BEST Regional Tournament at Akad. Mihail Arnaudov 119th School, Sofia – November 16th - 17th

English Speech and Debate Tournament a Success at Akad. Mihail Arnaudov 119th School

On November 16th and 17th, the BEST Foundation hosted its 35th tournament, and its first tournament of the 2019-2020 school year. Nearly 300 high school students attended the English-language speech and debate competition at Akad. Mihail Arnaudov 119th School in Sofia. Nineteen teams from 14 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 tournament’s participants demonstrated exceptional hard work, energy, and creativity. 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. They would also like to give a special thank you to Diyan Stamatov, the director of Akad. Mihail Arnaudov 119th School, Vice Principals Irina Filipova, Silviya Petrova and Hristina Deneva, and all of the teachers and staff members for being the gracious hosts of this tournament 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 we tab debate 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
Professional School Industrial Technologies, Management and Tourism, Panagyurishte Foreign Language School, Plovdiv
Aleko Konstantinov FLHS, Pravets
Otets Paisiy, Samokov
Ivan Vasov Language School, Smolyan
Second English Language School, Sofia
12th High School Tsar Ivan Asen II, 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

  • Stanislava Stancheva - Ivan Vasov Language School, Smolyan

  • Yana Hristova - Peter Bogdan FLHS, Montana

  • Vera Todorova - PMG Yane Sandanski, Gotse Delchev

  • Antoniya Topuzova - Ivan Vasov Language School, Smolyan

  • Pamela Tsvetkova - Peter Bogdan FLHS, Montana

  • Marina Georgieva - 119th School, Sofia Finalists

  1. Katie Krastilova - PMG Yane Sandanski, Gotse Delchev

  2. Zara Zheleva - 51 Elisaveta Bagryana School, Sofia

  3. Alexander Nikolaev - 51 Elisaveta Bagryana School, Sofia

  4. Raya Boycheva - Second English Language School, Sofia

  5. Asha Tiwari - Second English Language School, Sofia

  6. Lilian Djoneva - Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

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

Semifinalists

  • Yordan Terzov - Zlatitsa High School, Zlatitsa

  • Veneta Salyahetdinova - Akad. S. Korolyov Maths and Science High School, Blagoevgrad

  • Vili-An Doneva - Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  • Krastyu Pavlov - Ivan Vasov Language School, Smolyan

  • Emona Tsoneva - Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

  • Ivana Kobakova - PMG Yane Sandanski, Gotse Delchev

    Finalists

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

  2. Alexandra Georgieva - 51 Elisaveta Bagryana School, Sofia

  3. Mario Bogdanov - 51 Elisaveta Bagryana School, Sofia

  4. Stephan Kozelov - PMG Yane Sandanski, Gotse Delchev

  5. Lorena Evgenieva - Yordan Radichkov FLS, Vidin

6. Ivayla Perusanova - Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

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

Semifinalists

  • Nikol Meteva - Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

  • Petar Petrov - Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  • Pamela Kirilova - Peter Bogdan FLHS, Montana

  • Plamen Dimitrov - Zlatitsa High School, Zlatitsa

  • Yanitsa Ivanova - Tsar Simeon Veliki SS, Vidin

  • Stephanie Lubenova - Ioan Ekzarh FELS, Vratsa

    Finalists

  1. Alexander Nikolaev - 51 Elisaveta Bagryana School, Sofia

  2. Bogomil Balabanov - 51 Elisaveta Bagryana School, Sofia

  3. Izabel Spasova - Peter Bogdan FLHS, Montana

  4. Ana Maria Chobanova - PMG Yane Sandanski, Gotse Delchev

  5. Aleksandra Boneva - 51 Elisaveta Bagryana School, Sofia

  6. Zornitsa Dimitrova - Peter Bogdan FLHS, Montana

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

Semifinalists

  • Vasil Tilev - Second English Language School, Sofia

  • Ognian Dimitrov - Ioan Ekzarh FELS, Vratsa

  • Borislav Matsin - Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  • Ivayla Perusanova - Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  • Antoniya Kamenova - Tsar Simeon Veliki SS, Vidin

