BEST Regional Tournament at Bertolt Brecht FLHS, Pazardzhik – February 11-12, 2017

On 11 & 12 February, the BEST Foundation hosted its first tournament of 2017 in Pazardzhik. 271 high school students attended the English-language speech and debate event at Bertolt Brecht Foreign Language High School. The school, a long-time BEST partner, hosted its third tournament in three years. Twenty-two teams from seventeen Bulgarian cities attended the tournament, including three first-time teams from Petrich, Galabovo, and Sofia. Students competed in five events: Original Oratory, Duo Interpretation, Prose Interpretation, Poetry Interpretation, and World Schools Debate.

On Saturday morning, the event began with an opening ceremony attended by special guest speaker Ivan Dimov, founder of a new organization that provides resources and support for LGBT youth in Bulgaria (Single Step). Ivan presented an inspiring speech about perseverance based upon his experience of running 12 marathons in 12 weeks to raise awareness for Single Step. Angela Rodel and Rada Kaneva from the Bulgarian-American Fulbright Commission also attended the event as special guests, presenting awards to the winners on Sunday afternoon.

The BEST Foundation will host three additional tournaments during this school year. The next regional tournament will take place in Burgas on 11 & 12 March, targeting schools in Eastern Bulgaria. Additional 2017 tournaments will be held in Blagoevgrad (1-2 April, US Qualifier) and Varna (21-23 April, National).

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.

Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS – Blagoevgrad
Geo Milev ELHS – Burgas
EE High School – Galabovo
Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS – Lovech
Petar Bogdan FLHS – Montana
Bertolt Brecht FLHS – Pazardzhik
Simeon Radev FLHS – Pernik
Peyo Yavorov High School – Petrich
Nikola Vaptsarov SS – Petrich
Foreign Language High School – Pleven
Aleko Konstantinov FLHS – Pravets
Zahariy Stoyanov WHS – Sliven
Ivan Vazov FLHS – Smolyan
Zlatarski International School – Sofia
Thomas Jefferson SELS – Sofia
Mihail Arnaudov 119th School – Sofia
Elisaveta Bagryana 51st School – Sofia
Romain Rolland FLHS – Stara Zagora
Dr. Petar Beron MHS – Varna
Tsar Simeon Veliki SS – Vidin
Yordan Radichkov FLHS – Vidin
Yoan Ekzarh FLHS – Vratsa

AWARDS

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

Semifinalists

  • Martina Kao – Thomas Jefferson SELS, Sofia

  • Mihaela Shtregarska – Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

  • Simona Boyadzhieva – Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  • Mariya Boyanova – Simeon Radev FLHS, Pernik

  • Emin Al-Junayed – Thomas Jefferson SELS, Sofia

  • Emelina Chukarska – Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  • Martin Kyuchukov – Romain Rolland FLHS, Stara Zagora

Finalists

  1. Eva Ivanova – Thomas Jefferson SELS, Sofia

  2. Velislav Velikov – Zahariy Stoyanov WHS, Sliven

  3. Bogomila Veleva – Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  4. Vyara Stoyanova – Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

  5. Nia Daskalova – Thomas Jefferson SELS, Sofia

  6. Vivi Angelova – Tsar Simeon Veliki SS, Vidin

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

Quarterfinalists

  • Stefani Chobanova – Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  • Neli Velichkova – Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  • Kaloyan Georgiev – Petar Bogdan FLHS, Montana

  • Magdalena Tancheva – Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  • Mihaela Kafedzhiyska – Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  • Martin Georgiev – Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  • Albena Valkova – Petar Bogdan FLHS, Montana

  • Alexandra Petkova – Petar Bogdan FLHS, Montana

  • Sofia Naydenova – Petar Bogdan FLHS, Montana

  • James Mott – Geo Milev ELHS, Burgas

  • Emanuela Kozhleeva – Zahariy Stoyanov WHS, Sliven

  • Gabriela Groitsova – Bertolt Brecht FLHS, Pazardzhik

  • Nikol Naidenova – Yoan Ekzarh FLHS, Vratsa

Semifinalists

  • Margarita Zlatanova – Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  • Merelin Lesovska – Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  • Anya Ganeva – Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

