Spring West Post-Tournament Press Release

English Speech and Debate Tournament a Success in the American University in Bulgaria

On February 15th and 16th, the BEST Foundation hosted its 37th tournament, and its first tournament of 2020. Nearly 300 high school students attended the English-language speech and debate competition at the American University in Bulgaria. Twenty-two teams from 16 Bulgarian cities across the Western region of the country attended the tournament. Students competed in five events: Original Oratory, Duo Interpretation, Prose Interpretation, Poetry Interpretation, and World Schools Debate. The students attending the tournament showed extraordinary creativity, hard work, and talent. BEST is enormously proud to partner with these young people on their journey through English education and creative expression.

BEST is especially grateful to the US Embassy in Sofia for their financial support, without which, this tournament would not have been possible. BEST would also like to thank Angela Rodel, Iliana Dimitrova, and Rada Kaneva of the Bulgarian-American Fulbright Commission for their endless support. BEST gives a special thank you to American University in Bulgaria and the wonderful staff at the Admissions department, especially Aneta Panayotova, Stefan Novoselski, and Boryana Shalyavska. BEST also thanks Southwestern University for the generous use of their classrooms. This tournament would not have been possible without the support of the AUBG educators and staff members, being the gracious hosts and helping every step of the way. 

Below are the names of participating teams; you can view results on Speechwire, as well. Bear in mind that the Team Sweepstakes score does not reflect debate, since BEST tabulates debate results on different software.

Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

Akad. S. Korolyov Maths and Science High School, Blagoevgrad

Dr. Petar Beron Language School, Kyustendil

PMG Yane Sandanski, Gotse Delchev

Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

Peter Bogdan FLHS, Montana

Hristo Botev FLS, Kardzhali

Aleko Konstantinov FLHS, Pravets

Otets Paisiy, Samokov

Otets Paisiy, Madan

Ivan Vasov Language School, Smolyan

Private English Language Secondary School, Chelopech

Simeon Radev FLHS, Pernik

Nancho Popovich High School of Maths and Science, Shumen

Second English Language School, Sofia

12th High School Tsar Ivan Asen II, Sofia

33rd Language High School Saint Sofia, Sofia

51 Elisaveta Bagryana School, Sofia

119th School, Sofia

Tsar Simeon Veliki SS, Vidin

Yordan Radichkov FLS, Vidin

Ioan Ekzarh FELS, Vratsa

Zlatitsa High School, Zlatitsa

AWARDS

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

Semifinalists

  • Robert Yozov - Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

  • Desislava Peneva - 51st School Elisaveta Bagryana School, Sofia

  • Megan Topouzov - Akad. S. Korolyov Maths and Science High School, Blagoevgrad

  • Mirela Stefanova -Second English Language School, Sofia

  • Iva Petrova - Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

  • Ivelina Dimitrova - Peter Bogdan FLHS, Montana

  • Pamela Tsvetkova - Peter Bogdan FLHS, Montana

  • Mihaela Georgieva - Peter Bogdan FLHS, Montana

Finalists

  1. Lilian Djoneva - Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  2. Maria Vitanova - PMG Yane Sandanski, Gotse Delchev

  3. Denis Kiradjiiski - PMG Yane Sandanski, Gotse Delchev

  4. Laora Rumenova - Peter Bogdan FLHS, Montana

  5. Izabel Spasova - Peter Bogdan FLHS, Montana

  6. Raya Boycheva - Second English Language School, Sofia

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

Semifinalists

  • Kristiyan Stoyanov - Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  • Simona Mihova - Hristo Botev FLS, Kardzhali

  • Kalina Nikolova - Yordan Radichkov FLS, Vidin

  • Alessandra Ochipalska - Dr. Petar Beron Language School, Kyustendil

  • Krastyu Pavlov - Vasov Language School, Smolyan

  • Dimitar Borumov - Akad. S. Korolyov Maths and Science High School, Blagoevgrad

Finalists

  1. Mario Bogdanov - 51st School Elisaveta Bagryana School, Sofia

  2. Hristina Tsonkova - Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  3. Vyara Stoyanova - Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

  4. Nikol Decheva - Yordan Radichkov FLS, Vidin

  5. Deniz Tyumbelekchieva - PMG Yane Sandanski, Gotse Delchev

  6. Ilia Iliev - Hristo Botev FLS, Kardzhali

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

Semifinalists

  • Ana Maria Chobanova - PMG Yane Sandanski, Gotse Delchev

  • Petar Petrov - Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  • Nicole Meteva - Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

