BEST Regional Tournament at Yoan Ekzarh FLHS, Vratsa – November 17-18, 2018

On the 17th - 18th of November 2018, the BEST Foundation hosted its first tournament of the 2018-2019 school year. 282  high school students attended the English-language speech and debate event at the Yoan Ekzarh Language High School in Vratsa, the school’s second time hosting a BEST tournament. Twenty-one teams from sixteen 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 Angela Rodel, Iliana Dimitrova, and Rada Kaneva of the Bulgarian-American Fulbright Commission. They would also like to give a special thank you to Valentina Mihailova, the director of Yoan Ekzarh Language High School in Vratsa, and all of the staff members for being such gracious hosts for this tournament. BEST is extremely grateful to the US Embassy in Sofia and Fulbright Bulgaria for their support and making this tournament possible.

Below are the names of participating teams; you can view results on Speechwire, as well.

Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad
Akad. Sergey Korolyov MSHS, Blagoevgrad
Yane Sandanski MSHS, Gotse Delchev
Dr. Petar Beron Foreign Language School, Kyustendil
Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech
Petar Bogdan FLHS, Montana
Professional School of Industrial Technologies, Management and Tourism, Panagyurishte
Simeon Radev FLHS, Pernik
Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov ETHS, Petrich
Nikola Y. Vaptsarov Secondary School, Petrich
Peyo Yavorov High School, Petrich
FLHS, Pleven
Plovdiv English Language School, Plovdiv
Aleko Konstantinov FLHS, Pravets
Ivan Vazov FLHS, Smolyan
Thomas Jefferson SELS, Sofia
Zlatarski International High School, Sofia
Elisaveta Bagryana 51st School, Sofia
Akad. Mihail Arnaudov 119th School, Sofia
Tsar Simeon Veliki Secondary School, Vidin
Yordan Radichkov FLHS, Vidin
Yoan Ekzarh Language High School, Vratsa
Sveti Paisiy Hilendarski Secondary School, Zlatitsa

AWARDS

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

Semifinalists

  • Yanitsa Boykova Ivanova - Tsar Simeon Veliki SS, Vidin

  • Mario Dimitrov - Aleko Konstantinov FLHS, Pravets

  • Borislav Matsin - Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  • Vili-An Doneva - Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  • Yoana Kamisheva - PMG Yane Sandanski, Gotse Delchev

  • Atanas Gurov - Pleven Foreign Language School, Pleven

  • Slavena Medova - Ivan Vasov Language School, Smolyan

Finalists

  1. Deniz Tyumbelekchieva - PMG Yane Sandanski, Gotse Delchev

  2. Salvera Bali - PMG Yane Sandanski, Gotse Delchev

  3. Leinas Mehmed - PMG Yane Sandanski, Gotse Delchev

  4. Samuil Mladenov - Zlatitsa High School

  5. Lyubov Tabakova - 51 Elisaveta Bagryana School, Sofia

  6. Aylin Ahmedova - PMG Yane Sandanski, Gotse Delchev

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

Semifinalists

  • Dimitar Borumov - Akad. S. Korolyov MSHS, Blagoevgrad

  • Alexandra Georgieva - 51 Elisaveta Bagryana School, Sofia

  • Hristina Tsonkova - Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  • Bojidar Petrov - 51 Elisaveta Bagryana School, Sofia

  • Stella Kalaydzhieva - Ivan Vasov Langauge School, Smolyan

  • Miladin Peev - Aleko Konstantinov FLHS, Pravets

Finalists

  1. Georgi Petkov - Peter Bogdan FLHS, Montana

  2. Alex Todorov - Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  3. Antoniya Rusalieva - Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  4. Hristo Ivanov - PHSET, Petrich

  5. Sherife Runta - PMG Yane Sandanski, Gotse Delchev

  6. Nia Naseva - Second English Language School, Sofia

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

Semifinalists

  • Petar Plamenov Dimitrov - Tsar Simeon Veliki SS, Vidin

  • Ivona Ilieva - 119th School, Sofia

  • Milena Simeonova - Aleko Konstantinov FLHS, Pravets

  • Ralitsa Nikolaeva Nikolova - Tsar Simeon Veliki SS, Vidin

  • Stefanie Pavlikianova - Aleko Konstantinov FLHS, Pravets

Finalists

  1. Hristina Frangova - PMG Yane Sandanski, Gotse Delchev

  2. Yana Hristova - Peter Bogdan FLHS, Montana

  3. Vili-An Doneva - Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  4. Alexander NIkolaev - 51 Elisaveta Bagryana School, Sofia

  5. Izabel Spasova - Peter Bogdan FLHS, Montana

  6. Katie Krastilova - PMG Yane Sandanski, Gotse Delchev

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

Semifinalists

  • Dimana Stefanova - Second English Language School, Sofia

  • Ognian Dimitrov - Yoan Ekzarh FELS, Vratsa

  • Anita Ichova - Nikola Vaptsarov Secondary School, Petrich

  • Sanya Sevdeva - PMG Yane Sandanski, Gotse Delchev

  • Alexandrina Andonova - Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  • Elitsa Dimitrova - 51 Elisaveta Bagryana School, Sofia,

