BEST National Tournament at Agrarian University, Plovdiv – April 27-29, 2018

From 27-29 April, the BEST Foundation hosted its sixth and final tournament of the 2017-2018 school year. 410 high school students attended the English-language speech and debate event at the Agricultural University – Plovdiv, the school’s first time hosting a BEST tournament. 38 teams from 25 Bulgarian cities attended the tournament. Students competed in five events: Original Oratory, Duo Interpretation, Prose Interpretation, Poetry Interpretation, and World Schools Debate.

BEST is especially grateful to Trayan Trayanov and Ivan Petrov of Teach for Bulgaria; Ivan Dimov of Single Step; Krasse Gueorguiev; Angela Rodel, Iliana Dimitrova, and Rada Kaneva of the Bulgarian-American Fulbright Commission; and Sonya Yordanova from Kinstellar Bulgaria. We also thank Prof. Dr. Hristina Yancheva, Doc. Dr. Svetla Yancheva, and Mr. Velichko Rodopski from the Agricultural University – Plovdiv for being such gracious hosts for this tournament. BEST is extremely grateful to the US Embassy Sofia and Fulbright Bulgaria for their financial support and making this national tournament possible.

The BEST Foundation previously held four regional tournaments throughout the 2017-2018 school year in Pleven, Sliven, Sofia, and Dobrich, as well as the first-ever international oratory tournament at the American University in Bulgaria in Blagoevgrad. BEST will begin its 2018-2019 tournament season in Fall 2018.

Below are the names of participating teams:

Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad
Akad. Sergey Korolyov MSHS, Blagoevgrad
Dr. Ivan Bogorov FLHS, Dimitrovgrad
Geo Milev FLHS, Dobrich
Aprilov National High School, Gabrovo
Energetics and Electrotechnics HS, Galabovo
Yane Sandanski MSHS, Gotse Delchev
Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov FLHS, Haskovo
Hristo Botev FLHS, Kardzhali
Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech
Petar Bogdan FLHS, Montana
Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov ETHS, Petrich
Nikola Y. Vaptsarov Secondary School, Petrich
Peyo Yavorov High School, Petrich
FLHS, Pleven
Aleko Konstantinov FLHS, Pravets
Ekzarh Yosif FLHS, Razgrad
St. Konstantin Cyril European Language School, Ruse
Geo Milev ELHS, Ruse
Nancho Popovich MSHS, Shumen
Nikola Vaptsarov FLHS, Shumen
Peyo Yavorov FLHS, Silistra
Atanas Burov Economics HS, Silistra
Zahariy Stoyanov WLHS, Sliven
Ivan Vazov FLHS, Smolyan
American College of Sofia, Sofia
Thomas Jefferson SELS, Sofia
Zlatarski International High School, Sofia
Elisaveta Bagryana 51st School, Sofia
Akad. Mihail Arnaudov 119th School, Sofia
Romain Rolland FLHS, Stara Zagora
1st Language School, Varna
5th Language School, Varna
Petar Beron MHS, Varna
Tsar Simeon Veliki Secondary School, Vidin
Yordan Radichkov FLHS, Vidin
Sveti Paisiy Hilendarski Secondary School, Zlatitsa