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

    Finalists

  1. Nia Naseva - Second English Language School, Sofia

  2. Ivana Kobakova - PMG Yane Sandanski, Gotse Delchev

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

  4. Ralitsa Nedelcheva - Second English Language School, Sofia

  5. Dimana Stefanova - Second English Language School, Sofia

  6. Dimitar Halachev - PMG Yane Sandanski, Gotse Delchev

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

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. Mihaela Marinova - Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

  5. Martin Hristov - PMG Yane Sandanski, Gotse Delchev

  6. Tsvetelina Dimovska - Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

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

Semifinalists

  • Petar Tashkov - PMG Yane Sandanski, Gotse Delchev

  • Petar Atanasov - PMG Yane Sandanski, Gotse Delchev

  • Slavcho Balabanov - Lyudmil Stoyanov FLHS, Blagoevgrad

  • Victoria Veselinova - Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

    Finalists

  1. Ani Kovacheva - Dr. Petar Beron Language School, Kyustendil

  2. Stephan Kozelov - PMG Yane Sandanski, Gotse Delchev

  3. Georgi Paparkov - PMG Yane Sandanski, Gotse Delchev

  4. Tsvetina Cherganska - PMG Yane Sandanski, Gotse Delchev

  5. Christiyan Pechovski - Peter Bogdan FLHS, Montana

  6. Neda Miteva - Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

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

Semifinalists

  • Boris Blagoev and David Papich - Second English Language School, Sofia

  • Toni Karadzhova and Aleksandra Petrova - Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

  • Stephanie Vladislavova and Ivalena Baeva - Peter Bogdan FLHS, Montana

  • Alex Georgiev and Radoslav Aleksiev - Dr. Petar Beron Language School, Kyustendil

  • Bozhana Tabakova and Maria Hristova - Second English Language School, Sofia

    Finalists

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

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

  3. Kalina Gencheva and Yoanna Tsiaka - 51 Elisaveta Bagryana School, Sofia

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

  5. Anna Popova and Kalina Kovacheva - 51 Elisaveta Bagryana School, Sofia

  6. Viktor Zhelyazov and Mihail Dimitrov - 51 Elisaveta Bagryana School, Sofia

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

Semifinalists

  • Kristiana Zagorcheva and Vasil Tilev - Second English Language School, Sofia

  • Lyubov Tabakova and Martin Nikolov - 51 Elisaveta Bagryana School, Sofia

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

  • Emiliyan Andreev and Radislav Stefanov - Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

  • Valeri Marinova and Martina Tosheva - Aleko Konstantinov FLHS, Pravets

  • Dimitar Borumov and Veneta Salyahetdinova - Akad. S. Korolyov Maths and Science High

    School, Blagoevgrad

  • Teodora Lyubomirova and Velislav Petrov - Dr. Petar Beron Language School, Kyustendil

    Finalists

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

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

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

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

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

  6. Alessandra Ochipalska and Atina Stoyanikova - Dr. Petar Beron Language School,

    Kyustendil

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

Finalists

  1. Mariya Hristova, Bozhana Tabakova, Niya Ballcheva - Second English Language School, Sofia

  2. Mihaela Marinova, Robert Yozov, Yoana Miteva - Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

Sportsmanship Award

Mihaela Marinova, Robert Yozov, Yoana Miteva - Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

Top Speaker Award

Mariya Hristova - Second English Language School, Sofia

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

Finalists

  1. Emiliyan Andreev, Bogdan Todorov, Viktor Simeonov - Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

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

Sportsmanship Award

Emiliyan Andreev, Bogdan Todorov, Viktor Simeonov - Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

Top Speaker Award

Iva Aleksieva - Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

TEAM AWARDS

Small School Division

Tsar Simeon Veliki SS, Vidin

Large School Division

Ekzarh Yosif I FLHS, Lovech

BEST Foundation