THE BEST FOUNDATION SUCCESSFULLY HOSTS ITS 39th TOURNAMENT ONLINE AMIDST A GLOBAL PANDEMIC

From November 21st-22nd, the BEST Foundation hosted its 39th English speech and debate tournaments. Hundreds of students participated in the competition, representing many schools across Bulgaria. The tournament was held online in the interest of community health, but students still gave live performances in five events: Original Oratory, Duo Interpretation, Prose Interpretation, Poetry Interpretation, and World Schools Debate. The students, coaches, and volunteer judges demonstrated extraordinary perseverance and flexibility under adverse circumstances, in addition to exemplary 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. We would also like to give a special thank you to AEG “Geo Milev” in Burgas that was to host our face-to-face tournament before we decided to move online.

About The BEST Foundation

BEST stands for Bulgarian English Speech and Debate Tournaments. Established in 2013, BEST provides the English-language learners of Bulgaria an opportunity to come together and pursue personal growth through English language speech and debate. BEST aims to empower students to think critically, express themselves creatively, and create a dynamic community that truly cares about the success and the future of Bulgaria. BEST is proud to provide a platform for English-language speech and debate for students across the country.

Below are the names of participating teams and winners from the east tournament; you can view results on Speechwire, as well.

FALL EAST TOURNAMENT AWARDS

Fall East Regional Tournament Schools (November 21st-22nd)

Geo Milev English Language School, Burgas

German Language High School "Goethe,” Burgas

Dr. Ivan Bogorov FLHS, Dimitrovgrad

Geo Milev FLHS, Dobrich

Aprilov National High School, Gabrovo

Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov FLHS, Haskovo

Hristo Botev Foreign Language School, Kardzhali

Ekzarh Yosif Foreigh Language School, Razgrad

Baba Tonka High School of Mathematics, Ruse 

Geo Milev English Language School, Ruse

Nancho Popovich High School of Maths and Science, Shumen

Peyo Yavorov Foreign Language High School, Silistra

Zaharii Stoyanov English Language School, Sliven

Romain Rolland Foreign Language High School, Stara Zagora

Dr. Petar Beron High School of Mathematics, Varna

First Language School, Varna

Fifth Language School, Varna

Vasil Karagyozov Language School, Yambol

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

Finalists

  1. Gabriella Daneva - Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov FLHS, Haskovo

  2. Vyara Bagryanova - Nancho Popovich High School of Maths and Science, Shumen

  3. Nikolay Dimitrov - Geo Milev FLHS, Dobrich

  4. Simeon Stoyanov - Romain Rolland FLHS, Stara Zagora

  5. Bojidara Mihaleva - Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov FLHS, Haskovo

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

Semifinalists

  • Bogolyuba Georgieva - Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov FLHS, Haskovo

  • Rumen Gulev - Aprilov National, Gabrovo

  • Nikola Angelov - Dr. Ivan Bogorov FLS, Dimitrovgrad

  • Desislava Kyoseva - Dr. Petar Beron Maths School, Varna

  • Veronika Bozukova - Zaharii Stoyanov ELS, Sliven

  • Victoria Georgieva - Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov FLHS, Haskovo

Finalists

  1. Nataliya Gancheva - Dr. Ivan Bogorov FLS, Dimitrovgrad

  2. Ralitsa Doynova - Aprilov National, Gabrovo

  3. Bozhidara Tsoneva - Ekzarh Yossif FLHS, Razgrad

  4. Darsi Dineva - Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov FLHS, Haskovo

  5. Maria-Magdalena Gergova - Dr. Petar Beron Maths School, Varna

  6. Fatime Mustafova - Ekzarh Yossif FLHS, Razgrad

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

Finalists

  1. Bilyana Dimova - Zaharii Stoyanov ELS, Sliven

  2. Kristina Stoykova - Romain Rolland FLHS, Stara Zagora

  3. Ekaterina Dimcheva - Zaharii Stoyanov ELS, Sliven

  4. Vasilena Valcheva - Romain Rolland FLHS Stara Zagora

  5. Vyara Gramatikova - Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov FLHS, Haskovo

  6. Nicole Todorova - Geo Milev FLHS, Dobrich

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

Semifinalists

  • Anna-Maria Georgieva - Zaharii Stoyanov ELS, Sliven

  • Samuil Kozhleev - Zaharii Stoyanov ELS, Sliven

  • Maria Hristova - Romain Rolland FLHS, Stara Zagora

  • Victoria Georgieva - Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov FLHS, Haskovo