AWARDS

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

Semifinalists

  • Simona Kareva – Zahariy Stoyanov WLHS, Sliven

  • Dayana Stefanova – Zahariy Stoyanov WLHS, Sliven

  • Mirela Todorova – Zahariy Stoyanov WLHS, Sliven

  • Christiyan Mariov – Peter Bogdan FLHS, Montana

  • Mila Petkova – Zahariy Stoyanov WLHS, Sliven

  • Denimira Pantileeva – Aprilov National HS, Gabrovo

Finalists

  1. Eva Dzhevizova – Zahariy Stoyanov WLHS, Sliven

  2. Gery Lilova – Second English Language School, Sofia

  3. Berfin Yusein – Hristo Botev FLHS, Kardzhali

  4. Dariya Dimitrova – Ekzarh Yosif FLHS, Lovech

  5. Nia Naseva – Second English Language School,Sofia

  6. Stefani Angelova – First Language School, Varna

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

Semifinalists

  • Georgi Popov – Aprilov National HS, Gabrovo

  • Martin Peev – Yane Sandanski MSHS, Gotse Delchev

  • Bozhidar Petrov – Elisaveta Bagryana 51st School, Sofia

  • Ilin Papazyan – Zahariy Stoyanov WLHS, Sliven

  • Hristina Tsonkova – Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  • Antonina Popova – Prof Dr Assen Zlatarov FLHS, Haskovo

Finalists

  1. Adelina Yordanova – Nancho Popovich MSHS, Shumen

  2. Maria Ignatova – Zahariy Stoyanov WLHS, Sliven

  3. Kristiana Hristova – Elisaveta Bagryana 51st School, Sofia

  4. Alex Todorov – Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  5. Martin Simeonov – Dr. Ivan Bogorov FLHS, Dimitrovgrad

  6. Kalina Nikolova – Yordan Radichkov FLHS, Vidin

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

Semifinalists

  • Nia Naseva – Second English Language School, Sofia

  • Stefani Angelova – First Language School, Varna

  • Denimira Pantileeva – Aprilov National HS, Gabrovo

  • Gery Lilova – Second English Language School, Sofia

  • Dariya Dimitrova – Ekzarh Yosif FLHS,Lovech

  • Simona Kareva – Zahariy Stoyanov WLHS, Sliven

Finalists

  1. Boryana Penkova – Nikola Vaptsarov FLHS, Shumen

  2. Vasil Siromahov – Zahariy Stoyanov WLHS, Sliven

  3. Maria Hristova – Romain Rolland FLHS, Stara Zagora

  4. Berfin Yusein – Hristo Botev FLHS, Kardzhali

  5. Mila Petkova – Zahariy Stoyanov WLHS, Sliven

  6. Nedelina Stancheva – Zahariy Stoyanov WLHS, Sliven

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

Semifinalists

  • Emanuela Kozhleeva – Zahariy Stoyanov WLHS, Sliven

  • Velislava Georgieva – Atanas Burov School of Economics, Silistra

  • Radina Terziyska – Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  • Velina Dimitrova – Aprilov National HS, Gabrovo

  • Nikolai Gaidarov – Peter Bogdan FLHS, Montana

  • Monica Mitova – Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

Finalists

  1. Kristina Baleva – Romain Rolland FLHS, Stara Zagora

  2. Ilin Papazyan – Zahariy Stoyanov WLHS, Sliven

  3. Martin Simeonov – Dr. Ivan Bogorov FLHS, Dimitrovgrad

  4. Maya Peeva – Second English Language School, Sofia

  5. Bozhidar Petrov – Elisaveta Bagryana 51st School, Sofia

  6. Caroline Nitschke – Aleko Konstantinov FLHS, Pravets

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

Semifinalists

  • Niya Vulnova – First Language School, Varna

  • Yoan Hristov – Akad. S. Korolyov MSHS, Blagoevgrad

  • Slavena Medova – Ivan Vazov FLHS, Smolyan

  • Kalina Hristova – Geo Milev ELHS, Ruse

  • Kristiyan Hristov – Ekzarh Yosif FLHS, Lovech

  • Dimitrina Popova – Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  • Viktoria Ivanova – First Language School, Varna

Finalists

  1. Zhenya Marcheva – Peyo Yavorov FLHS, Silistra

  2. Valeria Angelova – Tsar Simeon Veliki SS, Vidin

  3. Fiona Totten – Zahariy Stoyanov WLHS, Sliven

  4. Stefani Angelova – First Language School, Varna

  5. Debora Mihaleva – Romain Rolland FLHS, Stara Zagora

  6. Elena Gelova – Akad. S. Korolyov MSHS Blagoevgrad

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

Semifinalists

  • Mirela Georgieva – Ekzarh Yosif FLHS, Lovech

  • Ani Popova – Second English Language School, Sofia

  • Dobromir Zafirov – Dr. Ivan Bogorov FLHS, Dimitrovgrad

  • Anna Dimitrova – Ivan Vazov FLHS, Smolyan

  • Reneta Yakimova – Aleko Konstantinov FLHS, Pravets

  • Alexandra Dimcheva – Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  • Kamelia Peykova – Geo Milev FLHS, Dobrich