  • Christian Tsenov – Foreign Language High School, Pleven

  • Hristina Todorova – Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

  • Denimira Angelova – Yoan Ekzarh FLHS, Vratsa

Finalists

  1. Mario Mateev – Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  2. Vanina Vladova – Yordan Radichkov FLHS, Vidin

  3. Ivanela Sirakova – Bertolt Brecht FLHS, Pazardzhik

  4. Veselina Balabanova – Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  5. Ilin Papazyan – Zahariy Stoyanov WHS, Sliven

  6. Nia Ivanova – Thomas Jefferson SELS, Sofia

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

Semifinalists

  • Alex Staikov – Mihail Arnaudov 119th School, Sofia

  • Anna Cherneva – Mihail Arnaudov 119th School, Sofia

  • Angelo Madzharski – Mihail Arnaudov 119th School, Sofia

  • Alexandra Markova – Thomas Jefferson SELS, Sofia

Finalists

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

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

  3. Ani Nedyalkova – Foreign Language High School, Pleven

  4. Martin Kyuchukov – Romain Rolland FLHS, Stara Zagora

  5. Viktoria Parvanova – Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  6. Ivet Dimitrova – Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

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

Quarterfinalists

  • Alex Todorov – Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  • Kristiana Hristova – Elisaveta Bagryana 51st School, Sofia

  • Zornitsa Borislavova – Yoan Ekzarh FLHS, Vratsa

  • Georgi Petkov – Petar Bogdan FLHS, Montana

  • Eva Obesnikova – Yordan Radichkov FLHS, Vidin

  • Margaret Stoyanova – Petar Bogdan FLHS, Montana

  • Tsvetislava Hristova – Yoan Ekzarh FLHS, Vratsa

  • Kristina Vitanova – Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

  • Mihaela Kafedzhiyska – Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  • Nedyalka Nedyalkova – Bertolt Brecht FLHS, Pazardzhik

  • Katerina Petkova – Dr. Petar Beron MHS, Varna

  • Eva Nikolaeva – Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

  • Nikolai Chernev – Mihail Arnaudov 119th School, Sofia

Semifinalists

  • Nevena Tsarevska – Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  • Tanya Serdarova – Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  • Nadezhda Traykova – Peyo Yavorov High School, Petrich

  • Ilin Papazyan – Zahariy Stoyanov WHS, Sliven

  • Denitsa K. Petrova – Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

  • Kaloyan Georgiev – Petar Bogdan FLHS, Montana

Finalists

  1. Denislav Biserov – Yordan Radichkov FLHS, Vidin

  2. Mario Mateev – Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

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

  4. Ekaterina Pavlova – Bertolt Brecht FLHS, Pazardzhik

  5. Ralitsa Manolova – Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  6. Viktoria Ivanova – Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

ORIGINAL ORATORY – NOVICE (8th-9th grade)

Semifinalists

  • Krisitiyan Hristov – Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

  • Simona Georgieva – Zahariy Stoyanov WHS, Sliven

  • Zdravko Buzolov – Foreign Language High School, Pleven

  • Dimana Stefanova – Thomas Jefferson SELS, Sofia

  • Dinko Karafiziev – Zlatarski International School, Sofia

  • Nikol Bakalova – Peyo Yavorov High School, Petrich

Finalists

  1. Maria Boycheva – Yordan Radichkov FLHS, Vidin

  2. Vyara Stoyanova – Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

  3. Irina Boeva – Zlatarski International School, Sofia

  4. Bozhidar Klouchek – Dr. Petar Beron MHS, Varna

  5. Ani Popova – Thomas Jefferson SELS, Sofia

  6. Eva Ivanova – Thomas Jefferson SELS, Sofia

ORIGINAL ORATORY – VARSITY (10th-12th grade)

Quarterfinalists

  • Martin Nikolaev – Tsar Simeon Veliki SS, Vidin

  • Kalina Parvanova – Thomas Jefferson SELS, Sofia

  • Zornitsa Georgieva – Thomas Jefferson SELS, Sofia

  • Tsvetelina Vaseva – Simeon Radev FLHS, Pernik

  • Kiril Genov – Thomas Jefferson SELS, Sofia

  • Simona Koleva – Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

  • Roberta Tihomirova – Simeon Radev FLHS, Pernik

  • Albena Valkova – Petar Bogdan FLHS, Montana

  • Veselina Balabanova – Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  • Vladislav Iliev – Nikola Vaptsarov SS, Petrich