  • Mariyan Neykov - Zaharii Stoyanov ELS, Sliven

  • Fiona Totten - Zaharii Stoyanov ELS, Sliven

  • Genadi Iliev - Dr. Ivan Bogorov FLS, Dimitrovgrad

Finalists

  1. Mila Petkova - Zaharii Stoyanov ELS, Sliven

  2. Korina Koleva - Romain Rolland FLHS, Stara Zagora

  3. Desislava Andasorova - Romain Rolland FLHS Stara Zagora

  4. Nataliya Gancheva - Dr. Ivan Bogorov Foreign Language School, Dimitrovgrad

  5. Teodora Stoycheva - Nancho Popovich High School of Maths and Science, Shumen

  6. Elitsa Vassileva - Dr. Petar Beron Maths School, Varna

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

Finalists

  1. Gabriella Daneva - Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov FLHS, Haskovo

  2. Lila Ivanova - Geo Milev ELS, Rousse

  3. Viktor Marinov - Ekzarh Yossif FLHS, Razgrad

  4. Viktoria Kiryakova - Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov FLHS, Haskovo

  5. Aylin Gyugzhen - Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov FLHS, Haskovo

  6. Darina Bakhtigaliyeva - First Language School, Varna

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

Semifinalists

  • Viola Rodionova - Fifth Language School Yoan Ekzarh - Varna

  • Antoniya Gadzheva - Geo Milev ELS, Rousse

  • Katherina Nankova - Dr. Petar Beron Maths School, Varna

  • Simeon Stefanov - Fifth Language School Yoan Ekzarh, Varna

  • Daniel Christian Erwin de Gruil - Dr. Petar Beron Maths School, Varna

  • Pavlina Valkova - Vasil Karagyozov Language School, Yambol

Finalists

  1. Elitsa Vassileva - Dr. Petar Beron Maths School, Varna

  2. Stiliyan Petrov - Dr. Petar Beron Maths School, Varna

  3. Iliyan Stoychev - Aprilov National, Gabrovo

  4. Savina Kaneva - Romain Rolland FLHS, Stara Zagora

  5. Niya Dobreva - Romain Rolland FLHS, Stara Zagora

  6. Dzheyda Nedjib - Nancho Popovich High School of Maths and Science, Shumen

DUO INTERPRETATION

Finalists

  1. Bogolyuba Georgieva and Ivan Ivanov - Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov FLHS, Haskovo

  2. Maria Dimova and Maria Hristova - Romain Rolland FLHS, Stara Zagora

  3. Nicole-Valeri Dimitrova and Nataliya Gancheva - Dr. Ivan Bogorov FLHS, Dimitrovgrad

  4. Aleksandra Stoilova and Desislava Andasorova - Romain Rolland FLHS Stara Zagora

  5. Kristina Stoykova and Gergana Gyuzleva - Romain Rolland FLHS Stara Zagora

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

Finalists

  1. Maria Geogieva, Lila Ivanova and Yuliana Yotova - Geo Milev ELS, Rousse

  2. Dariya Feodorova, Dimitar Dimitrov and Vladimir Kostov - Dr. Petar Beron Maths School, Varna

Sportsmanship Award

Dariya Feodorova, Dimitar Dimitrov, and Valdimir Kostov - Dr. Peter Beron Math School, Varna

Top Speaker Award

Lila Ivanova - Geo Milev ELS, Rousse

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

Finalists

  1. Malena Malcheva, Yasen Zhekov and Denislav Drachev - Geo Milev GPAE Burgas

  2. Hristo Valchev, Georgi Fotev and Boyan Mihov - Goethe (Burgas)

Sportsmanship Award

Yoana Ivanova, Yanitsa Krasteva, and Antoniya Gadzheva - Geo Milev ELS, Ruse

Top Speaker Award

Denislav Drachev - Geo Milev GPAE, Burgas

TEAM AWARDS

Small School Division 

Dr. Ivan Bogorov FLHS, Dimitrovgrad

Large School Division 

Dr. Petar Beron Maths School, Varna

BEST Foundation