  • Stephanie Lubenova - Ioan Ekzarh FELS, Vratsa

  • Alexandra Petkova - Tsar Simeon Veliki SS, Vidin

  • Beloslava Velinova - Dr. Petar Beron Language School, Kyustendil

Finalists

  1. Aleksandra Boneva - 51st School Elisaveta Bagryana School, Sofia

  2. Zara Zheleva - 51st School Elisaveta Bagryana School, Sofia

  3. Zornitsa Dimitrova - Peter Bogdan FLHS, Montana

  4. Katie Krastilova - PMG Yane Sandanski, Gotse Delchev

  5. Yanitsa Ivanova - Tsar Simeon Veliki SS, Vidin

  6. Denis Kiradjiiski - PMG Yane Sandanski, Gotse Delchev

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

Semifinalists

  • Kalina Nikolova - Yordan Radichkov FLS, Vidin

  • Ivan-Alexander Terziev - Yordan Radichkov FLS, Vidin

  • Vyara Stoyanova - Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

  • Dimitar Halachev - PMG Yane Sandanski, Gotse Delchev

  • Elina Blagoeva - Second English Language School, Sofia

  • Sofia Kehayova - Yordan Radichkov FLS, Vidin

Finalists

  1. Anastasiya Dimitrova - Dr. Petar Beron Language School, Kyustendil

  2. Bozhidar Petrov - 51st School Elisaveta Bagryana School, Sofia

  3. Maya Peeva - Second English Language School, Sofia

  4. Nia Naseva - Second English Language School, Sofia

  5. Ivana Kobakova - PMG Yane Sandanski, Gotse Delchev

  6. Christiyan Pechovski - Peter Bogdan FLHS, Montana

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

  • Laora Rumenova - Peter Bogdan FLHS, Montana

  • Pavel Zhechev - 119th Secondary School Acad. Mihail Arnaudov, Sofia

  • Konstantinos Sardelis - Ivan Vasov Language School, Smolyan

  • Simona Trifonova - 51st School Elisaveta Bagryana School, Sofia

  • Teodora Borisova - Peter Bogdan FLHS, Montana

  • Ivan Stefanov - Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

Finalists

  1. Izabel Spasova - Peter Bogdan FLHS, Montana

  2. Monica Raevska - Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

  3. Katie Krastilova - PMG Yane Sandanski, Gotse Delchev

  4. Yana Pencheva - 119th Secondary School Acad. Mihail Arnaudov, Sofia

  5. Rumyana Jordanova - 12th High School Tsar Ivan Asen II, Sofia

  6. Lachezar Cvetanov - Tsar Simeon Veliki SS, Vidin

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

Semifinalists

  • Dimitar Borumov - Akad. S. Korolyov Maths and Science High School, Blagoevgrad

  • Tsvetina Cherganska - PMG Yane Sandanski, Gotse Delchev

  • Tereza Radomirova - Otets Paisiy, Madan

  • Valeria Angelova - Tsar Simeon Veliki SS, Vidin

  • Dariya Dimitrova - Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

  • Tereza Todorova - Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

Finalists

  1. Stephan Kozelov - PMG Yane Sandanski, Gotse Delchev

  2. Yoto Iliev - Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

  3. Kalina Krastilova - PMG Yane Sandanski, Gotse Delchev

  4. Tsvetomir Marinov - Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

  5. Slavena Medova - Ivan Vasov Language School, Smolyan

  6. Ilia Iliev - Hristo Botev FLS, Kardzhali

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

Semifinalists

  • Aleksandra Boneva and Alexander Nikolaev - 51st School Elisaveta Bagryana School, Sofia

  • Anna Popova and Kalina Spasova - 51st School Elisaveta Bagryana School, Sofia

  • Aglika Kapelova and Ivelina Andreeva Yordan Radichkov FLS, Vidin

  • Daniel Yordanov and Magdelina Dimitrova - Dr. Petar Beron Language School, Kyustendil

  • Raya Boycheva and Asha Tiwari - Second English Language School, Sofia

  • Yoanna Tsiaka and Kalina Gencheva - 51st School Elisaveta Bagryana School, Sofia

  • Desislava Bacheva and Lilian Djoneva - Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

Finalists

  1. Pamela Tsvetkova and Yana Hristova - Peter Bogdan FLHS, Montana

  2. Teodora Borisova and Mihaela Georgieva - Peter Bogdan FLHS, Montana

  3. Zornitsa Dimitrova and Reni Petrova - Peter Bogdan FLHS, Montana

  4. Neda Varbanova and Deyan Enicherov - 51st School Elisaveta Bagryana School, Sofia

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

  6. Ivalena Baeva and Stephanie Vladislavova - Peter Bogdan FLHS, Montana

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

Semifinalists

  • Emona Tsoneva and Ilina Nedoklanova - Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

  • Mihaela Boyadjieva and Yuliana Beleva - Second English Language School, Sofia

  • Bozhidar Petrov and Elitsa Dimitrova - 51st School Elisaveta Bagryana School, Sofia

  • Elina Blagoeva and Ralitsa Nedelcheva - Second English Language School, Sofia

  • Miroslava Kirova and Kitka Ivanova - Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

  • Angelo Madjarsky and Maya Peeva - Second English Language School, Sofia

Finalists

  1. Julia Ivanova and Mario Bogdanov - 51st School Elisaveta Bagryana School, Sofia

  2. Nia Naseva and Radina Beleva - Second English Language School, Sofia

  3. Samuil Mladenov and Zhaklin Vasileva - Zlatitsa High School, Zlatitsa

  4. Valeria Kulkina and Lyubov Tabakova - 51st School Elisaveta Bagryana School, Sofia

  5. Deniz Tyumbelekchieva and Aylin Ahmedova - PMG Yane Sandanski, Gotse Delchev

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

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

Finalists

  1. Monica Raevska, Melisa Apostolova and Nicole Meteva - Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

  2. Mila Kusheva, Tsvetelina Dimovska and Iva Aleksandrova - Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

Sportsmanship Award

Monica Raevska, Melisa Apostolova and Nicole Meteva - Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

Top Speaker Award

Nicole Meteva - Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

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

Finalists

  1. Plamen Michev, Mario Chaveev and Dimitar Nizamov - Akad. S. Korolyov Maths and Science High School

  2. Zara Zheleva, Bozhidar Petrov and Julia Ivanova - 51st School Elisaveta Bagryana School

Sportsmanship Award

Neda Miteva, Mihaela Shtregarska and Victoria Veselinova - Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

Top Speaker Award

Emiliyan Andreev - Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

TEAM AWARDS

Small School Division 

Akad. S. Korolyov Maths and Science High School, Blagoevgrad

Large School Division 

Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

BEST Foundation