Semifinalists

  • Iva Timova – Petar Bogdan FLHS, Montana

  • Stanislava Stefanova – Peyo Yavorov High School, Petrich

  • Alexandrina Naydenova – Petar Bogdan FLHS, Montana

  • Bilyana Kostadinova – Petar Bogdan FLHS, Montana

  • Gabriela Dimcheva – Ivan Vazov FLHS, Smolyan

  • Bogomila Kitanova – Romain Rolland FLHS, Stara Zagora

Finalists

  1. James Mott – Geo Milev ELHS, Burgas

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

  3. Alexandra Petkova – Petar Bogdan FLHS, Montana

  4. Alexandra Guleva – Bertolt Brecht FLHS, Pazardzhik

  5. Hristina Todorova – Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

  6. Tsvetelina Marova – Bertolt Brecht FLHS, Pazardzhik

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

Semifinalists

  • Boyana Alexandrova and Lora Vasileva – Thomas Jefferson SELS, Sofia

  • Aleksandra Georgieva and Doroteya Piralkova – Elisaveta Bagryana 51st School, Sofia

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

  • Alexander Petrov and Martina Kao – Thomas Jefferson SELS, Sofia

  • Dimitar Chotorov and Vasil Tilev – Thomas Jefferson SELS, Sofia

  • Raya Ivanova and Gergana Lilova – Thomas Jefferson SELS, Sofia

Finalists

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

  2. Antoniya Rusalieva and Alexandrina Andonova – Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  3. Alexandra Markova and Maya Peeva – Thomas Jefferson SELS, Sofia

  4. Martina Naidenova and Vanessa Milen – Petar Bogdan FLHS, Montana

  5. Kristiyana Doncheva and Lora Genova – Petar Bogdan FLHS, Montana

  6. Kristel Angelova and Martina Tosheva – Aleko Konstantinov FLHS, Pravets

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

Semifinalists

  • Bilyana Kostadinova and Anatolia Stoicheva – Petar Bogdan FLHS, Montana

  • Radina Terziyska and Martin Georgiev – Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  • Mihaela Kafedzhiyska and Alexandra Dimcheva – Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  • Mirela Georgieva and Simona Koleva – Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

  • Emma Paunova and Kalina Parvanova – Thomas Jefferson SELS, Sofia

  • Veronika Glozheva and Nia Ivanova – Thomas Jefferson SELS, Sofia

  • Patrisia Gospodinova and Alexander Gkagkoulias – Thomas Jefferson SELS, Sofia

Finalists

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

  2. Nikolai Gaidarov and Georgi Petkov – Petar Bogdan FLHS, Montana

  3. Iveta Kirilova and Boris Borislavov – Tsar Simeon Veliki SS, Vidin

  4. Denitsa K. Petrova and Viktoria Ivanova – Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

  5. Bozhidar Stoyanov and Kristiana Hristova – Elisaveta Bagryana 51st School, Sofia

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

WORLD SCHOOLS DEBATE

Finalists

  1. Miroslav Yonov, Plamen Totev and Gergana Nikolova – Bertolt Brecht FLHS, Pazardzhik

  2. Iva Komsiyska, Nadezhda Chobanova and Eliya Panchova – Bertolt Brecht FLHS, Pazardzhik

Top Novice Team

Erica Velev, Magdalena Gyosheva and Irina Boeva – Zlatarski International School, Sofia

Sportsmanship Award

Vanesa Dimitrova, Valentina Trifonova and Hristo Mihaylov – Petar Bogdan FLHS, Montana

Individual Speaker Award – Novice

Irina Boeva – Zlatarski International School, Sofia

Individual Speaker Award – Varsity

Nadezhda Chobanova – Bertolt Brecht FLHS, Pazardzhik

TEAM AWARDS

Small School Division (10 or fewer participants)

Yordan Radichkov FLHS – Vidin

Large School Division (more than 11 participants)

Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS – Blagoevgrad

BEST Foundation