Finalists

  1. Simona Gyuzleva – Romain Rolland FLHS, Stara Zagora

  2. Iliyan Hristov – Aprilov National HS, Gabrovo

  3. Georgi Petkov – Peter Bogdan FLHS, Montana

  4. Georgi Paparkov – Yane Sandanski FLHS, Gotse Delchev

  5. Martin Kyuchukov – Romain Rolland FLHS, Stara Zagora

  6. Georgina Ivanova – Zahariy Stoyanov WLHS, Sliven

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

Semifinalists

  • Ivaila Petrova and Martina Miteva – Aprilov National HS, Gabrovo

  • Nia Naseva and Juliana Beleva – Second English Language School, Sofia

  • Boyana Savova and Ralitsa Nedelcheva – Second English Language School, Sofia

  • Niya Todorova and Zhaklin Vasileva – Zlatitsa High School

  • Dimitar Borumov and Anton Velev – Akad. S. Korolyov MSHS, Blagoevgrad

  • Alexandra Spasova and Viktoriya Krasimirova – Peter Bogdan FLHS, Montana

Finalists

  1. Martina Naidenova and Vanessa Dimitrova – Peter Bogdan FLHS, Montana

  2. Mila Petkova and Eva Dzhevizova – Zahariy Stoyanov WLHS, Sliven

  3. Maria Ilieva and Zhenya Petkova – Romain Rolland FLHS, Stara Zagora

  4. Tsvetelina Dzhonova and Kameliya Hristova – Aprilov National HS, Gabrovo

  5. Mirela Todorva and Nedelina Stancheva – Zahariy Stoyanov WLHS, Sliven

  6. Gery Lilova and Vasil Tilev – Second English Language School, Sofia

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

Semifinalists

  • Militsa Ivanova and Nona Petkova – Romain Rolland FLHS, Stara Zagora

  • Martin Simeonov and Christian Georgiev – Dr. Ivan Bogorov FLS, Dimitrovgrad

  • Iliyan Hristov and Veronica Parvanova – Aprilov National HS, Gabrovo

  • Georgi Popov and Gergana Decheva – Aprilov National HS, Gabrovo

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

  • Kristiana Hristova and Bozhidar Petrov – Elisaveta Bagryana 51st School, Sofia

Finalists

  1. Vasil Siromahov and Denitsa Balcheva – Zahariy Stoyanov WLHS, Sliven

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

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

  4. Nikolai Nikolaev and Sofia Naydenova – Peter Bogdan FLHS, Montana

  5. Dimitar Ivanov and Tihomir Cvetanov – Aleko Konstantinov FLHS, Pravets

  6. Mirela Georgieva and Viktoria Ivanova – Ekzarh Yosif FLHS, Lovech

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

Finalists

  1. Kalina Hristova, Liliya Hristova and Mila Nacheva – Geo Milev ELHS, Ruse

  2. Krista Lazarova, Dara-Maria Vasileva and Aneli Draginova – American College, Sofia

Sportsmanship Award

Neda Miteva, Victoria Veselinova and Zhanet Velkova – Ekzarh Yosif FLHS, Lovech

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

Finalists

  1. Joana Valova, Nona Kadieva and Nikola Michaylov – American College, Sofia

  2. Kristya Navushtanova, Nora Antova and Zachary Nikolaev – American College, Sofia

Sportsmanship Award

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

TEAM AWARDS

Small School Division

Elisaveta Bagryana 51st School, Sofia

Large School Division

Zahariy Stoyanov WLHS, Sliven

BEST Foundation