Finalists

  1. Georgi Petkov - Peter Bogdan FLHS, Montana

  2. Maya Peeva - Second English Language School, Sofia

  3. Kristiana Hristova - 51 Elisaveta Bagryana School, Sofia

  4. Bojidar Petrov - 51 Elisaveta Bagryana School, Sofia

  5. Antoniya Todorova Kamenova - Tsar Simeon Veliki SS, Vidin

  6. Alexandra Markova - Second English Language School, Sofia

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

Semifinalists

  • Monica Raevska - Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

  • Atanas Gurov - Pleven Foreign Language School, Pleven

  • Slavcho Balabanov - Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  • Radina Sahandzhieva - Aleko Konstantinov FLHS, Pravets

  • Elena Bozukova - PMG Yane Sandanski, Gotse Delchev

  • Victoria Veselinova - Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

Finalists

  1. Anastasya Lukmanova - PMG Yane Sandanski, Gotse Delchev

  2. Stephan Kozelov - PMG Yane Sandanski, Gotse Delchev

  3. Tsvetomir Marinov - Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

  4. Neda Miteva - Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

  5. Julia Ivanova - 51 Elisaveta Bagryana School, Sofia

  6. Iva Aleksandrova - Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

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

Semifinalists

  • Yoto Iliev - Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

  • Indira Sakar - Pleven Foreign Language School, Pleven

  • Iliana Ilieva - Pleven Foreign Language School, Pleven

  • Tsvetina Ivanova - Peter Bogdan FLHS, Montana

  • Vyara Stoyanova - Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

  • Alexandra Georgieva - 51 Elisaveta Bagryana School, Sofia

Finalists

  1. Erik Bilyarov - PMG Yane Sandanski, Gotse Delchev

  2. Petko Stoychev - Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

  3. Christiyan Pechovski - Peter Bogdan FLHS, Montana

  4. Kalina Krastilova - PMG Yane Sandanski, Gotse Delchev

  5. Georgi Paparkov - PMG Yane Sandanski, Gotse Delchev

  6. Bilyana Kostadinova - Peter Bogdan FLHS, Montana

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

Finalists

  1. Julia Ivanova and Lyubov Tabakova -  51 Elisaveta Bagryana School, Sofia

  2. Zara Zheleva and Alexandrina Prosheva - 51 Elisaveta Bagryana School, Sofia

  3. Alex Lazov and Julia Rosenova Zaharieva - Dr. Petar Beron Language School, Kyustendil

  4. Tereza Todorova and Velizara Hubcheva - Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

  5. Alexandra Spasova and Maria-Magdalena Gechovska -  Peter Bogdan FLHS, Montana

  6. Anna Angelova and Viktoriya Kamenova - Peter Bogdan FLHS, Montana

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

Semifinalists

  • Hristina Tsonkova and Alex Todorov - Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  • Gabriela Kosteva and Ilizabet Arnautska - Akad. S. Korolyov MSHS, Blagoevgrad

  • Chana Djongova and Elitsa Dimitrova - 51 Elisaveta Bagryana School, Sofia

  • Boyana Savova and Elina Blagoeva - Second English Language School, Sofia

  • Indira Sarkar and Tedi Valcheva - Pleven Foreign Language School, Pleven

Finalists

  1. Georgi Petkov and Nikolai Gaidarov - Peter Bogdan FLHS, Montana

  2. Petko Stoychev and Rafael Bizhev - Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

  3. Alexandra Markova and Maya Peeva - Second English Language School, Sofia

  4. Dimitar Ivanov and Tihomir Tsvetanov - Aleko Konstantinov FLHS, Pravets

  5. Martina Tosheva and Valeri Marinova - Aleko Konstantinov FLHS, Pravets

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

Finalists

  1. Kristina Ivanova, Ivana Milovska, Emiliyan Andreev - Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

  2. Tereza Todorova, Iva Aleksieva, Victoria Veselinova - Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

Sportsmanship Award

Kristina Ivanova, Ivana Milovska, Emiliyan Andreev - Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

Top Speaker Award

Emiliyan Andreev - Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

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

Finalists

  1. Mihaela Ivanova, Elizaveta Polyakova, Magdalena Gyosheva - Zlatarski International HS, Sofia

  2. Alexandra Radeva, Emil Michev, Damyan Valov - Zlatarski International HS, Sofia

Sportsmanship Award

Ventsislav Ivanov, Galya Stancheva, Katrin Lukanova - Yordan Radichkov FLHS, Vidin

Top Speaker Award

Alexandra Radeva - Zlatarski International HS, Sofia

TEAM AWARDS

Small School Division

Akad. Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

Large School Division

Yane Sandanski MSHS, Gotse Delchev

BEST Foundation