabrovo

  5. Vyara Stoynova – Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

  6. Ognyana Vasileva – Yoan Ekzarh FLHS, Varna

  7. Tsvetelina Tsoneva – Yoan Ekzarh FLHS, Varna

VARSITY ORIGINAL ORATORY

Quarterfinalists

  • Devor Gatev – Geo Milev FLHS, Dobrich

  • Teodor Mitsev – Aprilov National High School, Gabrovo

  • Seung Hun  – Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

  • Violeta Bogdanova – Yoan Ekzarh FLHS, Varna

  • Presiyana Dimitrova – Baba Tonka MSHS, Ruse

  • Ivan Valkanov – Geo Milev ELHS, Burgas

  • Mario Mateev – Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  • James Mott – Geo Milev ELHS, Burgas

  • Hristina Todorova – Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

  • Soner Yusein – Sv. Konstantin-Kiril Filosof ELS, Ruse

  • Dian Marinov – Aprilov National High School, Gabrovo

  • Krasimir Kirilov – Nikola Vaptsarov FLHS, Shumen

Semifinalists

  • Rukiye-Ayshe Egeli – Nancho Popovich MSHS, Shumen

  • Victoria Dimova – Yoan Ekzarh FLHS, Varna

  • Tanya Nikolova – Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodiy SS, Burgas

  • Bogomila Kitanova – Romain Rolland FLHS, Stara Zagora

  • Polina Yoveva – Geo Milev FLHS, Dobrich

  • Simona Koleva – Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

Finalists

  1. Marieta Milusheva – Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  2. Christiana Dimitrova – Geo Milev ELHS, Ruse

  3. Alexandra Petkova – Petar Bogdan FLHS, Montana

  4. Valentin Velkov – Nikola Vaptsarov FLHS, Shumen

  5. Ioana Dimitrova – Atanas Burov Economics HS, Silistra

  6. Magdalena Tasheva – Yoan Ekzarh FLHS, Varna

DUO INTERPRETATION

Semifinalists

  • Denitsa Petrova and Mirela Georgieva – Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

  • Nikola Martsenkov and Hristina Tsonkova – Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  • Militsa Ivanova and Velemira Dzhelepova – Romain Rolland FLHS, Stara Zagora

  • Atanas Kotov and Alexander Stefanov – Zahariy Stoyanov WLHS, Sliven

  • Nilay Gunay and Yordanka Stoyanova – Nikola Vaptsarov FLHS, Shumen

  • Dayana Ivanova and Bogomila Kitanova – Romain Rolland FLHS, Stara Zagora

  • Stoyana Tomova and Radost Petrova – Geo Milev FLHS, Dobrich

Finalists

  1. Hristina Todorova and Kristina Vitanova – Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

  2. Marieta Milusheva and Mario Mateev – Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  3. Elina Dimova and Gabriela Postalova – Romain Rolland FLHS, Stara Zagora

  4. Magdalena Metodieva and Dayana Stoynova – Romain Rolland FLHS, Stara Zagora

  5. Nikola Dragomirov and Valentin Velkov – Nikola Vaptsarov FLHS, Shumen

  6. Valentina Trifonova and Nikoai Petrov – Petar Bogdan FLHS, Montana

Top Novice Performance
Elina Dimova and Gabriela Postalova – Romain Rolland FLHS, Stara Zagora

NOVICE WORLD SCHOOLS DEBATE

Finalists

  1. Boris Beev, Nikola Dumenov and Viktoria Popazova – American College of Sofia, Sofia

  2. Nikolay Dzhambov, Asen Peshev and Preslava Boycheva – American College of Sofia, Sofia

Top Individual Speaker
Nikolay Dzhambov – American College of Sofia, Sofia

VARSITY WORLD SCHOOLS DEBATE

Semifinalists

  • Nikola Michaylov, Nona Kadieva and Joana Valova – American College of Sofia, Sofia

  • Lina Ayubi, Zhanetta Zhekova and Evangelina Lazarova – Geo Milev ELHS, Burgas

Finalists

  1. Kristiya Navushtanova, Gabriela Ivanova and Nadezhda Ivanova – American College of Sofia, Sofia

  2. Valentin Kostov, Kristian Peev and Kristian Tsonevski – Geo Milev ELHS, Ruse

Top Individual Speaker
Mira Radoslavova – Nancho Popovich MSHS, Shumen

TEAM AWARDS

Small School Division (10 and fewer participants)
Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov Foreign Language High School – Blagoevgrad

Large School Division (11 or more participants)
Ekzarh Yosif I Foreign Language High School – Lovech

BEST Foundation