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- 2017-05-05 19:51:11
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[caption id="attachment_36474" align="alignnone" width="1835"] Eat Here, Go Anywhere Bazaar, Dimitar Bratovanov for AUBG Daily[/caption]
On May 1-3, students from the local Language High School "Academic Lyudmil Stoyanov", helped by AUBG students, organized a charity bazaar on campus. The cause behind the initiative was to raise money to support three high school students: Neli Velichkova, Magdalena Tancheva, and Stefanie Chobanova. The girls have qualified to compete in the USA national round of a speech and debate competition, which will take place on June 18-23, 2017 in Birmingham, AL, USA.
A month prior to the bazaar, the three students took part in the National Speech & Debate Association (NSDA) Qualifiers at AUBG, organized by the BEST Foundation and supported by Fulbright Bulgaria. The girls earned the right to be among the six students to represent Bulgaria at the next stage of the competition. Chobanova, a 12th-grade student, will compete in the category 'Original Oratory', while Velichkova and Tancheva, both 11th-grade students, have advanced to the next stage of the 'Duo Interpretation'.
[caption id="attachment_36471" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Chobanova on the left and Velichkova and Tancheva on the right; Personal Archives[/caption]
Asya Velichkova, a first-year AUBG student and a sister to Neli Velichkova, shared that their parents and she are proud of the girls’ accomplishment. Currently the families of the three high school students are trying to raise money to cover the expenses surrounding their children’s participation in the NSDA’s national round. Total costs have been estimated to be $7 500, which include visa fees, accommodation, flight tickets, etc.
According to Asya Velichkova, the three girls are preparing for the competition by rehearsing with their mentors, English teachers, and friends. Emily Enquist, a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant and a speech and debate coach, pointed out that at the national level, the girls will meet up with the winners from different U.S. States.
“It will be very stiff but we are hoping to make a name for Bulgaria there. To show how incredible Bulgarian teenagers are,” commented Enquist.